Linda0818
Head Chef
My personal reason for using the parchment and the burger press is because the burger press is much wider than my biggest spatula (I can't afford to go buy a huge spatula just for burgers) and smashes the burgers down wider and flatter than the spatula would. That and with the burger press, you have a handle on top where you can press down and smash the heck out of the meat and have more control over how thin and how large your burgers turn out. Plus, if I have a burger that needs a little more pressing, I can smoosh it down easier.I'm not understanding why the need for parchment or wax paper in the first place? Why wouldn't you just use the spatula? You're going to wash it any how, so why buy, use and toss $omething.
Even should it stick a bit, using a 2nd spatula, seems much easier to me. And if you use a silicon type it won't stick in the first place.
As for the parchment, it's a convenience thing. That and it's pretty much a guarantee of no sticking. You could spray the burger press with nonstick cooking spray, but the parchment is just easier, in my opinion.