10 Burger Cooking Tools Needed For a Great Burger

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What are the 10 burger cooking tools needed for a great burger? Because there are so many choices of great tools and equipment to use, and you want to make the best burger, however, you don’t know if you have everything you need.

There is everything from the choice of a spatula to large equipment like grills and fryers. We are going to look at 10 burger cooking tools that are needed to make a great burger, whether you are cooking them on the stove or on the grill. These are the smaller essential items and are not the only ones you might want to use.

• Griddle pan or skillet
• Salt and pepper grinders
• Meat grinder
• Meat thermometer
• Spatula
• Burger press
• Favorite burger recipe
• Apron
• Cutting Board
• Plate for your burger

Number 1 – Griddle Pan or Skillet

One of the most important burger cooking tools needed is your pan or skillet. Now this may seem obvious, but there are many types of pans or skillets in which you can cook your burgers. Cast iron is highly recommended for burgers, either on the stove or on the grill, because once the iron in the pan is heated it holds it very well and will cook your burgers more evenly.

Some think that there is too much sticking with cast iron. But if seasoned correctly and you use an oil such as canola and heat it up on a low to medium heat you should be just fine. Be sure to preheat the skillet on about medium heat for 5 to 10 minutes and add a few tablespoons of oil.

However many people like to use non-stick skillets on the stove. Just know that non-stick shouldn’t be used on the heat any higher than medium to medium-high or you run the risk of emitting the toxic fumes from the non-stick surface. Non-stick is loved to saute vegetables, but can also be a good alternative to cast iron for burgers.

We also like to use the flat, round skillets as they are easy to handle and flip the burgers. You can also still get that sizzling hot sear on the burgers. Start with your heat on medium to medium-high to get started and then lower the heat just a bit to complete the cooking process.

Number 2 – Salt and Pepper Grinders

Many people just have regular salt and pepper shakers. Now there is nothing wrong with that, but we believe you want the freshness of ground pepper and great coarse salt to season those burgers so salt and pepper grinders are a must for every kitchen.

So this kitchen tool is something you don’t want to do without if you want to make a great burger. The grinders will give you the fresh pepper ground from peppercorns that will give your burger a great, fresh flavor.

And if you use a grinder with coarse kosher salt, you are still using the kosher salt but just a bit finer. If you like the bigger salt bits, just adjust the size of the grind larger. Most grinders should have adjustments that will give you the size of salt and pepper bits that you want.

Number 3 – Meat Grinder

There may come a time when you will want to try your hand at grinding your own ground beef mixture. This is definitely on the list of burger cooking tools needed to make a great burger. You can get nice different flavors when grinding your own cuts of beef such as brisket, chuck, and sirloin to name a few.

Why should you grind your own beef when it is easy to just buy it at the store? Well, the store-bought beef is absolutely fine to use. Just be sure you know what you are getting. Read the label on the package to see the lean to fat ratio and make sure it doesn’t just say hamburger.

By grinding your own beef you can control the type of meat that is used and you know what it was like prior to the grinding process. Also, you control the amount of fat going into the grind by the type of beef you are choosing to use. You can create your own flavor of a burger using your choice of meat.

So what type of grinder do you use? You can either use a grinder attachment for your favorite stand mixer, or there are several types of stand-alone meat grinders. You can get a grinder with various attachments and that also has the ability to make sausage. Grinders come in various price ranges whether you choose a hand crank grinder or an electric grinder. You choose according to your needs and how you will use it.

Check out this article from SliceOfKitchen to get more information about grinding your own meat.

Number 4 – Meat Thermometer

Of the 10 burger cooking tools needed to make a great burger, this one is very important. Do you struggle with being sure if your burger is done the way you want it? When cooking ground beef you want to make sure that the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. This is to ensure that all bacteria are killed and you have no chance of getting sick from an underdone burger.

A great tool to have in your kitchen is a meat thermometer. Your burgers are going to be in varying degrees of thickness, so if you are unsure and don’t want to overcook or undercook your burger, opt for a good meat thermometer.

One that is digital instant-read will work best and give you the most accurate reading. When using the thermometer, be sure to insert it from the side of the burger to get the most accurate reading.

