Figuring out what the best frozen hamburger patties are for your next cook-out has gotten more and more complicated, thanks to the wealth of options currently on the market today. So to cut through the noise, we’ve compiled this 10-best list to make choosing easier.
Not only that, but we’ve included some critical tips to help you get the most flavor out of your burger. And we’ve answered a few frequently asked questions.
If you want the TLDR, grab some Mount Pleasant Patties and don’t thaw them before cooking. Be sure to add some salt and pepper a minute or two before you finish cooking them, and read the instructions on the packaging for best results.
If you want to learn more about some other options and great tips to get the most out of your burgers, keep reading.
10 Best Frozen Hamburger Patties
What is the best frozen hamburger patties brand? There are a lot of insanely fantastic choices on the market today. We’re spoiled for choice, but we’ve narrowed the list down to our top 10.
Here are the best 10 frozen hamburger patty brands ranked:
- Mount Pleasant Grass-Fed Beef Co.
- Greensbury Market Grass-Fed Beef Patties
- Omaha Steaks Burger Patties
- Chicago Steak Company Steakburgers
- Ball Park Beef Patties
- Glenmark Angus Pub Burger
- Tribalí Foods Organic
- Bubba Burger Angus Beef
- Marky’s Australian Wagyu Beef Burgers
- Kansas City Steak Company Classic Steakburgers
Tips, Tricks, & Frequently Asked Questions
Even the best frozen hamburger patties need to be adequately prepared.
Here’s our list of tips, tricks, and frequently asked questions on the subject of frozen hamburger patties:
- Are frozen hamburger patties good?
- How do you make frozen hamburger patties taste better?
- What do you season frozen burgers with?
- When should you season frozen burgers?
- How do you cook frozen hamburger patties?
- Can you cook frozen burgers without thawing?
- Should I thaw frozen burgers?
- How do you thaw frozen hamburger patties?
- How long do frozen burgers take to cook?
- Can you cook frozen burgers on the stove?
- How long do frozen burgers take in the oven?
- Can you grill frozen burgers?
- Can you cook a frozen hamburger patty in the microwave?
- How do you keep frozen burgers from shrinking?
- How do you know if frozen hamburgers are bad?
- Is 2-year-old frozen hamburger still good?
- Are frozen burgers good for you?
How we graded these frozen hamburger patties
The 2 main criteria used to grade these burgers were mouth feel and taste. Of course, the taste was our primary ranking factor, but the mouthfeel is especially important to the experience. Frozen patties can have textures quite different from those of fresh patties, and we wanted to find options that were as close to a fresh patty as possible.
#1 Mount Pleasant Grass-Fed
Mount Pleasant Grass-Fed Beef Co. patties are grass-fed beef and top-notch quality. Mount Pleasant grass-fed ground beef is free of hormones, GMOs, and grains if that is an important distinction for you. But, more importantly, this is what gives them an unrivaled flavor profile.
These burgers are a great source of Omega-3 to Omega-6 fatty acids. In addition, they are rich in essential linoleic acid, making them a smart choice for a healthy diet.
Mount Pleasant patties are flash-frozen immediately after production to seal in the fantastic flavor and healthy fatty acids.
Their flavor and mouth feel tops the reviewer’s lists and earn our pick as the best frozen hamburger patty currently available.
#2 Greensbury Market Grass-Fed
These Greensbury Market beef patties are made from grass-fed beef and come in a pack of 40 individually wrapped patties and are very high quality. Unfortunately, they are not inexpensive, which is compounded by the fact that you have to buy 40 patties. That said, they’re worth the premium.
They are USDA Certified Organic, which means no additives, antibiotics, or hormones are involved with these burgers. The fat content is pretty high, so they aren’t the healthiest burger patties you can buy, but fat is flavor.
Since it’s reasonable to assume that most people aren’t buying burgers as a health food option, we’re rating these as one of our best based on flavor.
Greensbury Market Grass-Fed frozen burger patties were our previous number one pick, and they’re still a delicious choice.
#3 Omaha Steaks Burger Patties
#4 Chicago Steak Company Steakburgers
The Chicago Steak Company offers the world’s finest premium steakburgers ground from USDA prime steak.
