Burger Hacks: Creative Tips for Flavorful Bites

You do not need a restaurant kitchen to make a better burger. These are the habits our cooks would bring to any backyard grill.

Keep the beef cold

Work with cold meat and handle it as little as possible. Warm, overworked beef turns dense and tough.

Press a dimple

Press a shallow dent into the middle of each patty with your thumb. Patties puff as they cook, and the dimple keeps them flat.

Season at the last minute

Salt the outside just before the patty goes on the heat. Salt mixed in early draws out moisture and changes the texture.

Flip once

Let a crust form before you turn the patty, then leave it alone. Pressing down with a spatula only squeezes out the juice.

Rest, then build

Give the patty a minute off the heat while you toast the bun. It will hold its juices when you take the first bite.