There’s nothing quite like the taste of the juiciest grilled burgers. The flavor is simply unbeatable. However, if you don’t have the time to grill fresh burgers every time, you can still enjoy that delicious flavor – with frozen burgers. In this article, we’ll show you how long to cook frozen burgers on grill for the best results.
We’ll also share some tips on how to make sure your burgers come out nice and juicy, every time. Grilling frozen burgers is a great way to cook a quick, easy meal without sacrificing flavor. By following these simple steps, you’ll have juicy and delicious burgers that are perfectly charred and delicious.
4 Steps Instructions – How Long To Cook Frozen Burgers On Grill
Step 1 : Preheat the Grill
To grill frozen burgers, the pellet grill should be set to a temperature of 325 degrees F. Preheat the gas grill to medium heat. For a charcoal grill, allow the coals to cook down until you can hold your hand above the cooking grate for 5 to 7 seconds before you have to pull away.
Before using the grill, make sure all the areas around it are clean. This will help avoid any food residue from building up and causing an unpleasant flavor.
To use the hand test to estimate the temperature of your grill, simply hold your hand close to the grill surface and see how hot it gets. If it takes 5 to 7 seconds for you to move your hand, the grill will be around 300 to 350 degrees F.
You can thaw the burgers directly on the grill itself if you have more space than you need. Turn on half the flame jets and leave the others off.
After 10 minutes of preheating, place the patties on the cooler side of the grill and close the lid. They should thaw in about 10 to 15 minutes. To prevent the burgers from sticking to the grill grate, lightly oil them.
Step 2 : Preparation of Patties
To cook the burgers, you’ll need to check to see whether they’re frozen together in a stack. If this is the case, they’ll need to be carefully separated so that they maintain their uniform shape and size. Any paper separators between the frozen burger patties should be discarded.
If the patties are frozen together, you may need to use a butter knife or other utensil to pry them apart. If the meat is not easily separable, thaw it in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes before trying again.
If there are pieces of waxed paper stuck to the meat patties, run cold water over it for a few seconds to loosen the paper. Then, use a spatula or your fingers to peel it off. It won’t take long, and it’ll come off easily. Ripping paper off a frozen burger patty can leave bits of it behind when it hits the grill.
Season each patty with salt and pepper, then add any other spices of your choice. The seasoning will adhere better if the exterior of the frozen hamburger patty is already thawed.
You can use your spatula to press the seasoning into the patty as it cooks.
Step 3 : Grilling
Place burger patties on the cooking grates, directly over the heat source. Grill them for about 3 to 4 minutes, rotating them occasionally so that they get grill marks on both sides. You may need to adjust their positions to avoid flare-ups.
After 5 or 7 minutes, or when the surface of the meat begins to look red and juicy, flip the patties. After flipping the burger the first time, you can add ketchup or barbecue sauce of your choice to keep it moist and add flavor.
Cook the patties for at least 5 minutes on each side, rotating them halfway through this cooking time to achieve grill marks on both sides.
Flip the patties one final time and cook for about 5 minutes, or until they reach a safe internal temperature of 160ºf. This is a great time to add cheese slices to the patties.
Use an instant read meat thermometer to check their internal temperature to make sure they’re cooked to at least 160 degrees F. Cook time can vary depending on the thickness of the burger. Even when the burgers have reached a safe internal temperature, they will continue to release juices.
Step 4 : Ready to Serve
After cooking the burger, let it rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving. During this time, you can grill the hamburger buns if desired.
Is It Safe To Grill Frozen Burgers Without Thawing?
You can grill frozen hamburger patties without worrying about food-borne illnesses.
The USDA recommends that meat reach an internal temperature of at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit before it can be eaten. If the meat reaches this temperature, there is no risk of foodborne illness.
When grilling burgers, fresh homemade patties or thawed burger meat are typically the best choice, but sometimes there’s no other option than to grill them while they are still frozen.
Frozen hamburgers can be grilled in the same way as they are when they are thawed. The only complication may be separating the patties when they are still frozen. To grill frozen burgers, you’ll need to pry them apart before cooking. You can use a sturdy spatula or butter knife to do this.
If the burgers are frozen, they will likely take longer to cook than if they’re not frozen. The USDA recommends that you grill frozen patties for about twice the time it would take to prepare a thawed burger, so be sure to factor that into your timing when cooking them.
How To Defrost Frozen Burgers – 3 Do’s and 2 Don’ts
There are a few ways to safely thaw frozen burgers. You can either try one of the following methods if you have time: defrosting in the fridge space overnight, microwaving on low for a short time, or placing them in cold water.
Method 1 : Refrigerator
The refrigerator method is the least messy, carefree and best way of the three methods, but it requires the most planning. Simply transfer the frozen patties from the freezer to the refrigerator and wait 24 hours before grilling.
Method 2 : Microwave
The microwave is a fast and easy way to thaw frozen burgers. Simply put the patties on a microwave-safe plate and nuke them for a minute or two at a time, checking their progress after each cycle. Don’t set the timer for any longer than two minutes, or the meat will cook in the microwaves instead of simply thawing out.
