Appreciation post: I started chilling my hands for burger patties, and now they hold shape perfectly

3 comments

3 Comments

Cold hands make all the difference for burger patties. Mine used to fall apart every time I tried to flip them on the grill. Now they hold shape and don't stick to the spatula. I chill the meat in the fridge for ten minutes before I even start. This method turns a messy job into something quick and easy.

dakota_schmidt781mo ago

So that's a solid tip about chilling the meat, but does the fat content in your beef change anything? I've had cheap lean stuff fall apart no matter how cold I got it. Are you using a specific grind, like 80/20, when you do this? I feel like the chill method works best when there's enough fat to actually hold together once it firms up. What kind of beef are you starting with?

drew_carr751mo ago

Yeah, @dakota_schmidt78, lean beef turns into burger confetti even if you freeze it solid. You need that fat to act like glue once it gets cold. So maybe save the cheap stuff for meat sauce where it's supposed to fall apart.