Frozen hamburger patties get a pretty bad reputation for being dry and bland. That doesn’t have to be the case. If you want to serve up the best burgers possible to your guests but you’re starting with frozen hamburger patties, don’t fret! We’ve got your back. The secret is to cook them as smashed burgers so you bring out the maximum flavor and retain maximum juiciness to your burgers. You will need some tools to make this happen however. There’s a good chance you’ll have the minimum required though. The process is pretty easy but if you can do this outside you’ll probably be better off as it creates a lot of smoke. It can definitely be done inside but you’ll want to turn on a good fan. Let’s get started learning the best method to cook frozen burger patties.
Smashed burgers
Smashed. Smashed burgers are the real deal when it comes to burgers thanks to something called the Maillard reaction. This is basically what happens when we sear our burger. You don’t need to have the absolute best and most pristine hamburger meat but you will want a high fat content so check the fine print on your burger and shoot for a 20% fat burger or better. If that isn’t what you’re working with don’t worry, this will still work. Hopefully you’re not dealing with ultra lean meat in the 3 percent fat range, but we can work with that if it’s what you have.
Steps for cooking frozen hamburger patties
- Begin by thawing your hamburger patties
- Once completely thawed, roll the meat from each patty into a ball
- You may want to split the patties into two balls if they are particularly large
- Heat your large skillet or griddle to high heat
- You can do this on the grill outdoors or in your kitchen but be prepared for a lot of smoke
- Put a little butter on the grill where you’ll be placing your meat, especially if the fat content is less than 20%
- Place a ball of meat on the grill
- Smash with a sturdy spatula and press down very firmly
- Cook for 1 minute or so
- Flip and allow the other side to cook if you like but probably isn’t necessary if you properly smashed your burger
- Remove from the heat and serve
Minimum tools required:
- Sturdy large spatula
- large skillet or griddle that isn’t non stick
Optional Tools
- Bacon press or trowel
- Paint scrapper
What Is The Best Brand Of Frozen Hamburger Patties
Best way to thaw frozen hamburger patties
- Place your patties in a plastic bag
- Remove as much air as possible from the plastic bag
- Fill a large bowl with cold tap water
- Place the bag of patties in the bowl to thaw
- Put the bowl in the sink under the faucet
- Turn on the faucet and allow cool water to run with just a gentle stream overflowing the bowl
How long does it take to thaw ground beef in cold water?
It should take no more time than 1 hour for 1 pound of hamburger meat to thaw in cold water. Add 30 minutes for each additional pound to the thawing time. Only thaw what you intend to use. You shouldn’t attempt to refreeze what you thaw.
Other Resources:
Helpful Links
Wrapping Up:
How To Cook Frozen Burger Patties
The best method for cooking frozen burger patties is as smashed burgers. So our process does require thawing your frozen patties first but that is the only real requirement that may give you any sort of real challenge. If you can spare the hour that it will take to get the patties thawed then you’ll end up with some of the most delicious burgers you can make at home you’ve ever had. Your friends and family will be amazed at your incredible cooking skills and you’ll be amazed yourself at how easy it was to accomplish. No matter how you cook your burgers you want to ensure that you have all the best toppings on hand for your guests. While a plain cheeseburger cooked in the smashed style is a true treat, having the toppings your guests desire is a must. For instance, if you don’t have any mayonnaise on hand for me don’t expect me back to your cook out. I require mayonnaise for every burger. Period. Hopefully you feel confident in your ability to pull off these smashed burgers. They’re quite easy to make and will be a real treat to your friends and family.
