Hamburgers - Falling Apart

Unknown

Happy New Year Everyone![p]We have had our egg over three years now, and fixed smoked turkey and chicken, pulled pork, Brunswick stew, rib eyes, filet mignon and burgers. I have used many tips from the forum but this is my first question - how do you keep burgers from falling apart? [p]
Steve R.
Lexington, KY

Unknown

mix your burger meat with one egg, adjusting moistness by adding bread crumbs ( try with italian seasoned crumbs )

YB

Steve R,
After I make my hamburger patties...I put them on a cookie sheet and put them in the freezer for about 15 or 20 minutes...They will freeze just enought so they will stay together while you cook them.
Larry

Spring Chicken

Steve R,
I use a Tupperware hamburger press to make mine and they hold together with no trouble. I can make them up as thick or as thin as I want them. I use a 7% lean type hamburger meat. Most folks will tell you the more fat the better the burger but I really hate seeing a five inch patty cook down to three inches as the fat burns off. Mine pretty much stay the same size. Best thing to do is experiment with different hamburger meats and see which one is best for your style of cooking and taste. Good luck.

Gfw

Steve R, I use a very scientific method - I use my hands to gently form the burger to exactly the right shape. Then I put them on the BGE at about 700-750 degrees dome - haven't had one fall apart yet. [p]About the only thing I add to the burger is a little red pepper - so good :~}

Unknown

Thanks Everyone![p]My wife did not fully thaw the burgers out, and being slightly frozen seemed to do the trick. All four came out intact. She grinds the meat and uses chuck, I think, then puts them in the freezer. The last time she added an egg but they fell apart worse than normal. She liked the egg and bread crumbs idea. We have lots of things to try.[p]I forgot to say we love to do ribs on the egg![p]Steve R.
Lexington, KY

Wise One

Steve R, one other thing is not to work the meat too much. If you compress it too much, it has trouble staying together. Make the patties gently and we have also found that if you indent the middle (with a glass or the heel of your hand) it keeps the patties from bulging up in the middle.

Rich

Steve R,
Use hamburger with at least 20% fat. The fat helps hold the burger togeather.
Rich