Best Burger Press
Master the art of the perfectly round patty with the fantastic burger press! If you’re thinking of upping your barbecue game, your first step should be buying the best burger press. Regular, hand-shaped patties don’t cut it here!
Raise your hand if you’re a fan of the classic, all-American burger!
John’s looking over my shoulder as I’m writing this, and guess what he’s doing? He has both his hands in the air! It’s official, everyone, I’m married to a barbecue addict – a grillaholic, if you will.
Anyway, it seems like finding the perfect burger press has been his latest obsession – hand-pressed patties don’t cut it anymore, I guess.
Now, I know a lot of you share his passion for all things barbecue, so I figured why not share some of his knowledge with you?
Does Your Kitchen Really Need A Burger Press?
I can imagine what my mother would have to say about this:
– “What do you need a burger press for? We used to do it all by hand, and there was nothing wrong with our hamburgers!”
And while I do agree that she knew how to make a delicious, mouth-watering burger, I also think that there’s nothing wrong with getting some help in the kitchen – and that’s where the burger press comes to play:
Uniform Burgers Every Single Time
There’s more to it than merely squashing a meatball between your hands: First and foremost, you have to get that perfectly round shape patty after patty. And don’t even get me started on thickness consistency!
Enter the burger press – a handy little tool that does all the hard work for you. Add the ground meat, push the lid down, and voila – you made a perfect burger!
Rinse and repeat, as they say, and pretty soon, you have a batch ready for the grill.
Consistent Size Means Even Cooking
Sure, it’s nice to have perfectly-shaped patties every time, but besides them looking good – and making you look like you know what you’re doing – there’s one more advantage to it: Evenly-shaped patties will cook evenly, as well! You can finally say goodbye to overcooking smaller burgers while the thicker ones remain undercooked.
Cut Back On Time Spent In The Kitchen
Now, I’m not the one to complain about the time I spend preparing food: I love every minute of it – but I know not everyone shares my enthusiasm for cooking.
To tell you the truth, I have those odd days when I don’t feel like spending an entire day in the kitchen – and that’s where this handy tool comes in as a lifesaver.
Shaping patties by hand can take ages, but with a burger press, you can be done in a matter of minutes!
While We’re On The Subject Of Presses, Did You Check Out My Cookie Press Reviews Yet?
What To Look For In The Best Burger Press
Okay, I thought I managed to prevent John from hijacking this entire article, but I guess I was wrong: He insisted on helping me write this section, and I can’t say no to him, so here’s how to pick a burger press, as told by our household’s grill master – my husband, John!
Size And Capacity, Of Course
The size and capacity of the press should be your first priority since they not only affect how many burgers you can produce at once but also how big they will be.
Nothing is more crucial than that, John would tell you if you just ask him.
Therefore, remember the usual burger dimensions and never accept less:
The width should be around four inches (or more) in diameter.
Standard patties should have a thickness of between 0.5 and 1.5 inches.
Weight: A typical hamburger should weigh no less than 0.2 pounds.
Oh, and don’t forget to factor in how many people you often prepare for: It doesn’t sound like the best situation to be making one burger at a time while your family is waiting for you to finish lighting the grill.
Material
Luckily for you, it’s not an overly complicated choice to make – you have only two options, after all:
Plastic – Lightweight and easy to clean, plastic’s the ideal choice of material for those of you looking to get a burger press that will pull them through a couple of barbecues a year. Plus, they tend to be budget-friendly, too, and for light, occasional use, that’s as good as it gets! The only real downside is durability – with all those plastic parts, you can’t expect it to last nearly as long as a metal one would.
Aluminum Or Steel – Now, if you want something that’s built to last, aluminum is the way to go. Not only is it sturdy, but it’s lightweight, as well – and not a lot of metal hamburger presses have that advantage. I’m yet to see someone use a steel burger press at home, though. They’re super heavy and bulky, and I always felt like they belong in a restaurant kitchen, but I could be wrong – maybe they could fit into modern kitchen decor, after all. As with any kitchen tool made of metal, though, there’s a risk of corrosion. Of course, you can minimize it by taking proper care of the press, but it’s still there.
Stick Or Non-Stick?
According to John, this is a non-negotiable matter: If you get a chance to choose, always opt for the non-stick surface!
And he’s right – I mean, who wants to scrape their patties off of the press’ surface only to do the touch-ups by hand? It defeats the purpose of getting the burger press in the first place.
That said, they do tend to cost a bit more than the sticky variety, but the convenience is worth every penny!
Pro Tip: I’ve had my fair share of non-stick coatings that didn’t work whatsoever, but I managed to work my way around it with one simple trick: A layer of wax paper (or even plastic wrap) does wonder for those sticky surfaces! Plus, it makes clean-up a breeze!