Method 3 : Cold Water
To thaw the patties, place them in a leak-proof plastic bag. Seal the bag and put it in a sink full of cold water. After about 10 to 15 minutes, the patties should be soft enough to allow the seasonings to adhere. At this point, it is safe to begin cooking them. If you have more time, feel free to continue thawing the meat until it is soft throughout.
Remember: If you’ve defrosted your meat in cold water, the defrosted patty needs to be cooked as soon as possible after thawing.
Refrigerating meat that’s been thawed in cold water can be dangerous because it could lead to a food-borne illness or food poisoning.
2 Things to Avoid
It is not recommended to let the beef patties sit out and thaw at room temperature. There is a high chance that the patties will enter the “Danger Zone” if they thaw at room temperature. This zone is between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, where harmful bacteria multiplies rapidly.
Never thaw burgers in hot water. This can cause them to break apart and leave you with minced beef instead. Hot water also raises the temperature of the meat, which increases the chance it will reach the “danger zone.”
How to Avoid Flare Ups
When grilling frozen burgers, be aware that they can release moisture that can cause flames to leap up. This is especially true for burgers made from ground meat, which contains a small concentration of fat.
Avoid flare ups by keeping a close eye on the burgers as they cook, moving them to a cooler section or indirect heat of the grill if they seem to be releasing excess amounts of fluid. This will also ensure that the burgers will cook through to a safe temperature.
Although it takes twice as long to cook frozen burger patties, it’s still possible to overcook them. Be careful during the cooking process so that burgers don’t get overcooked.
When it’s time to flip the burgers, you may notice that the meat is turning a brighter red on the surface as it releases its juices. This bright red color often indicates that the meat is cooked through properly and will be delicious when eaten.
After the cooking process is complete, make sure the burgers are still releasing moisture. If they don’t do this, it means that the meat has used up all of its fluid and will result in a dry burger.
7 Pro Tips About How To Grill Frozen Burgers
Freezing burgers gives you the opportunity to quickly put together a great outdoor barbecue. All you need is some grill space and your frozen burgers, and your guests will be happy! Frozen burgers are a convenient alternative to homemade burgers, and they can be a time-saving way to buy them from the store.
- Don’t overheat the burgers; they will become dry and tough. Cooking the burger over high heat will cause it to develop a charred, bitter exterior.
- Don’t cook them for too long; they may start to fall apart. Cooking the meat over low heat for a long period of time will ensure that it is properly thawed before it starts to cook, but you will get the same dry result. The meat will be tough and difficult to chew, as well as losing most of its beefy flavor.
- Make sure the grill is very hot before cooking the burgers, or they will not cook evenly and be bland in flavor.
- Remove the burger patty from the hot grill before checking its internal temperature. If you check the temperature of the meat while it is still on the grill, its reading may not be accurate. This is one of the common mistakes made by beginners.
- If you have burgers left over, simply store them in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. If you want to reheat your burgers, you can do so in the microwave or by using an air fryer.
- When purchasing frozen patties from the store, make sure to find a brand that has meat that is at least 90% lean. This will ensure the product is high quality, without any unappetizing lumps of fat.
- Some companies may add gels or other agents to their products which can make cooking the burger more difficult. The ingredients should be familiar and without any unusual formulations.
Frequently Asked Questions About How Long To Cook Frozen Burgers On Grill
How Do You Assemble A Burger?
Put your favorite burger sauce on the bottom bun. Place your hamburger patty on top. Top it with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. Enjoy your perfect burger with cheese, bacon or any of your favorite toppings.
When Grilling Frozen Burgers, What Temperature Do You Use?
Preheat your grill at 325 degrees F. for 10 minutes before grilling frozen hamburger patties, and then continue to cook them at 325 degrees F. until done. Make sure the frozen hamburger patties achieve a temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit on the inside.
Is It Better To Cook Frozen Or Thawed Hamburgers On The Grill?
While there’s nothing wrong with grilling frozen burgers, thawed burgers are preferable. This is because a thawed burger cooks more evenly, resulting in a more juicy and tasty burger. If you have the time, defrosting the meat first is worth the extra effort.
Is It Possible To Eat Frozen Burgers Medium Rare?
Because frozen burgers were previously thawed during processing, eating them medium rare is not safe. Cook frozen burgers to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit as recommended by USDA. You put yourself at danger of getting food poisoning if you consume a frozen burger medium rare.
Do Frozen Burgers Need to Be Seasoned?
Not having any flavor from the frozen patties, seasoning them while cooking is necessary. As they thaw on the grill, season them with salt and pepper at the very least.
Is It Possible To Cook Frozen Burgers On An Electric Grill?
Yes. Burgers can be cooked frozen, or even straight from the freezer. Cooking a frozen patty will undoubtedly take a longer timer, but it will still be juicy, evenly cooked, and tasty.
Wrap Up
If you’re in a hurry and looking for something to grill, frozen hamburger patties are a tasty option. If you’ve followed the instructions correctly, each time you grill them they will turn out juicy and delicious. It’s important to find the type of grill that you feel comfortable using.
There are many different types of burgers out there for you to try. Curious about veggie burgers, turkey burgers or beef burgers from different brands (Bubba burgers, Tribali Foods, etc.)? You can follow the same cooking process, but be cautious as the thickness of the burger may vary.
Happy grilling!