These classic half-pound steakburgers will be a hit at your cookout with your family and friends. These mouthwatering burgers are ethically sourced from Midwestern corn-fed beef.
Chicago Steak Company flash-freezes its aged patties to seal in flavor and maintain their tenderness – and they live up to the hype.
Their patties are 1/2 pound which is a plus and the flavor and texture were both exceptional.
#5 Ball Park Beef Patties
Don’t scoff at the Ball Park frozen hamburger patties from a hot dog company. These burgers are amazingly flavorful despite sounding every bit like a less-than-perfect option. In addition, they give the top 4 patties a good run for their money.
These patties come pre-cooked. Again, that doesn’t sound ideal but trust us. The reviews back this up. These patties are much more reasonably priced than some other patties as well.
Just pop them in the microwave to thaw and heat them up, and you’re done. You’ll be amazed at the smoky flavor that these patties pack.
#6 Glenmark Angus Pub Burger
Glenmark Angus Pub Style Burgers are a great option to consider if you don’t want to spend a fortune and cook your own burgers to your specific tastes.
They are not USDA Certified Organic, but they are 100% USDA Approved, and there are no fillers. 100% beef here. They are flash-frozen to lock in the flavor, and it is a technique that works exceptionally well.
#7 Tribalí Foods Organic
Interestingly, the founder of Tribalí Foods was a vegetarian that switched gears and became a meat-eater. It’s likely because of this that she put an emphasis on beef from cows that are raised humanely and sourced sustainably.
They claim 100% grass-fed and finished beef. I’ll be honest, I don’t know what the finished part means but these burgers are very flavorful.
Tribalí produces a range of flavored frozen burger patties that packs a lot of punch. These aren’t pure 100% beef patties due to this. You can expect salt content to be on the high side, but this helps punch the flavor up.
If you are a purist, you will want to consider some other brands, but it’s an excellent choice for those that want a little more variety without having to doctor up their own burger.
#8 Bubba Burger Angus Beef
Bubba Burger frozen patties have been around for a long time and are extremely popular. This is for an excellent reason. Bubba Burger produces an excellent ground beef patty that tastes very good and cooks easily.
While Bubba Burger may be the original go-to frozen burger for many, some others have obviously bumped it from its “king of the freezer” crown.
#9 Marky's Australian Wagyu Beef Burgers
Wagyu beef burgers are made from Japanese Wagyu cows and prized for their unique flavor profile. Marky’s of Australia imports their ground Wagyu burgers to the United States at a premium but you can expect a quality burger patty for your money.
If you can afford them you can expect a unique burger experience. Texture and flavor are exceptional although we do feel that for the money you can do a little better, which is why we’ve placed them a little further down the list.
#10 Kansas City Steak Company Classic Steakburgers
Kansas City Steak Company has a good-sized following for their steakburgers. This is because they make some tasty frozen ground beef patties.
Their ground beef is surprisingly not grass-fed, although this doesn’t seem to hinder the excellent flavor. However, if you feel your hamburger patties must be made from grass-fed cows, there are plenty of other options on this list.
The main point keeping Kansas City Steak Company down this far on the list is probably related to fat content. These hamburger patties are very lean at 96% – a mere 4% fat. For some people, this will be a bonus. However, it does make these frozen patties a healthier choice.
Additional Information:
Frozen Hamburger Patties - Frequently Asked Questions
Buying some of the best frozen burger patties is just part of the equation to get consistently delicious hamburgers. Getting the most out of your frozen patties has a lot to do with how the meat is cooked.
Keep reading to learn some great tips and tricks for how to get your frozen patties to taste as close to fresh handmade hamburger patties as possible.
Are frozen hamburger patties good?
Absolutely! When patties are flash-frozen, they lock in flavor as well as avoid creating a less pleasant texture. So what you gain is the convenience of being able to grab a few frozen hamburger patties that are ready to go at a moment’s notice while not really losing anything in the way of flavor or texture.
How do you make frozen hamburger patties taste better?
No matter whether you’re cooking a patty straight from the freezer or using fresh ground beef, salt and pepper are what really help bring out the natural meat flavor.
