A burger flipper is a wide, thin spatula that you slide under your burger in one go. Where an ordinary kitchen spatula is too narrow and leaves the patty hanging half off, this blade carries the whole piece of meat. You flip it, it doesn't fall apart and you don't lose filling or fat into the coals. That saves you not just result, but also flare-ups at the moment you can least use them.
Why a burger flipper works better than tongs
With tongs you squeeze. That's fine for a steak or a sausage, but with mince you press the juice out and break the crust you just waited for. A wide spatula lifts instead of squeezing: you slide the thin front edge under the crust, lift the burger flat and put it back down in one motion. The same goes for fish, which you can hardly lift off the grate whole with tongs.
- Wide blade supports the whole burger while flipping
- Thin front edge slides under meat that's lightly seared
- Long handle keeps distance between your hand and the glowing coals
- Also suitable for fish, halloumi and thick vegetable slices
- Works on grate, cast iron plate and plancha
How to flip without damage
Only flip once the burger releases on its own. If it's still stuck, the crust isn't ready and you'll tear it apart. Slide the spatula flat and in one straight motion under the meat, lift it up and put the burger straight back in the same spot. Flipping once is enough: every extra flip costs you moisture and crust.
Care
Clean the spatula after use while it's still lukewarm, that's when stuck-on bits release most easily. Dry it off afterwards before storing it, so no moisture stays behind on the metal.
Bill's tipWorking with a cast iron plate? Warm the spatula up alongside it. A cold blade sticks to the meat faster than a warm one.
If you shape your own burgers, this tool combines well with the hamburger press from Grill Fanatics. For pieces you actually want to grab, reach for the bbq tongs, and the rest of the tools are at bbq tools.
