/ck/ - Food & Cooking

Pressing burgers on the pan for the first 15 seconds of cooking has virtually no effect on moisture loss. It maximizes contact with the pan and creates a very brown and crispy crust on the burger. This technique is widely used in fast casual chains like Smashburger, In-N-Out Burger, Five Guys, and Shake Shack. Obviously, you need a metal spatula that is wide, stiff, and sharp enough to evenly press the burger, and then scrape it off without losing the crust.