The Spatula

You will notice a stiff spatula mentioned in just about every recipe. It will become your most treasured tool, and the thing you’ll proudly show off to your friends (the clueless ones with the flimsy spatulas). At a restaurant-supply store it should only set you back five dollars or less. You can spend more, and there are now tools on the market designed for smashing patties (like my very own Smashula). And when I say stiff, I mean stiff. If the spatula you own now bends even a little, chuck it—you will only become frustrated as you make your way through these burger recipes. Get your hands on a 6½-inch (16.5-cm) solid-wood-handled “turner,” or spatula. It should have a beveled edge, which you will need for scraping the pan.