How to Use a Hamburger Press

Have you considered getting a hamburger press to help you make the perfect burgers? Few things beat a backyard BBQ, grilling burgers of any kind.

Whether you plan to grill beef, pork, turkey, lamb, or veggie burgers, single or stacks of two or three making monster burgers, having perfectly shaped, evenly sized burger patties will impress your guests.

With or without cheese, lettuce, other added layers, and burger sauce on the side, summers will be sad without the aromas of grilled burgers in the air.

The whole experience as the grill master will be better if your hand-shaped patties don’t crumble on the grill, or end up ballooning into a golf ball shape, sticking to the grill or cast-iron griddle.

Sure, it’s easy to get perfectly shaped patties from the store, but they’ll never be as tasty as those you can shape yourself.

For me, those good BBQ days are even better since I treated myself to a proper burger press to replace the gallon-jar lid I used for shaping patties in the past. Now, it is not only the shape that’s perfect but also the firmness that prevents them from falling apart.

What is a Hamburger Press?

When it comes to making meat patties, a burger press is like a cookie cutter made specifically for meat. It’s a tool used in the kitchen to ensure that each patty is the same size and shape.

Burger presses are usually made of plastic or stainless steel for fancier ones. They are round with a lid that presses down onto the meat, shaping it into a patty.

If you find yourself making homemade burgers frequently, whether they’re sliders or stuffed burgers, a patty maker can be a savior. Especially considering they’re not expensive, basic burger presses can be bought online for under ten dollars!

 Presses designed for stuffed burgers are also available.

Why You Need a Hamburger Press

If you want to make flawless, evenly cooked hamburger patties with a consistent shape, then a burger press is a must-have tool. It simplifies the process of making uniform shapes with ingredients distributed evenly.

It is not as easy as it seems to get that perfect round shape for your patty. Even if you start off well, there’s a good chance that you’ll end up with six oddly shaped lumps that have either too little meat or too much onion (or both).

When it comes to making burgers, looks can be deceiving – and so can the cooking process

If you’re going for the hand-pressed method, you might end up with a burger that’s crumbly and hard to handle because of all the air pockets.

But fear not! A burger press can help you avoid that mess by squeezing out all the excess air and making your patty more consistent.

So, why take the risk of disappointment when you can have a perfectly cooked burger every time?

What Can You Press with a Hamburger Press?

Actually, you don’t have to limit yourself to just meat when making hamburgers. Any kind of ground meat and veggies work great with a burger press. That means you can make whatever kind of burger you want – beef, turkey, sausage, veggie, etc.

However, if you use ground meat, it’s recommended to use freshly ground meat that’s ice cold and contains at least 20% fat, to ensure the best taste and texture.

For optimal freshness, it’s best to grind the meat yourself on the day you plan to make your burgers.

You can even mix different types of meat to create unique flavor combinations and increase the fat content without using fillers.

If you prefer not to grind the meat yourself, you can always stop by the butcher and have them grind it fresh for you.

Prepping Your Burgers

For those new to using burger presses, you’ll be happy to know there’s no trick to making the perfect patties. But before we start pressing, there’s some prepping to do.

This is the time to add seasonings and other ingredients like onions, garlic, or whatever your burger recipe requires to the cold ground meat.

Some people add breadcrumbs or beaten eggs to keep the ground meat together. However, I find that the fat in an 80/20 ground beef is enough to prevent the burgers from falling apart.

However, there’s nothing to stop you from experimenting.

See here how the burger got its name.

Materials Needed to Use a Burger Press

Before you begin pressing the burgers, you’ll need to get a few things ready.

Ground beef, seasoned and cold.

Hamburger press

Kitchen scale

Parchment paper

Although the kitchen scale is optional, I suggest you use one to ensure your patties are not only the same size but also the same thickness.

How to Use the Hamburger Press

Pressing the patties is the easiest part of the entire process of grilling burgers.

1. Measuring Process

Place a wax paper or parchment disc on the kitchen scale and set it to zero.

When it comes to burgers, you get to decide how much meat you want to use per patty (between 4 and 6 ounces).

Just make sure to divide the raw meat equally so that your burgers cook evenly.