Speaking Of Cleaning Up, Make Sure You Check Out The Greatest Grill Brushes, Too!
Maintenance
Everyone who knows him knows that John loves making burgers – but cleaning up?
Not so much.
However, thorough cleaning is a must after every use, as it reduces the risk of contaminating your patties with food-borne pathogens. Food poisoning is never fun, I can tell you that much!
That’s why I prefer presses that allow for a fast, throw-it-in-the-dishwasher approach to cleaning – and plastic ones seem to be the best choice in that department.
Pro Tip: Avoid anything that has too many parts and requires complete disassembly every time – you don’t want to take it apart for cleaning, only to realize you forgot which piece goes where!
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Most Recommended Burger Presses: Detailed Reviews 2022
The Best Budget-Friendly Burger Press
Cuisinart CSBP-100 3-in-1 Stuffed Burger Press
I figured it would be great to kick off this round-up of the hamburger presses on a lighter note – lighter on your wallet, that is:
The Cuisinart Burger Press is one of the most affordable options currently available on the market – but at the same time, it brings some notable high-quality features to the table as well.
I guess sometimes you can have your cake and eat it, too, huh?
Anyway, the first thing that caught my eye was the body of the press. It’s plastic, which, of course, means it’s very lightweight, but more importantly, it doesn’t lack sturdiness – and that’s always a gamble with plastic burger presses.
We tried making both regular and stuffed burgers, as well as sliders, and it performed beautifully! Moreover, clean-up was a breeze, too, since the entire thing is dishwasher-safe.
And while it does have a non-stick coating, I don’t think it’s doing much – if anything:
I had burger meat stick on its surface more than once, which not only ruined the shape of the patties but made scrubbing and scraping a mandatory step in the burger-making process, as well.
Pros
- Suitable for making regular patties, sliders, and stuffed burgers
- It has a non-stick coating
- It’s dishwasher-safe
- Made from lightweight yet sturdy plastic
- An affordable option for folks on a tight budget
Cons
- The burger meat still sticks to the press’ surface
Making Burgers The Hassle-Free Way
Weston Burger Express Hamburger Press with Patty Ejector
If you want to make perfect patties, and you want to do it fast, the Weston Burger Express is the way to go: From the non-stick coating to the handy patty ejector, this thing is made for quick results!
Throw in some meat, press down, and the spring-loaded plunger will do the rest – compress and shape your burgers, push any remaining air out of them, and pop them back up for easy removal. Yes, it’s as simple as that!
The most notable thing has to be the adjustability, though:
You can customize your patties – from adjusting the thickness and weight ( 1/4 to 3/4 of a pound) to choosing between stuffed and regular. I haven’t tried it for myself, but I think it makes sausage patties and crab cakes, too!
Now, if you’re the one doing the clean-up after the burgers are done, you should probably know that the press is not dishwasher-safe, which means you’ll have to take it apart and clean it manually.
Also, before you get down to business, make sure you get a hold of wax paper – you’ll need it to eliminate any chance of sticking!
Pros
- The spring-loaded patty ejector allows for easy removal
- You can adjust burger thickness and weight
- Works for making crab cakes and stuffed burgers, too
- Made from heavy-duty cast aluminum
- It has a non-stick coating
Cons
- It’s not dishwasher-safe
- Requires the use of wax paper to prevent sticking
Best Stuffed Burger Press
Grillaholics Stuffed Burger Press
“Hi, my name is John, and I’m a Grillaholic.”
You should’ve seen him: He was acting like a kid on Christmas morning, all giggly and excited, and he couldn’t wait to give it a try. Needless to say, we made burgers that same day.
Yes, it’s plastic, but it’s not the flimsy kind – we’re talking heavy-duty BPA-free plastic here.
Plus, it’s capable of making more than just your plain, old pattie – the Grilllaholics Stuffed Burger Press gives you a chance to experiment with added toppings, as well. If that doesn’t tip the scales for you, I don’t know what will.
We haven’t used the free recipe ebook yet, mostly because John has his way of making stuffed hamburgers, but I’m sure you’ll find it useful!
Unfortunately, though, you can’t adjust the thickness of your patties, as you do with some other models on this round-up – but it’s up to you to decide if that’s a dealbreaker for you or not.
Also, watch out for that not-so-ergonomic handle, especially if you have slightly bigger hands, as my husband does – it’s going to rub your knuckles in all the wrong places!
Pros
- Works for making stuffed burgers and regular patties
- Made from heavy-duty BPA-free plastic
- It’s dishwasher-safe
- Comes with a free Stuffed Burger Recipe ebook
- Backed up by a lifetime guarantee
Cons
- The handle design is troublesome
- You can’t adjust the size of your burgers
Best Hamburger Press For Large Family Gatherings
Shape+Store Burger Master 8-in-1 Innovative Burger Press
You have no idea what it took to persuade John into giving this one a chance. He’s one of those people that are very particular about their patties, and getting him to try something other than a perfectly round burger was quite a task.
