Homemade burgers for bbq ...help!

[MrsMorse]

Just can’t make our homemade burgers stick together on the bbq..and it’s be a crime not to bbq this weekend. We just make patties from mince and onion then refrigerate for a few hours. Any tips on keeping the meat together? Have tried egg before but that just made them slimey

Thank you

[Xiaoxiong]

Are you using extra lean mince? I find it has to be about 20% fat to stick together. Also don't over mix it, that can "break" the protein binding - just mix the cold mince with seasoning until it comes together and no more.

[SarahTancredi]

Egg and breadcrumbs (oats work too)

And the higher fat mince.

[FreeButtonBee]

Egg does work. Maybe beat it in a separate bowl and add it bit by bit. It also helps to put them in th fridge uncovered so they cool down and get a bit of a ‘crust’ on them.

[MrsMorse]

So helpful thank you all. Think we’ve over egged in the past, we use really lean mince so hadn’t thought about fat content! Thank you again!

[ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule]

Yep - 20% fat mince, egg (but not too much), breadcrumbs, seasoning, done. I'm so hungry now, I KNEW I shouldn't have caught up on the 2 hour dinner thread and then clicked on one about burgers...

[ChicCroissant]

Agree with all the other suggestions here, especially higher-fat mince being better for burgers, egg and breadcrumbs.

If you have a burger press that can help as well. I used to just squash them by hand but got one as part of a present and it does work well. If not, could just squash them a bit with a small plate on the top.

Enjoy the BBQ, OP!

[3teens2cats]

Agree, egg and bread crumbs or crushed up cream crackers works too. I use 500g of 20% fat mince, one egg, one finely chopped onion, couple of slices of bread made into crumbs, a teaspoon of wholegrain mustard, salt and pepper. You have to really get your hands in and squeeze the ingredients together into a mushy paste. Divide into balls, squash flat and cover lightly with flour to stop them sticking.

[ZeldaPrincessOfHyrule]

Ooh! I just thought - I also try and fridge them a bit after I've made them. I just stick bits of greaseproof paper between them and wrap them in cling film, then fridge them so they firm up a bit. Not really a problem if you haven't got time though ☺️

[FiveGoMadInDorset]

Definitely need the fat content, if you have that then just seasoning and cook

[PinkHeart5914]

Lean mince is no good for this!

You need high fat mince and to refrigerate them for awhile before cooking

I use high fat mince, add an onion and seasoning nothing else and mine have never fallen apart.....

[darceybussell]

Yes, eggs and crushed up cream crackers - we stick the crackers in a pestle and mortar and grind them to nearly dust

[redpickle]

I don't use the white, just the yolk with breadcrumbs, tsp mustard and refrigerate- also top tip is a tablespoon of gravy granules (dry) seems to bind them and gives a nice beefy flavour.

[FreeButtonBee]

I like a splodge if tomato ketchup in as wel