Select ground beef to make your hamburger patties. Aim for a combination of 80 to 85 percent lean and 15 to 20 percent fat for the most flavorful and moist burgers.

Place the ground beef in a large bowl and season it liberally with salt and fresh ground pepper. Mix it together thoroughly with clean hands.

Remove one 6-ounce portion of meat from the bowl. Use light pressure to shape it into a loose ball. Hold the ball in one hand and gently press down on it with the palm of the other hand to flatten it.

Rotate the meat in your palm as you press down to form the patty. Continue to rotate and press until you have a patty that is approximately 3/4-inch thick.

Press your thumb into the center of the finished burger patty to make a small indentation, which will prevent the burger from swelling up as it cooks. Set the burger aside and repeat the process with the remaining ground beef.

Set your grill or pan to medium-high heat and cook the burgers for roughly three to four minutes per side. Do not press down on the burgers with a spatula as they cook or you will lose the flavorful internal juices. Place a slice of cheese on the burger for the last couple of minutes if you are making cheeseburgers.

Remove the burgers from the heat and serve them on buns with the condiments of your choice, such as lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, hot peppers, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise.