What's the best way to prevent a burger from breaking up while cooking?

Question

I'm making turkey burgers but they break up too often. I've tried mayo, raw egg, even bread crumbs! Help out! Also want info on regular burgers if turkey burgers are different.

Answer 1

Egg is the best binder I know of. You don't say when it crumbles. Try mixing your salt, pepper, and spices into the meat and then add to the mixture: a beaten egg with a touch of water. After mixing well form a rectangle of meat and divide into equal burger portions. Take the portions and roll into a meat ball in your hand and then mold into a patty with a small indentation in the middle. It will rise up when cooking and you'll have a flat hamburg. Or get a hamburg mold and don't make it too thin.
You can also bake the patties in the oven or make a meatloaf out of it.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

I'm not sure, but since turkey has little/no fat it has nothing to bind it together. You might try one egg per pound of burger and a little flour - perhaps a tablespoon or two? If it's to dry, add a little milk (I know, sounds weird but you don't taste it). Beef burgers bind together pretty well, but I have added egg to them before, too. My husband grew up eating a lot of cracker crumbs (big crumbs) in his burgers - he thought they were for flavor until I mentioned that his mother probably used them to stretch the beef to feed six hungry mouths.

Answer 4

One egg per pound of ground meat will hold the burgers together. For leaner cuts of meat like ground turkey or chicken breast, you may want to add some veggies (ie onion, celery, bell peppers) to keep your meat moist while at the same time adding flavor. Good luck!

Answer 5

turkey tends to be drier so it can break up easier than ground beef. you need some moisture so i would try some fresh minced onion and worchester, plus that will add some nice flavor. also when you put it on the grill or in the pan, leave it alone!!!! i know it is tempting to flip it but leave it for 6-8 mins, then flip and finish cooking, only flip it once, the less you handle it the less it will fall apart.

Answer 6

You should use only one egg and bread crumbs or even take a piece of bread and break it up and mash it all together. You have to use enough bread to really make it sticky and thick.

Answer 7

I've found that if I move the burgers around too much, they break apart. I usually throw them on the grill - high flame to let them sear. This seems to help, they don't stick, or break up.

Answer 8

You are flipping them too much! You only need to flip a burger once. Fry or grill until the top gets bloody, then flip it and cook till done.

Answer 9

Try adding a small amount of regular ground meat. Or even a small amount of canola oil.

Answer 10

Sorry! an egg was going to be my answer.
Good luck