[ricklea1953]

Can someone recommend a good one and where to get it. Mail order is okay. Looking for one that will do 1/3 - 1/2 pound patties. I have seen the clam shell type and then there is the cookie cutter type (even though I don't know how the meat comes out without sticking). I don't think the professional quality stuff is in the budget but will consider all.

If there is something better than a press, please let me know. Presentation means a lot but I am not a professional so I don't know all the little tricks.

Thanks,

Rick

[Suzanne]

There is definitely something better: your two hands. And a scale, to get you started.

Pinch off a chunk of ground meat, weigh it, and adjust the amount until you can pretty consistently grab the right amount. (Trust me, this is really easy to learn.)

Then for shaping, pat it gently into the patty shape you like -- round, square, flat and wide, thick and narrow -- just don't press the meat together too hard. That's what's wrong with presses: they compact the meat too much and you get tough burgers that are hard to cook properly.

Even if you have to shape hundreds of burgers, this will actually go faster than using a press, and give you better burgers.

[ricklea1953]

Never considered doing it by hand. How do you make them the right thickness? Most of my burgers have been too thick (at least from appearance) and have not fit the bun well.

Open to all options.

Rick

[Pete]

As suzanne said, use your hands. Those presses just compact the meat too tightly. One thing to keep in mind when making burger patties is to make a dimple in the center (make the center thinner than the sides) this way you stop the "balling" effect that can sometimes happen when making burgers. As for size and thickness that is up to you. Personally I like my burgers to be on the thicker side. That way I can get a nice MR-Med burger while having an exterior that is nice and crispy almost. Thinner burgers will allow you to cook them well done much more quickly. Its up to you. Just remember the dimpling trick.