We love freshly grilled burgers, but can you grill frozen burgers? Absolutely! If you are pressed for time, a frozen burger could be the way to go. You can purchase the box or bag type of burger at your local grocery store.
Or you can make a batch of burgers ahead of time with your ground beef and freeze individually. Wrap each burger in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil and stack them in the freezer. Take one out as you need it or several for a family meal.
But read on to make sure if you do buy them already frozen you are buying the right frozen burgers. You want to be safe with the meat the same as if you were using fresh.
You can grill frozen burgers or cook them on the stovetop as you would fresh. But there are a couple of differences you want to take into account. We will discuss those below.
We have some tips on what to look for in the burger and how to cook it. It is still a burger, so dress it up how you want with cheese and toppings. And pick the bun you like most with your burgers. Always be sure to toast it lightly. You won’t regret that!
Check the Package on How the Burger is Processed?
You need to be careful about how the frozen burgers you are buying to grill are processed. Be sure to read the packaging for any warnings. Some meat plants may have a certain method of processing and may contain ingredients you don’t want or they are processed in a certain environment.
Also, does the meat contain any additives? You may be buying a soy burger rather than beef. Look for preservatives in the meat. These can absolutely affect the quality of the beef and the processing.
What Kind of Frozen Burgers are You Getting?
Always read the package of the burgers you consider buying to see what they are really made of. It should tell you everything you want to know. Make sure it doesn’t just say hamburger. It should say, at the least, ground beef. Does it say what kind of cut is used to make the burger? Is it Angus beef? Is it grass-fed? This will give you a better burger. Check all these things.
The manufacturers are going to try, of course, to appeal to the customer saying their burger is a larger cut but is it really just thinner? A thinner burger won’t take as long to cook but will have a better chance of burning sooner and the inside still won’t be done.
Check on the lean-to-fat ratio. You still want to take that into consideration just as you would fresh beef. The lower the ratio, the more fat that will be in the meat and you will have a juicier burger.
Which Package Do I Buy?
Don’t just buy any frozen burgers to grill thinking they are all the same. They are definitely not all created equal and you still want to purchase a quality cut of beef. What do the burgers look like? If they are in a box, you may not be able to see the actual burger, so here you will take your chances unless you really know the brand. Don’t judge the burger by the great picture on the package!
Because they are frozen, you will probably not get that loose-packed type of burger as if you were shaping them yourself. So be prepared that it may not have the light, juiciness factor. The density is going to be there. All in all, check the package thoroughly and read the labels to make your decision. Check out this article from Eat This, Not That on their recommendations for the best purchase.
You CAN Grill Frozen Burgers
When cooking frozen burgers on the grill, be sure to preheat your grill – always preheat the grill or skillet. If your frozen burgers are on the thinner side, you may want to consider a lower heat and adding foil to the grill grates. This will keep the burgers from sticking horribly, and you will still get that grilled flavor even if you don’t have the grill marks.
For the thicker burgers, you can grill frozen burgers on the direct heat and grill with the lid open. This is to let the smoke out otherwise the burgers will have a bitter taste to them.
You can also cook the frozen burgers in a cast-iron skillet on the grill as it lets the burgers cook in their own juices leaving them moist and still getting some of that smoky flavor.
For seasoning on the grill, since it will just run right off the burger, you can put the frozen burgers off the direct heat and close the lid for 5 minutes to defrost. Then you can add seasoning.
You can also put the burger on the grill for 30 seconds to a minute. Then flip and season. Repeat on the other side. Cook on each side for about 3 minutes each depending on the thickness of the burger.
How to Cook a Frozen Burger in a Skillet Instead of the Grill
You don’t have to thaw your frozen burgers before cooking in a skillet, they will cook fine from frozen. But remember it will take longer to cook. If you want them to cook a bit faster, you can cook on each side to get that sear then cover them while cooking to hold in the steam and result in more juice.
There is a difference in cooking frozen burgers on the stove or on the grill. If cooking on the stove, just heat your skillet over medium heat. You can lightly oil the skillet if you are using a high lean to fat ratio of beef, or preparing a chicken or turkey burger.
But if cooking ground beef, you won’t need to add any oil. As the burger heats up, the meat juices will still be released as they would with a fresh burger.
As for seasoning, don’t salt and pepper or season before cooking. It will just roll right off the meat!
Place the burger on the skillet and cook for 30 seconds to a minute – just long enough to brown a bit. Turn and season that first side. Repeat this for the second side. Don’t worry about flipping too much. Keep the burger cooking on this first side for about 3 minutes depending on the thickness of the burger. Use your judgment on this one. When you see the juices running pink to clear, then turn for the second side and cook another 3 minutes.
Don’t skip the salt and pepper because they are frozen. But add the seasoning while cooking so it doesn’t just roll off. Garlic salt has also been found to be a favorite seasoning for these frozen beauties.
Conclusion
So, can you grill frozen burgers? Yes, and you can also cook them on the stove with great success. Just make the few adjustments we discussed depending on if you are grilling your frozen burgers or cooking them on the stove. And be sure you check out the package before you buy if you aren’t preparing them ahead yourself.
Let us know if you have different methods of handling the frozen burger idea. We love to hear from you and want all our burger community to have great burgers!