One of the most important steps to making hamburger patties from scratch is binding the ingredients together. If they aren’t bound well, the patties will start to fall apart as soon as you start cooking them. The most commonly used binding agent for hamburger patties is eggs. They work well with ground meat and are easy to incorporate into the rest of your ingredients. However, not everyone is as keen to use eggs in their hamburgers as others.
Some people may have an allergy or intolerance to eggs, or they simply may not like their taste. Plus, adding eggs to burgers makes them take longer to cook.
If you’re someone who wants to make hamburgers without eggs that won’t fall apart, here are a few tried and true substitutions for eggs from Tariq Halal.
How to Make Hamburger Patties Stick Together Without Egg
It’s important to note that if you’re not using eggs because you’re worried about the cholesterol from egg yolks, you can always separate the yolks from the eggs and just use the egg whites.
For people who have an egg allergy or who simply don’t want to use eggs to bind their burgers, there are other options. One of the most common substitutes is breadcrumbs, but sometimes the breadcrumbs can fall off when the burgers are cooking if there are too many or they are too dry.
Other popular substitutions for eggs include cornstarch, flour, ketchup, porridge oats, cracker crumbs, and ground flaxseed.
Whichever binding agent you use, be sure to fully knead and incorporate all the ingredients together so that they don’t start falling apart before you’ve even started cooking your delicious burgers.
Haal Burgers from Tariq Halal
Tariq Halal is a premiere seller of delicious, fresh and frozen ground beef perfect for making beef and lamb burgers. We also have a range of premade and pre seasoned patties that are perfect for the next time you plan on grilling burgers. Whatever you’re in the mood for, whether it’s beef burgers, chicken burgers, or charcoal grill burgers, Tariq Halal has high quality meat that will set your grilled meat recipes apart.
FAQs
One of the most common substitutes is breadcrumbs, but sometimes the breadcrumbs can fall off when the burgers are cooking if there are too many or they are too dry. Other popular substitutions for eggs include cornstarch, flour, ketchup, porridge oats, cracker crumbs, and ground flaxseed.
How to make ground beef stick together without egg? ›
My secret to binding burgers with no egg and no breadcrumbs is chia seeds. The chia seeds do not add crunch to the burger so do not panic. You can't tell they are there at all. Even my burger-loving burger aficionado husband has given this recipe his seal of approval!
What to use instead of egg to bind burgers? ›
What can you use to bind burgers instead of egg? In theory, you could use bread crumbs—I recommend using coarse, crustless fresh white bread crumbs—or even grated Parmesan cheese. The best way of getting your burgers to hold together is by using a medium grind 80% beef 20% fat ground chuck and a burger press.
What to add to ground beef to make patties stay together? ›
Add 1 egg yolk per pound of hamburger. It won't add appreciably to the fat content and will bind the meat beautifully. The other thing you can do is add canned, drained, crushed black beans or chickpeas to the hamburger. The starch from the beans will bind the meat together and add an interesting taste.
How do you keep hamburger patties from falling apart? ›
Try to work as efficiently as possible and avoid squeezing too hard, since overworking the beef is a big reason why burgers fall apart. If you don't want to grill them right away, however, throw them in the fridge while you wait – colder burgers are less likely to break down when you cook them.
What helps patties stick together? ›
There are a few ingredients you can add to burgers to help hold them together, such as eggs, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, or even cooked grains like quinoa or rice. These ingredients act as binders and help keep the burger patties intact while cooking. Some folks add a little bread crumbs.
How do you make food stick together without eggs? ›
This article explores the various ingredients that can be used as egg alternatives.
- Applesauce. Applesauce is a purée made from cooked apples. ...
- Mashed banana. ...
- Ground flaxseeds or chia seeds. ...
- Commercial egg replacer. ...
- Silken tofu. ...
- Vinegar and baking soda. ...
- Yogurt or buttermilk. ...
- Arrowroot powder.
No, eggs are not necessary for binding burger patties, though they are commonly used for binding them. However, you can use other binding agents such as breadcrumbs, cracker crumbs, potato starch, flour, and porridge oats to bind burger patties according to your preferences.
How do you keep ground beef separate? ›
Kitchen Hack: Use a Potato Masher to Break Apart Ground Beef as it Cooks.
How do you bind burgers together? ›
3. Bind the patty together. If you're going for a leaner meat or adding bulky ingredients (eg spring onions, onions, chillies), add an egg and a handful of breadcrumbs to bind the burgers.
Egg yolk acts as a binder and adds flavor
After forming it into a patty, he explains that the egg actually helps bind the meat together, and adds an incredibly rich flavor to the burger patty. As a good rule of thumb, it's best to add one yolk per pound of ground beef.
Why won t my burger patties stick together? ›
Best ways to keep burgers from falling apart
Refrain from over-handling or overpacking the meat when you shape it into patties. Place on a plate and cover with foil. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes before frying or grilling. Wait to flip the burger until it is cooked on the first side.
How do you coat meat without eggs? ›
Editor: One option is just dipping the fish or chicken breast in melted butter before rolling it in the spices or coating, like we did in this Blackened Chicken recipe. You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first.
How do I make cooked ground beef stick together? ›
The most common burger binding agent is egg. This makes your ground beef stick together and is the most readily available ingredient. You can also use potato starch as a burger binding agent depending on your allergies or general availability.
How do you bind food without eggs? ›
You can bind ingredients for savory recipes like meatloaf or mini spiralized sweet potato casseroles by substituting each egg with ¼ cup of pureed silken tofu or 1 tablespoon of soy lecithin. Recipes using soy lecithin may require additional liquid additives.
What can you use instead of egg to bind meatballs? ›
Thankfully, mashed potatoes work as an excellent egg substitute for meatballs. The function of egg in meatballs has very little to do with flavor and more to do with its binding properties, similar to why you might use breadcrumbs in meatloaf or burgers: to help everything hold together.
