Did you just purchase a hamburger press, and you aren’t sure how to use it? You’ve come to the right place!
In this TheGrillingDad.com guide, we will cover:
- How to use a hamburger press
- Tips for making great burgers
- And much more!
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What You Need to Know About Using a Hamburger Press
A hamburger press is a great tool to have in your kitchen. Once you have one, gone are the days when you have to purchase frozen or pre-shaped patties. Now you can purchase raw hamburger meat to make your own fresh burgers.
We especially love hamburger presses because you can use them to make stuffed burgers or burgers with cheese mixed in with the meat. Basically, the burger world is now your oyster, as the options are endless!
But it can take a bit to get the hang of a burger press, so read on to learn more about how to use one before you buy one.
Materials Needed to Use a Burger Press
Before you begin, you’re going to need a few supplies to make the perfect burgers with your hamburger press.
- Ground beef
- Kitchen scale
- Parchment paper
- Hamburger press
- Any seasonings or mix-ins you want in the meat
Now the kitchen scale is optional, but we highly recommend it until you get a feel for the hamburger press. This will ensure you add the right amount of raw meat and your burgers end up the relatively same size.
How to Use a Hamburger Press
Have everything on hand? Here’s how you make amazing burgers with a hamburger press!
Step 1: Prepare the Meat
Start by placing the ground beef in a bowl. Now is the time to add any seasonings (we recommend at least salt and pepper) or any mix-ins you wish to add to the meat.
Related >> How To Defrost Hamburger Meat
Step 2: Measure
Place a piece of parchment on your kitchen scale and zero it out. Divide the meat into equal size balls. Your press should have a label that lets you know how large to make the balls.
Step 3: Press the Burgers
Place a piece of parchment paper in your press and then add one of the balls of meat. Press down until the press stops.
Step 4: Remove and Repeat
Remove the burger from the press, leaving the parchment paper intact (it helps make the burgers easier to move), then repeat step 3 until you have pressed all of your burgers.
And just like that, you’ve got a bunch of hand-pressed patties!
Related >> How To Keep Hamburger Patties from Falling Apart
How to Press a Burger on a Grill or Stovetop
Once you’ve mastered the regular pressing of burgers, then you can graduate to pressing them directly on your stovetop or grill. This method is a bit harder, but it creates an amazing sear on your burger.
Editor’s Note: This method is next performed on a flat top grill, cast iron skillet, or griddle, as the burger may not sear quickly enough to survive on a regular grill grate. Do not use non-stick cookware for pressing your burgers.
Step 1: Prepare Your Hamburger
Just as before, you will want to mix your hamburger in a bowl and measure it out into balls.
Step 2: Drop and Press
Drop the burger ball onto the grill and quickly press it. You can use your burger press (if it is designed for this) or a spatula if your press is one that can’t be used over heat.
Step 3: Continue and Flip
Press for a full minute, then remove the press (or the spatula) and flip the burger.
Obviously, this press-on-the-grill method is a bit slow and not recommended for big events (as the burgers will all be done at different times), but it is a great way to make a tasty dinner for two!
Tips For Making Great Burgers
Got your press all ready to go? Below are our tips for making great burgers.
Tip 1: Always Season Your Meat
Seasoning a burger before you press it will make a huge difference in flavor, even if it’s just salt and pepper! Don’t serve your family plain meat!
This is even true if you’re grilling frozen burgers.
Tip 2: Purchase 70% or 80% Lean Meat
While leaner meat is healthier, burgers need a little fat in them to make them tasty. We recommend purchasing 70%-80% lean meat as this will help balance health with enough grease to keep your burgers juicy.
Tip 3: Experiment
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Our blue cheese bacon stuffed burger recipe came out of a total experiment when we wanted to see if we could make stuffed, restaurant-style burgers in a press with the ingredients we loved! Try different cheese, sauces, and spices (or even bacon) mixed in with your hamburger meat, and see what happens!
You can also experiment with different internal temperatures for burgers. Ever had a medium-rare burger?
