How Do You Use a Metal Burger Press?

Using a metal burger press is a simple way to create uniformly shaped, perfectly pressed burgers, especially smash burgers. Here's how:

Steps for Using a Metal Burger Press

Prepare Your Meat: Form your ground meat into a ball. The size depends on the burger you want but consider it will flatten and spread. The "House of BBQ Experts" reference suggests it will start as a meatball, not a patty.
Prepare Your Cooking Surface: Ensure your grill, griddle, or pan is heated to the appropriate temperature.
Place the Meat: Place the meatball on the hot cooking surface.
Press the Burger: Immediately press the metal burger press firmly down on the meatball. Apply even pressure to ensure uniform thickness. The point is to smash it quickly and evenly, as shown in the video.
Hold (Optional): Some prefer to hold the press down for a few seconds to ensure maximum surface contact and a good sear.
Remove the Press: Carefully lift the burger press off the burger.
Cook as Desired: Continue cooking the burger to your desired level of doneness.
Clean the Press: Clean your burger press immediately after use to prevent meat from sticking.

Seasoning: Season your meat before forming the balls, or season the patties after pressing them.
Don't Overcrowd: Avoid overcrowding the cooking surface, so the burgers can cook evenly and the temperature of the surface doesn't drop too much.
Non-Stick Option: If the meat is sticking to the press, consider using a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper between the press and the meat.
Experiment: Find the perfect amount of pressure and cook time for your preferred burger consistency.