"Gal Called J.J." > wrote in message
...
> "Dimitri" > quoted:
>
>> hamburger
>> 1. Said to have made its first appearance at the St. Louis Louisiana
>> Purchase Exposition in 1904, the hamburger is one of America's favorite
>> foods.
>
> <snip>
>
> That's no exaggeration. :-) But this thread got me to thinking
> about mixing ground beef, whether for burgers, meatloaf, whatever.
>
> The standard wisdom is not to overwork the ground beef, because
> your hands can melt the fat and make it tough. But if you don't
> mix it enough, the seasonings won't get dispersed. So how do guys
> mix your beef? Would it be efficient to use a spoon? TIA...
>

I am under the impression that the problem comes from too much mechanical
action and not from warming, so it will happen if you use a mixer or your
hands. I think hands are best and I've never had a problem getting spices
well dispersed before the toughness sets in.

Peter Aitken