Number 5 – Spatula

This maybe should be more at the beginning of the list of burger cooking tools!

The spatula you use will depend on the type of surface you are cooking on. As you know, there are so many choices of spatulas and it can be so confusing that you decide to go ahead and buy one of each! But you don’t need several of these kitchen tools to make a burger.

But first, for cooking burgers, we want to say don’t use any spatula that has slots. You want to use a solid surface spatula because you don’t want to lose any of the great sear pieces or juice from your burger when flipping. And your burgers won’t end up seeping through the slots!

If cooking with cast iron or on the grill your best option would be a metal (stainless steel) spatula. When using a spatula on the grill or with cast iron you want to use one that has a long surface so you don’t have to reach into the grill and risk burn.

Your spatula should have straight or beveled edges so you can slide the spatula under the burger making sure you don’t leave any of that great char behind. Make sure it is nice and sturdy with a wooden handle.

For use on non-stick, your best option is silicone. It won’t scratch and silicone is non-porous so you won’t have the chance of bacteria staying on the spatula when cleaning.

Number 6 – Hamburger Patty Press

Ok, now this really should have been first in the list of kitchen tools needed to make a great burger!

Using a patty press to make your burgers, such as the Perfect Patty Shaperz presses, will give you a more uniform and airy burger. When forming the patties by hand you run the risk of overworking the beef resulting in a dense, hockey-puck type burger. And we definitely don’t want that!

Also, the cubers (little spikes) on our presses create small indents into the meat that help with an even heat and, therefore, an even cook throughout your burgers.

Using a burger press also makes it faster to create your burgers. You can eyeball the meatball or weigh it to get even distribution of meat. So for a quarter-pound burger you would use 4 ounces of meat. But, of course, you can adjust that to your liking.

So use a burger press for your next burger meal and you won’t regret it.

Number 7 – Your Favorite Burger Recipe

You may not think of a recipe book as one of the burger cooking tools needed to make a great burger, but a burger isn’t just a patty of meat with some salt, pepper, and cheese on a bun. It is so much more than that. You can add just about anything on your burger to make it what you want.

If you like Chinese food, try some different sauces on your burger to get that Asian flavor. If you like Mexican food, try topping your burger with some guacamole or even some chili for a different taste treat.

If you like different seasonings, add that either into the meat before making the patties or as an outside seasoning. If mixing, be sure not to overwork the meat.

So get your favorite recipe and get cooking! If you don’t have a particular one of your own, you can check out some favorite recipes on Food & Wine.

Number 8 – Apron

While this isn’t an absolute necessity, yes an apron is one of the 10 burger cooking tools needed to make burgers. Working with all that burger juiciness can result in some splattering of grease – in a good way! So you want to protect yourself and your clothes. Unless you want to show your seriousness on your clothes about cooking those great, juicy burgers! 🙂

And you can get one personalized to you to go with all your great tools! Make it fun and your own and show everyone how serious you are about your burgers!

Number 9 – Cutting Board

Make sure you have a good cutting board when making your patties so you have a place to put the meat when making your patties. And then one for when you are assembling your burgers.

You can get cutting boards made of many different types of materials, such as plastic, wood, bamboo. The type of board you want would depend on what your purpose is for its use.

Wood has always been a top choice of boards due to its strength and ease of cleaning. Be aware though that if you choose bamboo as it is a harder surface, it can dull your knives when cutting.

Many think that plastic is a good alternative due to it being easy to clean. However, when cuts get into the plastic the bacteria can lodge its way into the cuts making them not as sanitary.

A good alternative is using silicone. It is easy on knives, and as silicone is non-porous you won’t run the risk of bacteria growing.

Check out this list from Home Stratosphere all about boards. Then you can decide which might be best for your cooking needs.

Number 10 – A Plate for Your Fabulous Burger

Are you just making a burger for yourself or your family? Or is this a burger-making setup for friends at a party?

You may not think the plate makes that much difference, but you want to show off your fabulous burger, and having the right tools includes a great plate to showcase it on!

Get a white plate or platter to show off all the wonderful colors of your burger. It may not sound like much, but the presentation is everything in cooking – even with a burger!

Let us know if you have other tools in your burger setup that you can’t live without. We love to hear all of your ideas. Happy burger making!