Have you ever been sitting in your house late at night and all of a sudden you need a big, fat juicy burger ASAP? This happened to me recently. And it wasn’t the first time.
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I get these surprise burger cravings more often than you’d think.
When these burger cravings hit, I don’t always want to get in my car and drive to get fast food. It might seem like the easy way out, but let’s face it. That’s too much work. Who wants to get in the car and drive?
When I want a burger I want it now! And I’m not talking about turkey burgers, veggie burgers or breaded chicken patties. Those all serve a purpose at some point in our lives.
That’s why I make sure I always have some frozen patties on hand. A frozen hamburger patty can really be a lifesaver on a busy weeknight when you need an easy meal.
It will also be great at midnight on a Saturday. Whether you have handmade burgers or a box of Bubba burgers in your freezer you’ll be glad.
I’m going to explain to you the best way to make perfect burgers… with frozen beef patties.
Before we opened up Mortadella Head, Boston Burger Company was where I spent most of my time. That being said, I’ve made a lot of burgers over the years.
I’m not trying to brag, but I know how to make a damn good burger. My burgers have been featured on the FoodNetwork, The Travel Channel, Everyday with Rachael Ray and they won the title of “best burger in Boston”.
I’m only telling you this because I strongly believe a frozen burger can be a great burger. I’m not going to say it’s better than a fresh burger, but it can be really good if you know what to do.
In short, yes, it’s completely safe to cook burgers from their frozen state on a BBQ, grill or open flame source. Whilst it’s safe to consume grilled frozen burgers, it can lose its flavour, texture and smokey-ness to its fresh counterpart if not frozen with care (not all frozen burger patties are bad).
Cooking Frozen Burgers On the Grill
Everyone loves cooking on the grill. It’s a lot easier in the Summer when you’re spending a lot of time in the backyard anyway. This is also the time of year when people have parties and get-togethers to take advantage of the nice weather.
It’s also common to have people show up at your house unannounced during the Summer. What should you do if you have to feed them?
You may not have fresh hamburger meat on hand and won’t be able to make your own hamburger patties.
But if you’re smart, you’ll have some frozen hamburger patties ready to go.
If a crowd shows up at your house and you have a box of frozen burgers, a hot grill might be the easiest way.
You can use a charcoal grill or a gas grill.
First, preheat your stove to 350° F. The temperature of the grill should be really hot.
Now brush some oil on the grill grate. In a single layer, place patties over direct heat. Don’t start moving them around because you’ll ruin the nice grill marks.
When the burgers start to show signs of the juices and blood coming through the top, flip them.
Cook them for another 3 or four minutes and add your cheese slices.
Remove them from the grill and let them rest on a plate for a few minutes.
Always avoid the urge to press down on your burgers. This will let out all of the fat and juices leaving you with dry burgers and flare-ups on the grill.
If you have a meat thermometer you can check to see if they are ready before you remove them from the grill. According to the USDA, the safe minimum internal temperature for a burger is 160 degrees to avoid harmful bacteria.
Cooking Frozen Burgers On the Stove
If you’re going to cook a burger patty for yourself I’d say doing it in a frying pan on the stove is the best way. You get a fast cooking time and flavorful burgers at the same time.
First, take your frozen burger patties and separate them if they’re stuck together. Do it with a butter knife and peel off any butcher paper that is between the patties.
Now take a frying pan or cast-iron skillet and put it on medium-high heat. Add a little bit of oil to the pan.
When the pan is hot, put in your frozen patties. Season them with lots of Kosher salt and leave them alone for a few minutes.
When you start to see the juices come out of the top of the burger, and it is no longer stuck to the pan, give it a flip.
Season the other side with salt and let it cook for another couple of minutes.
When there is about a minute left to cook the perfect juicy burger, add a slice of cheese and cover the pan with aluminum foil. The cheese will begin to melt perfectly.
This cooking process doesn’t take a long time at all.
How to Cook Frozen Beef Hamburger Patties In A Pan – Quarter Pound
FAQ
Can you cook a burger straight from the freezer?
Can you cook frozen burgers without defrosting?
Do burgers have to be fully defrosted before cooking?
Can you put frozen burgers straight in the oven?
Can you cook burgers from frozen?
Let’s find out. Yes, you can cook burgers straight from frozen. However, it is important to note that the cooking time will be longer and the burger may not cook evenly throughout. It is recommended to have a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the burger reaches 160°F to ensure that it is safe to eat.
How to make a healthy burger?
There are different ways to make a healthy burger. Traditional bread can be replaced by wholemeal bread or skillet bread rich in fiber or other similar preparations. The sauce used can be a homemade avocado sauce or beet hummus for example. Meat can be prepared at home with ground beef and natural seasonings or you can use shredded chicken breast or canned tuna. Lettuce, tomato and onion are also welcome and a healthy burger.
How do you cook burgers straight from the freezer?
Follow these simple steps to cook delicious burgers straight from the freezer: 1. Preheat Your Grill or Skillet Before anything else, make sure your grill or skillet is preheated to the appropriate temperature. This ensures that your burgers cook evenly and develop that irresistible sear, creating a mouthwatering crust. 2. Season Your Burgers
Can you cook frozen hamburger patties?
Yes, you can cook frozen hamburger patties on the grill, in the oven, in a frying pan or in the air fryer. With all methods, use a food thermometer to ensure meat is cooked to a safe temperature (160°F). Q.