Food Styling for Photographers

BURGERS, SANDWICHES, AND BEYOND

I normally make patties 5/8 to 3/4 inch thick. You will

need to make patties match the thickness as determined

by the look you have chosen for your burger. Form the

patties so the meat is tightly packed together. If there is

a lot of air remaining in the patties, they tend to fall apart.

Pay attention to the shape of the patty edges in order to

create the look you want. Th e patties can be seared at this

point, if you are ready to build the burger, or wrapped

individually in plastic wrap and refrigerated overnight.

When you unwrap each patty, confi rm that the patty

edges have remained in the desired shape.

You need a hot griddle or large fl at skillet to cook the

patties. Brush the cooking surface with vegetable oil.

Preheat the cooking instrument to 350º. Place one beef

patty on the cooking surface until it is no longer red and

releases easily from the cooking surface. It is not your

goal to cook the meat at this time, but rather to brown

the meat only until it no longer appears red. Carefully

turn the patty over using a spatula. Cook the patty until

the down-side is no longer red. Th e edges may still be

pink. Th at’s OK.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE The easiest way to make the patties

the correct size and to keep them uniform in size is to make a pattern

or guide. To determine the size for your burger patty, place a stand-in

bun top, with cut side down, on a piece of paper. Trace around the

outer edge of the bun top. Around this circle draw an additional circle

¼ inch larger in diameter. This line will create the guide for the patty

size. Tape the pattern on the table surface where you plan to work

as you shape the patties. Place a sheet of plastic wrap over the paper

pattern and tape it securely to the table. Use the pattern as a guide

as you form the patties.

SAFETY NOTE Transfer the patty to a fl ame-resistant surface.

For safety, I use and highly recommend a landscaping stone. With a

torch, lightly brown the edges of the patty so they no longer appear

pink. Refer to the torch manufacturer’s operating and safety guidelines

before using it. As a precautionary measure, keep a fi re extinguisher

nearby. Perform the torch tasks under an exhaust fan since smoke

will be generated by this procedure.