Abstract: Apparatus for cooking meat patties and the like including a pair of opposing heat transfer plates having inner cooking faces for holding the patties therebetween and an outer heat receptor portion for receiving heat such as from the surrounding fat in a deep-fat cooker. Securing the plates a predetermined distance apart corresponding to the thickness of the meat pattie. Adjustably connecting the plates together to compress the uncooked meat pattie and/or to compress the meat pattie as it is being cooked. Providing a stack of heat transfer plates which form a series of vertically spaced compartments, with alternate compartments being used for holding a meat pattie, and the interstitial compartments receiving the heat source medium such as fat.