Nancy: You don't have to add anything to the meat, but you can. Sometimes I add BBQ sauce to give them a different flavor. I don't know about your meat in Canada, but I had trouble making burgers when I lived in Germany. The Germans grind their meat fine and very lean. To make hamburgers, you need a little fat in the meat and a medium grind. If there isn't enough fat, the burgers come out dry. If the meat is ground too fine, it won't stick together.--Kim