Turkey offers a great low-fat alternative to conventional summer burger fare. One of the best things about turkey is the variety of different flavor profiles it can accommodate, and this range of possibilities is no less present when discussing burgers. Baking them requires minimal equipment, preparation and cooking time.
Basics
Baking a turkey burger is an especially useful option for those individuals who lack access to a grill -- the more traditional or conventional method for cooking burgers of any protein form. The trick of this is getting the right cooking time and oven temperature to cook the patty through without allowing it to become to dry. For this, you may need to practice a little depending on how thick you enjoy the burger and the temperament of your appliances.
Prep Method
The basic method for baking a turkey burger is similar to preparing a traditional beef burger. First, break up the turkey meat in a bowl. Here you can season the meat with salt, pepper and any other desired spice or herb. You can also add an egg yolk as a binding agent. If you want to use other ingredients, such as chopped onion or pepper, make sure they are diced rather fine so that the texture of the turkey burger remains consistent throughout. Mix those ingredients together thoroughly. Take handfuls of the burger meat and form it into patties. Mold it so that the patties are the desired thickness and evenly thick all around. Shape it with your hands so that the edges are smooth.
Baking
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the oven is being brought up to temp, grab your standard baking sheet -- the same type of item that you would use for cookies -- and grease it with cooking oil, using a cooking brush or clean paper towel. If you forget this step, you will not be able to flip the burger or remove it from the pan without tearing it. For the healthiest option, use extra virgin olive oil. Place the individual turkey burger patties an equal distance apart. Cook them for 10 minutes. Coat the tops of the burgers with olive oil and flip them over, cooking for another 10 minutes.
Temperature
To ensure the meat is done, place a meat thermometer into the center of the patty. Ground poultry should always read 160 degrees F to be safe to eat. You do not want to undercook a turkey burger as you would when cooking beef medium-rare, as this can lead to dangerous foodborne illnesses.
Accompaniments
Toppings for your turkey burger could include low-fat cheese, healthy slabs of onion, tomato or spinach for some iron. To add an Asian flair, Chef Jamie Gwen adds finely cut garlic, ginger, scallion and Hoisin sauce to the burger mixture. Mix it all together and layer it on a wheat or whole-grain roll. Chef John Adamson suggests a Caribbean-inspired turkey burger using jerk seasoning.
Member Comments