But guess what? These weird-shaped, hexagon burgers grew on him after a couple of uses!
And with the ability to make up to eight patties at a time – that’s right, eight – how could he not be impressed with the Shape+Store Burger Master?
The entire press is made from non-stick plastic, but what it might lack in durability, it surely makes up for inefficiency.
Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe – and trust me, when you’re cleaning up after a large family barbecue, you learn to appreciate things like that.
Here’s what bothered me: It doesn’t seal properly – well, at least not as tight as I expected.
Although it’s advertised as a storage container, too, I did find some minor freezer burns on the patties, so you should probably stick with its primary purpose and forget about the whole “container” thing.
Pros
- It shapes up to eight burgers at a time
- Suitable for shaping and storing burger meat
- Every patty is individually sealed
- The tray is made from non-stick plastic
- It’s dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Freezer burns are still a possibility
- It’s a bit pricey
MiiKO Stuffed Burger Press with 20 Free Burger Patty Papers and Recipe E-Book
If you want a burger press but without having to spend too much, then this one by MiiKO is an option that you should definitely check out.
The inexpensive burger press will allow you to make patties of three different types. It includes molds that will help you prepare burgers, stuffed burgers, or sliders. I personally love the option of making stuffed burgers because you can get truly creative with the filling of the burgers.
The sizes of the presses are 4 inches for the larger one and 2.5 inches for the smaller option.
Also included in the package are 20 parchment papers for easy removal, storage, and freezing of the patties.
The burger press is made of sturdy plastic, which has non-stick qualities and is easy to use and wash. It can safely be washed in a dishwasher too.
You will receive a free eBook with 20 recipes for preparing tasty burgers and sliders for all occasions, along with this press.
The size of the press is 5 x 5 x 2.4 inches, and it weighs 8.2 ounces.
Overall, this is one of the most versatile burger presses on this list, and it costs less than $15, so it is a great buy.
Pros:
- It has molds for three different types of patties – regular, sliders, and stuffed burgers.
- Made of easy to clean, sturdy plastic
- It is sold with a useful cookbook with 20 recipes
- It comes with 20 pieces of parchment paper for making, storing, or freezing the patties
- It is compact
- It is inexpensive
Cons:
- None found so far
Meykers Burger Press 100 Patty Papers Set
With the Meykers Burger Press, your barbeque parties will become even more fun. This reasonably priced burger press will allow you to shape those patties professionally, one after the other, in a matter of seconds.
The burger press will enable you to create perfectly round patties with the added grill grooves every time.
It has a food-grade aluminum alloy non-stick surface and comes with 100 parchment papers cut perfectly to fit inside the press. They are great for easy removal of the ready patties from the press. You can use them to separate the patties before grilling them, as well as for storing and freezing them.
Because the press itself is made of sturdy and safe metal, you can even use it as a mini-pan and roast plate and grill your burger in it.
The top part has scratch-resistant and comfortable to hold handle to press the patties with ease. The handle can be removed for compact storage and for easy portability when you are going on a camping trip or another outing.
The size of the cleverly designed grilling tool is 4.5 (W) x 2.9 (H) inches, and when the handle is removed, it is 4.5 (W) x 0.8 (H) inches and weighs 8.4 ounces.
This set of 100 parchment papers and the non-stick burger press will make cleaning up after a grill session a breeze. There will be no precious meat or parts of your veggie burgers stuck inside the press, and each of the patties will come out looking absolutely perfect.
Plus, it is dishwasher safe as well.
For this price, the Meykers Burger Press is most definitely a worthwhile purchase. You will love how easy it is to use and clean, and your family and guests will love those perfectly shaped and grooved patties!
Pros:
- Made of heavy-duty aluminum alloy, which can be placed directly on the grill
- A non-stick, food-safe coating will prevent any sticking of the meat or other ingredients
- Compact size and a removable handle for easy portability and storage
- Easy to clean
- Has molded grill marks
- It comes with 100 waxed parchment papers
- Very reasonably priced for the value offered
Cons:
- The size of the patties may be too small for some tastes
And the Best Burger Press is…
Okay, you know the drill: Now’s the part where I announce the winner of the round-up – and in this case, the greatest burger press is, by far, the Grillaholics Stuffed.
First of all, it’s surprisingly durable, but more importantly, it’s suitable for making both regular and stuffed burgers! It was the affordable price and the free recipe ebook that tipped the scales for us, though!
And since he helped with picking the winner of the round-up, John would like you to leave a comment below – you know, in case he missed anything! 🙂
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