When to salt your burgers

Before tailgating season winds completely down and grills are wheeled into garages, there’s still time for a few more sessions on the proper burger. And while you’re right to think that cooking it right is one of the keys to getting a tender, juicy hamburger, what happens before you carry the meat out to your grill is just as important.

Salt and pepper should be added to every patty or steak — but not until just before you fire them on the grill, according to Serious Eats. In a comprehensive article comparing hand-ground patties and how salt affects everything from grinding to the final product, it would appear that salt can either ruin or elevate the chuck eye you’re ready to turn into hamburger.