Review Slider Grilling Basket
The mini triple burger press worked OK but we decided that it would be easier to pack the meat into the rings of the basket itself and this way you get a patty about a half an inch thick. We used dinner rolls so we did not use the bun cutter, it makes for a good presentation I just cannot see wasting half a burger bun. The grill basket itself if a nonstick-coated wire frame with 9 rings to hold the burger patties in place, the top cage is a separate removable piece. We cleaned the basket then coated it with cooking oil (I always do this nonstick coating or not) then loaded it with the burgers and placed and locked the top cage into place.
Taking the basket from inside to the grill was as easy as grabbing it by the hardwood handle with one hand and walking it outside. I placed the basket onto the preheated grill, leaving the handle outside of the grilling surface. I had to leave the lid of my gas grill open to allow the handle to stick out. Since the burgers are small it didn’t add too much to the cooking time. Turning them was basically the flick of the wrist, one turn for all 9 patties, and then wonder, why I do not use grill baskets more often. I decided that it would be best to empty the basket outside and just bring the burgers in. I turned off the heat, unlatched and removed the top and left it on the grates to cool, then just flipped the basket quickly and the burgers fell right out onto the plate. I also left the bottom of the basket on the grill as well. It is important to note, that the handle never got hot while cooking.
The burgers were delicious and clean up was a breeze in the kitchen sink with soap water and a sponge (and this is probably why I don’t use a grill basket that often). The labor saved on the grill flipping all the burgers individually, is offset by the cleaning of the basket.
In conclusion: The basket performed better then I expected, I was expecting the patties to stick and clean up to be a pain and neither happened. It is well constructed and will last for years of normal use, until the nonstick surface gets damaged. Skip the version that includes the burger press, and pack the meat into the basket on a piece of wax paper (unless your are giving it as a gift) and just get the mini burger basket and save a few bucks.
Is it a must have for your arsenal of grill tools? That depends how much you like sliders. I can really see using it every time we cook burgers and hot dogs at the same time. Grab a slider or two in one hand and a dog in the other.