9 Ways to Build a Better Burger
Buy the best
Many national grocery stores have committed to selling ground beef that is free of "pink slime" (or, officially, "lean finely textured beef"). Whole Foods Market's meat department has never sold beef containing it. Supermarket chain Kroger has said it will no longer carry beef with pink slime.
Want ultimate security? "If you want your ground beef to be safe, you are much better off asking a butcher to grind a sirloin steak for you," says Marion Nestle, PhD, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University. The point is to ensure that your burger comes from just one piece of meat.
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Grocery store tips
The point is to ensure that your burger comes from just one piece of meat. "Commercial hamburger is often ground from the trimmings of hundreds of animals," she explains. "If just one of them has an E. coli problem, it will contaminate the entire batch."
Check with your grocery store butcher—many of the national chain stores will grind whole cuts of meat for customers who ask.
Click through for an array of healthy and tasty beef, turkey and salmon burger recipes.
Related video: How to Grill the Perfect Burger
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Tex-Mex Beef Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe beef burger, slices of pepper jack cheese, pickled peppers and sesame seed buns
Calories: 394
Try this recipe:Tex-Mex Beef Burger
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'Shroom Beef Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe beef burger, slices of swiss cheese, portobello mushroom caps and ciabatta rolls
Calories: 479
Try this recipe: 'Shroom Beef Burger
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French Beef Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe beef burger, goat cheese, jarred roasted red peppers and brioche buns
Calories: 410
Try this recipe:French Beef Burger
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Spicy Blue Turkey Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe turkey burger, blue cheese, ketchup, hot sauce and ciabatta rolls
Calories: 429
Try this recipe:Spicy Blue Turkey Burger
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California Turkey Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe turkey burger, avocado, tomatillo salsa and brioche buns
Calories: 389
Try this recipe:California Turkey Burger
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BBQ Turkey Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe turkey burger, sweet grilled onions, barbecue sauce and sesame seed buns
Calories: 324
Try this recipe:BBQ Turkey Burger
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Ranch Salmon Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe salmon burger, slices of beefsteak tomatoes, ranch dressing and brioche buns
Calories: 464
Try this recipe:Ranch Salmon Burger
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Asian Salmon Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe salmon burger, reduced-fat mayo, reduced-sodium soy sauce, sliced scallions and sesame seed buns
Calories: 393
Try this recipe:Asian Salmon Burger
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Greek Salmon Burger
Ingredients:
1 recipe salmon burger, cucumber slices, crumbled feta cheese and ciabatta rolls
Calories: 393
Try this recipe:Greek Salmon Burger