Better Turkey Burgers

It used to be that I thought all turkey burgers had to be dry and tasteless. Not so! Turkey is by its nature lower in fat than beef or buffalo. Left alone, and cooked like beef, it can indeed be dry. I've tried many different tricks from other recipes and have compiled the tricks I like the best to make the burgers I like the best. These are neither dry nor tasteless. Let the picnic begin!

Ingredients: 

1 tsp water

1/4 tsp baking soda

1 Tbs melted butter

1 egg, beaten

1-1/2 lb ground turkey, 93% lean

1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce

1/4 cup panko

1 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

1 tsp to 1 Tbs olive oil

Directions: 

Spoon the water into a small bowl. Dissolve the baking soda in the water and set aside. Melt the butter in a large mixing bowl by heating for a few seconds in a microwave. Crack the egg into the bowl with the butter and beat or whisk it until it is just mixed. Add the turkey to the bow with the egg and butter, breaking it gently into about 1 inch size chunks. Add the baking soda water, Worcestershire sauce, panko, salt, and pepper. Mix the ingredients gently, just until mixed. Lightly form into about 8 patties. These can be refrigerated until ready to cook. Cook by pouring the olive oil into a nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Add the smaller amount of olive oil if you are cooking only 1 or 2 burgers, and the larger amount of oil if you are cooking more burgers. Add the patties to the skillet while it is still cold. Reduce the heat to medium low and cover. Cook the burgers for about 2 to 3 minutes, then flip. The burgers should be nicely brown on the bottom. Cover and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes on the second side until it is well browned. Test the burgers to make sure they are cooked thoroughly. A meat thermometer should read 160F, or the center of the burger should have no pink at all. Serve. 

Serves 8

Stealthy Cooking Tip: I used 1-1/2 pounds of ground turkey because it seems that all the packages of turkey I buy come in this weight! These burgers may also be frozen and stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or using the meat thawing setting on your microwave, then cook as above. If you like your burgers seasoned with herbs or spices, add them to the mixture when you add the salt and pepper, or sprinkle some seasoning on the outside of the burgers just before cooking.