• Whether they're cooked on the barbecue or in a frying pan, burgers are a popular food among many Americans. However, traditional beef burgers are relatively high in fat. Those who are watching their weight, avoid eating red meat, or just want a low-fat alternative to beef burgers can get the same satisfying meal by substituting turkey burgers for beef burgers. The steps for making turkey burgers are similar to making traditional hamburgers, but with a few variations.

• Although it may seem like the best option for those who are looking for the lowest-fat burger possible, avoid the temptation to buy 100% white meat when purchasing ground turkey for your burgers. You want a little bit of fat in your meat to prevent the burgers from being too dry and falling apart or sticking when you cook them. Look for ground turkey that contains a bit of dark meat—you should be able to find ground turkey that contains dark and white meat and it will still contain only about 7% fat.

• As with beef burgers, some chefs like to add their own mix of spices, sauces and other ingredients to alter or improve the taste of their burgers, but some connoisseurs argue that additional ingredients masks the natural flavor of the meat. However, since turkey has a blander flavor than beef, you can choose salt, pepper, garlic, Worcestershire or hot sauce to the meat before making your patties, but it is not necessary to do so.

• Making turkey burger patties is similar to making beef burger patties, but with one major difference: With beef patties, you want to avoid handling and squishing the meat together too much, while with turkey burgers, you'll be mashing the meat together a bit more to help the burger stay together as it cooks.

One pound of ground turkey will make about four average sized burgers. Separate your meat into the appropriate number of portions and then, with clean hands, press it into the desired patty shape.

• Whether you're cooking your burgers on the grill or on the stove in a frying pan, the method is basically the same. Be sure to heat the grill or pan to medium-high before you start cooking the burgers. Because turkey burgers are so lean, they tend to stick to pans or grills. To avoid sticking, either oil the grill or pan before placing the burgers on it, or brush the outsides of the burgers with oil.

1. Wait for the grill or frying pan to heat up
2. Place the burgers on the grill or pan
3. Cook the burgers for about five minutes, or until they are lightly browned on the underside and will easily separate from the grill or pan
4. Flip the burgers—if the burgers appear to be falling apart, use two spatulas (one on top and one on the bottom) to flip them
5. Cook the burgers for about another five minutes, or until they are lightly browned on both sides
6. If you're making turkey cheeseburgers, add the cheese about one minute before the burgers are finished cooking
7. Remove burgers from the grill and serve them on buns with your choice of condiments and toppings