How Do You Hand Pat A Burger?

Hamburger patties shrink as they cook, causing deep cracks to form and the edges to break apart. To prevent this, slightly depress the center of the patty to push a little extra meat toward the edges; aim for 3/4-inch thick at the sides and 1/2-inch thick in the center. This trick produces an evenly cooked patty that holds together on the grill.

It’s all in the technique — how you form it and how you grill it. The best burgers are made from freshly ground, high-grade beef chuck in an 80/20 mix (meat to fat). Spread the beef out flat and season with salt and pepper. If you have a secret ingredient like Worcestershire sauce or chopped bacon, add it now. Toss together gently.

About this method: This sweet and simple method uses the same theory as the dimple and indentation methods: The burger patty is shaped as usual and a thumb is pressed into the center to make a small indentation.

After shaping the beef into a 1/2-inch-thick by 3-inch-wide patty, use a butter knife to dimple or dock the top of the patty. As with docking a pie dough, this method is supposed to guarantee even cooking and reduce shrinking by allowing the heat of cooking to pass through the patty.