Cook frozen burgers? 3 Guide for Grilling Frozen Burgers

Throwing some burgers on the grills spells a great lunch. Even frozen burgers can be grilled without being thawed, as you still get that juicy, flavorful smoky taste that is to die for. Whether you grill frozen burgers with charcoal or gas, you still get to taste a juicy burger.

Wondering how to cook frozen burgers? You’ve come to the right place!

Are pellet grills good for burgers?

Pellet grills are excellent for burgers. You use them to smoke and grill burgers and give them that BBQ taste. With that said, using a pellet grill for burgers is different from using it for regular meat.
Firstly, if you’re going to use pellet grills for burgers, you need the grill to be extra hot and smoky. So, ensure that you make use of wood pellets such as mesquite and hickory.

Can You Cook Frozen Burgers on the Grill?

Yes, you can cook frozen burgers on the grill!

Frozen burgers can be cooked straight from the freezer without losing much flavor. You can grill frozen burgers on any type of grill, from gas to charcoal or wood pellet powered grills.

If you have a bit of time before ‘burger time,’ you can leave the frozen burgers in the fridge before grilling. However, if you don’t have any time or fridge space, you can grill the frozen patties. This will take slightly longer, though.

You should keep the grill temperature at medium-high or lower, depending on how powerful your grill is. If you got your grill too high, it will cook the outside of the burger and leave the inside too raw. Your grill can also be different levels of heat, so move the burgers around too.

Do You Need to Season Frozen Burgers?

Frozen patties have a lot of flavors, like your freshly made mutton, chicken, or beef burgers. However, since they’re ready-made, you won’t be able to get the flavor inside the burger patty. So, you must season your frozen burgers and add toppings to create a delicious, unforgettable burger.

Seasoning isn’t hard, as you only need kosher salt and black pepper. A classic combo that never gets old!

See also  How to clean Pit Boss griddle rust quickly

Add the black pepper and kosher salt as you start grilling frozen burgers on a gas grill. If you like, you can add a pinch of onion, garlic, or chili powder for an extra kick. Make sure to cover both sides of the patty with your seasonings.

You can add a slice of cheese to your burger while grilling for that extra pizazz. This gives them extra fat and juiciness. Add your cheese just before the burgers are done grilling, so it melts over the patty. You can choose sharp cheddar or white cheddar if you want a prominent taste or American cheese for something milder.

You can also add homemade BBQ sauce, Worcestershire sauce, or Italian dressing.

What Supplies Do I Need for Grilling Frozen Burgers?

You need:

You can easily find these items on the Amazon store.

Ingredients

You’re going to need:

  • Your burgers, of course!
  • Hamburger buns
  • Toppings of your choice
  • Salt and pepper

Prep time: 5 minutes

Cook time: 22 minutes


How to Prepare Frozen Burgers for Grilling

Cook frozen burgers to perfection!

While your grill heats up, you can prepare your frozen burgers for grilling.

Separate your frozen patties if they are stuck together. You can use a blunt knife or a small spatula (like the ones you use to ice cakes) into the gap between two patties. Be careful not to break them or hurt yourself. You shouldn’t use a sharp knife as it may cut you or cut the burger.

If there is wax paper in between the patties, run some cold water over it so you can peel it off neatly. Don’t rip the paper as you risk leaving a bit behind, which can spoil your burger. Wash your hands after handling your burgers to avoid food contamination.

Gather your spices and head outside!

*Prepare for flare-ups too! You can avoid them by spraying water on the flare-ups, so they die down quickly.

Instructions for Grilling Frozen Burgers

Now it’s time to grill. If you’re grilling frozen burgers on gas grill or charcoal, make sure you preheated it at 350ºF for at least 15 minutes.

See also  How to grill asparagus: The best grilled asparagus recipe

Step 1: Place Burgers on the Grill

Oil your grates so the burgers don’t get stuck and become mushy. Once your grill is sizzling, add your burgers.

Step 2: Keep the Heat Low and Constant so the Burgers Cook

Use your spatula to flip the burgers every 3 to 5 minutes. This will ensure even cooking on both sides of the patty. You’d hear the satisfying sizzling sound and the smoke from the burger. Grilling frozen burgers with charcoal will give your burgers a real smoked taste.

Add your seasoning when the burger is thawed. This will allow your seasonings to stick to the burger.

Let your burgers cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. Move the patties around the grill cooking area as some sections are hotter than others. This will allow you to cook frozen burgers evenly.

Whether you have a charcoal or gas grill, you can leave the grill uncovered to get a lovely char outside your burger without an overcooked center.

A closed grill will give you even doneness. It depends on your preference, but just make sure that the burger is cooked.

Add any sauce or cheese before you take the burgers off the grill.

Step 3: Serve

Test the internal temperature of your burgers before taking them off the grill. They should have a 160°F internal temperature. If you like, you can quickly grill your buns too for that crispy goodness.

Let the burger cool for 2 minutes before making your burger. Assemble with onion, lettuce, and fries on the side. Yum!

Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t cook your burgers at very high heat as the outside will get cooked while the middle will be raw. When you cook frozen burgers, it thaws as it’s grilling. You shouldn’t eat your burger if it’s still pink in the middle.

Unlike your cuts of steak, frozen burgers cannot be eaten medium rare! You might put yourself at the risk of getting food poisoning.

See also  5 easiest meat to smoke in electric smoker + steps

Your burgers should cook until they are a beautiful brown and have an internal temperature of 160ºF. Although tempting, don’t press down the burgers as they’re grilling. This common mistake will let all the good juices escape, leaving you with a dry patty.

If you’re grilling frozen burgers with charcoal, you must be careful of flare-ups. Since frozen burgers will release more water and fat into the flame, you may experience a sudden burst of flame. Be quick with the spatula to move them away!

Don’t add your seasoning while your burger is frozen. It will just roll out like a landslide. Let your burger thaw for about 2 minutes before adding your seasonings.

How Long Do You Cook Frozen Burgers on the Grill?

There isn’t an exact time as grills will always vary slightly. Grilling frozen burgers on a gas grill may be faster than grilling frozen burgers with charcoal. The timing also varies on the thickness and size of your patties.

In general, you should rotate your burger patties every 3 to 4 minutes and flip about 3 times. This gives you an average cooking time of 20 to 22 minutes. However, you should use your discretion and a thermometer to check its internal temperature, which should be at 160°F.

What’s the Best Way to Cook Frozen Hamburger Patties?

One of the best ways to cook frozen burgers (except grilling) is on a flat pan on medium-high heat. Let the pan heat for five minutes before cooking the frozen burgers. Add a teaspoon of cooking oil to the pan and let it heat up. Place your burgers in the pan and leave space in between.

Let them fry for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, and add any seasonings of your choice. Flip the burgers with your handy spatula. Check if it’s cooked all the way through. You can add a slice of cheese to the burger.

Put your cooked burgers on a paper towel so they can drain any extra oil. Let them cool before making your hamburger.

Paul Goral

Paul Goral

I am the founder of Brooklyn Grill and I have a master’s degree in Engineering Acoustics. I love cooking, grilling, and trying new recipes. I also love camping and high-quality knives. I wanted to start this blog and share my passion with others.