Why do my veggie burgers fall apart.

Been There said:
I have tried to grill some types of fish that also fall apart when only grilling them. If I put a coating on them, I can turn them otherwise, they fall part when I flip them over.

I caught a bunch of Halibut while in Alaska and tried to grill them over my campfire, but they wouldn't stay together when I turned them over. What's the secret? I plan on going back up there maybe next spring. I like visiting Skagway and Sitka.
Click to expand...
Halibut is ONE of the most expensive fish to buy in Canada or the lower 48. My local Toronto fish and chips place ( The Sea Witch ) does Halibut with a English beer based batter, and double fried Russet potatoes, from our Atlantic Province of Prince Edward Island. Heavenly. The batter is the secret to getting a correctly cooked Halibut filet. JimB.
 
SeaBreeze said:
Your veggie burgers look great! Are they falling apart because they are sticking to the pan? If that's the case, a pat of butter or light olive oil will help.

Only veggie burgers we eat are MorningStar Farms Griller's Prime, they are pretty good and we put a pat of butter in the pan and kind of give them a seared outside.

Kudos that you're doing your own. (y)
Click to expand...
No, I cooked them in olive oil and they didn't stick to the pan, but they also didn't stick together.
 

oscash said:
bobcat48 - All the ingredients sound great but I think you forgot to add in some plain flour to bind it all together.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I had no idea flour would do that, but that could very well be the reason. I did add cracker crumbs to the mix, and you would think that might accomplish the same thing, but perhaps the cracker crumbs don't bind like flour does. I will know better next time.
 
Been There said:
I have tried to grill some types of fish that also fall apart when only grilling them. If I put a coating on them, I can turn them otherwise, they fall part when I flip them over.

I caught a bunch of Halibut while in Alaska and tried to grill them over my campfire, but they wouldn't stay together when I turned them over. What's the secret? I plan on going back up there maybe next spring. I like visiting Skagway and Sitka.
Click to expand...
It's probably a very similar situation here. Thanks.
 
CallMeKate said:
Your burgers look and sound delicious. Anything I would have suggested has already been mentioned in your comments, so I hope you'll find something that works. I'll be having a Dr. Praeger California Veggie Burger for lunch today, but those stay together well... most likely 'cause of the preservatives. 😳 NO! I'm wrong... I just got curious and checked the ingredient panel on the Praeger burgers! I'm impressed!

Ingredients​

Carrots, Onions, String Beans, Oat Bran, Soybeans, Zucchini, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Peas, Broccoli, Corn, Soy Flour, Spinach, Red Peppers, Arrowroot Powder, Corn Starch, Garlic, Corn Meal, Sea Salt, Spices
Click to expand...
Ingredients all sound good and healthy. I notice that Soy Flour and Corn Starch are both in there, which leads me to believe that the other commenters are most likely right, that you need flour or cornstarch to bind everything together. My mistake.
 
bobcat48 said:
Why do my veggie burgers fall apart.
Click to expand...
I have to agree with @Gaer looks like you need some hamburger mixed in. Maybe a 50/50 mix would work, or just substitute the burger for all that veggie stuff.

Had a similar problem with alligator meat back when I hunted gators. I'd make sausage out of a lot of it, and discovered that adding about 25% pork make the sausage stick together better, and it tasted better. Then I tried 50/50 and that was even better. Then I decided it was best without the gator... Does gator count as vegetarian? It's a little like fish.
 
It sounds like your patties may be a little too wet maybe??? Also make sure whatever your frying them in is really hot when you put them in you can always lower heat if needed and don't flip them untill you see the edges are browning, lift edge with spatula a tiny bit to see under to tell if browned. Congrats for trying your doing great!
 
bobcat48 said:
Ingredients all sound good and healthy. I notice that Soy Flour and Corn Starch are both in there, which leads me to believe that the other commenters are most likely right, that you need flour or cornstarch to bind everything together. My mistake.
Click to expand...
Nah, never a mistake when experimenting in the kitchen... just happy little accidents. Bonus points if you name the speaker of that quote. :giggle: @bobcat48
 
Alligatorob said:
I have to agree with @Gaer looks like you need some hamburger mixed in. Maybe a 50/50 mix would work, or just substitute the burger for all that veggie stuff.

Had a similar problem with alligator meat back when I hunted gators. I'd make sausage out of a lot of it, and discovered that adding about 25% pork make the sausage stick together better, and it tasted better. Then I tried 50/50 and that was even better. Then I decided it was best without the gator... Does gator count as vegetarian? It's a little like fish.
Click to expand...
Ha ha. I have no problem with eating meat, it's just that these were "vegie burgers".
 
stretch5881 said:
  • Cracker crumbs
  • Eggs
  • Evaporated milk
  • Gelatin
  • Ground flax
  • Guar gum
  • Oatmeal
  • Milk
  • Potato starch
  • Psyllium husk
  • Rice
  • Tapioca
  • Wheat flour
  • Xanthan gum
  • I did a quick search for food binders.
Click to expand...
I did have cracker crumbs and eggs. I do have wheat flour, but I never thought to put it in.
I should make that my new motto: "When in doubt, put it in". Lol
 
bobcat48 said:
If I buy the ones in the store they hold together like hockey pucks, but I don't like to buy them because of all the preservatives, etc..., so in my mind I think: How hard can it be to just make my own. So I decide to be a maverick about it and make my own recipe, and that way I can just put in the stuff I like.
I put the following ingredients in a bowl.
2 eggs
diced carrots
diced onion
diced celery
diced bell pepper
1 can of Black beans drained well and smashed
diced green olives
sunflower seeds
I mixed it all together with spices and it seemed to bond together pretty good
I plopped them in a frying pan with olive oil and they held together ok until flipping time when they just rebelled.
I thought of that Captain & Tenille song: "Love will keep us together", and I love them, but apparently my love means nothing. They just fall apart like Chinese furniture.
Anyway, I know I'm screwing up somewhere, but I'm still a rookie in the kitchen and any advice would be appreciated.

View attachment 294188
Click to expand...
Not having yet read the full thread of surely brilliant replies;
How 'bout... fewer veggies and an extra egg, and possibly somethin' else that's sticky, such as day-old rice?

Though your recipe looks so good, I would advise not letting it bother you that it falls into pieces. Just give it a different name, instead of patties, cakes or burgers; Call it veggie scramble or sumptin'?
 
Jace said:
Another idea...you have enough 'crunch' items..
Try eliminating the celery
.and if you want that flavor...celery salt.
Click to expand...
I agree that the celery is probably adding too much water, so would be good to try it without.

ANd seriously as well, celery salt is not just celery flavor. Most times it contains at least half salt, so if you do use it, dont add any extra plain salt in addition to it.
One could use lovage leaf instead, for excellent flavor that is similar to salt.
But few people have lovage leaf available, so most posters can just ignore that comment. 😁
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top