Roll each portion into a ball, but don’t squish it too hard.

2. Press the Burgers

Place a parchment disc in the cavity of the press to prevent the patty from sticking.

Add one measured-out ball of ground beef, and place another piece of parchment on top, which is optional. If the press is not smooth but has some ridges, it will be less likely to stick to the burger.

Use the press to push the meat down firmly but without force to ensure juicy burgers.

3. Remove and Repeat

Remove the patty, keeping the piece of parchment intact.

Repeat the process until all the meat is used.

If you are not planning to grill the patties immediately, put them back in the fridge until you are ready to put them on the griller to avoid bacterial growth and food-related illnesses.

Additional Options

You can use your hamburger press to make sliders by using less meat per patty.

Although you can get yourself a stuffed burger press designed to make stuffed hamburgers, you can use a normal press to create great burgers. This is another challenge to be creative and experiment beyond the typical cheeseburger.

Here’s how to do it:

• After portioning the ground meat, keep about one-third of each ball back. Place the other two-thirds in the cavity.

• Push that down with the press.

• Use a spoon or any suitable object to push down the center part of the patty in the hamburger press, and add the filling.

• Place the bit of meat held back over the filling, and press again, but without too much force.

Suggested fillings:

1. Cheese

2. Mushrooms

3. Mac & Cheese

4. Hot peppers

5. Bacon

Conclusion

Making perfect hamburger patties is simple with a burger press. It presses out all the air and creates uniformly shaped patties.

If you’re only making one or two patties, you can probably get away by hand pressing them. However, if you are making plenty of burgers, or need to make large amounts of patties, a burger press can be the right option for you.

Even more importantly, since the meat is chilled before pressing, it will maintain its optimal temperature for cooking on the grill or griddle.

The burger press is not just for pros anymore. If you want to make the perfect burger every time, you can start with a burger press and your trusty grill.

The only trick will be to convince your BBQ guests that your perfect burger patties are not store-bought.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a hamburger press?

A: A hamburger press is a kitchen tool used to shape ground meat into patties of uniform size and thickness. Caterers and restaurants use heavy-duty hamburger presses, some of which can make several patties with each press.

Q: How do I use a hamburger press?

A: To use a hamburger press, start by placing a ball of ground meat in the center of the press. Then, close the press and apply pressure to shape the meat into a patty. Open the press and remove the patty, and repeat with the remaining ground meat.

Q: What types of ground meat can I use with a hamburger press?

A: You can use any type of ground meat with a hamburger press, including beef, turkey, chicken, pork, or lamb.

Q: How do I clean a hamburger press?

A: To clean a hamburger press, first disassemble it by removing the top and bottom parts. Then, wash each part in warm soapy water and dry thoroughly. Some hamburger presses are dishwasher safe, but check the manufacturer’s instructions to be certain.

Q: Can I adjust the thickness of the patties with a hamburger press?

A: Yes, most hamburger presses have adjustable thickness settings, which allow you to make patties of varying thicknesses.

Q: How many patties can I make at once with a hamburger press?

A: The number of patties you can make at once with a hamburger press depends on the size of the press. Some presses can make one patty at a time, while others can make multiple patties simultaneously.

Q: Can I use a hamburger press to make other types of patties?

A: Yes, you can use a hamburger press to make patties from other types of ground ingredients, such as vegetable patties or seafood patties. Just make sure the ingredients are well combined and compacted before pressing.

Q: Can I freeze the patties made with a hamburger press?

A: Yes, you can freeze the patties made with a hamburger press. Wrap each patty in plastic wrap or parchment paper and store them in a freezer-safe container or bag. They will keep for up to three months in the freezer.

Q: How can I prevent the meat from sticking to the hamburger press?

A: Some hamburger presses are made of non-stick materials. If you encounter this problem, you can use parchment or greaseproof paper discs as patty papers on the top and bottom of the ball of meat before pressing the burger.

Q: What is the best way to cook hamburger patties?

The method of cooking burger patties is up to your preferences. You can use a flat-top grill, Blackstone griddle, BBQ grill, smoker, or any other suitable cookware. You can also reverse sear the patties in a cast iron or another skillet on the grill or the stovetop.