Choose Quality Meat: Start with high-quality ground beef, preferably 80% lean and 20% fat for juicy burgers.
Keep It Cold: Keep the meat and all ingredients cold until you're ready to cook to prevent bacterial growth.
Season Generously: Season the meat well with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or Worcestershire sauce.
Don't Overwork the Meat: Handle the meat gently; overmixing can make burgers tough. Just mix until ingredients are evenly distributed.
Uniform Patties: Form patties with even thickness to ensure even cooking. Use a burger press or your hands.
Make an Indentation: Press your thumb in the center of each patty to prevent it from puffing up while cooking.
Preheat the Grill or Pan: Ensure your grill or pan is hot before placing the burgers on it.
Oil the Grill Grates: Prevent sticking by brushing the grill grates with oil before cooking.