Portion and shape burger patties using your hand as a size guide
Use a consistent hand-sized portion (about baseball-sized) and press/flatten evenly so patties cook to a uniform size.
The video uses the cook’s hand as a consistent portioning tool: a ball about the size of a baseball yields roughly a 5–6 oz burger. Shape with your palms, then press/flatten (even on a board) to get an even patty.
The short version
- Use a repeatable portion size.
- Flatten evenly for uniform cooking.
What you need
- cutting boardoptionalUsed as a flat surface for pressing
How to do it
- 1
Portion meat to a uniform size using your hand as a guide (about baseball-sized for ~5–6 oz).
Consistency matters more than exact weight for home cooking.
Watch this step - 2
Gently form the portion with your palms, squeezing only slightly to bring it together.
Don’t overwork the meat.
Watch this step - 3
Press/flatten the patty evenly; you can press it on a board, turn once, and press again.
Aim for an even thickness so it cooks evenly.
Watch this step
What goes wrong
Making patties different sizes/thicknesses
Use the same portioning method each time and press to an even thickness.
Why it works
Consistent portioning and thickness improves even cooking and repeatable results.
Put it to use
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