Another trick that might make the more health-conscious readers cringe is adding butter. Fat is flavor, and butter is in large part just milk fat. It will add a lot of richness when combined with salt and pepper and won’t overpower the natural beef flavor.
What do you season frozen burgers with?
My favorites are just salt, pepper, and butter, but plenty of other things can make patties more appealing and create unique flavors.
Here’s a list of excellent suggestions for seasoning frozen burgers:
When should you season frozen burgers?
It’s best to add most seasoning to patties when they are nearly done cooking. This will prevent the seasonings from burning yet get them exposed to some heat to better meld the flavors with the beef.
How do you cook frozen hamburger patties?
The point of patties that are frozen and kept in the freezer is convenience. For this reason, most frozen patties are designed to not be thawed first. Instead, you essentially cook them like a regular hamburger patty. It will take slightly longer but not much.
When you begin to see moisture pooling on the top of the party, it’s time to flip it. A minute or so before you remove the patty from the pan, grill, or oven, you should add your seasonings of choice.
Can you cook frozen burgers without thawing?
Cooking frozen burgers without thawing is usually the preferred method and the way they are designed to be cooked. People typically buy patties frozen for convenience, and not having to thaw them increases the convenience.
Should I thaw frozen burgers?
You can thaw your patties, but it’s not recommended. Thawing ruins part of what makes being able to grab patties from the freezer convenient. The patties are designed to be cooked straight from the freezer.
You’ll likely find the results much better if you don’t try to thaw the burgers first. Attempts to thaw patties in a microwave or some other method can ruin the texture of the meat and end up making them very dry.
How do you thaw frozen hamburger patties?
It’s not necessary to thaw hamburger patties before cooking. There may be reasons you prefer to do so, however.
If you’re determined to thaw your ground beef first, you shouldn’t try any method of heating it to do so.
Unfreezing a hamburger patty should really only be done by putting them in the refrigerator and allowed to thaw overnight.
How long do frozen burgers take to cook?
Cooking time is only slightly longer than that of a typical ground beef patty. Generally speaking, expect it to take 3-5 minutes longer, but this will vary based on patty thickness, weight, cooking temperature, method of cooking, etc.
It’s best to follow instructions provided on the packaging for the best results.
Can you cook frozen burgers on the stove?
Sure! As a matter of fact, that is one of the preferred ways to cook a frozen patty. Some people like to microwave their frozen burgers to thaw them before cooking, but doing so can ruin the texture of the meat. Allowing the patty to thaw in the pan while cooking is a much better alternative.
Refer to the instructions from the manufacturer for best results.
How long do frozen burgers take in the oven?
On average, it takes 25 minutes at 425 degrees for frozen patties to cook. 15-25 minutes on one side. Then flip and add cheese. Cook for another 5 minutes or so.
Can you grill frozen burgers?
Yes, you can! As a matter of fact, this is usually the preferred method. Even when grilling from frozen, the smoke from the grill will add flavor.
No matter whether you’re grilling, cooking on a stovetop, or in the oven, it’s best not to attempt to thaw the meat first. If you do, you risk ruining the texture of the meat and ending up with a dry and bland patty.
Can you cook a frozen hamburger patty in the microwave?
You can, but we don’t recommend it. The microwave can alter the texture of the meat and make it a little less appealing.
Also, microwaves tend to not cook as evenly, so you may have issues with some spots being overcooked while some are undercooked.
Last, the Maillard reaction is one of the great things that give burgers great flavor. The Maillard reaction is the crispy, flavorful crust that a burger patty gets when cooked or grilled over high heat.
If you prefer to prepare your burgers in the microwave I suggest buying the Ball Park patties. They’re already cooked and just need to be warmed up.
How do you keep frozen burgers from shrinking?
Whether frozen or handmade fresh, burger patties will shrink when cooking since they are losing moisture content.
That said, frozen burgers will retain their moisture better and remain juicier since it will take longer for the fats and liquids to release. This is another reason you shouldn’t try to thaw your patties before cooking them.
How do you know if frozen hamburgers are bad?
Frozen meat can last for years and years, so it technically shouldn’t go bad just from being frozen for a very long period.
That doesn’t mean that the meat isn’t rotten, however. It could have gone bad before being frozen if not appropriately stored earlier. In addition, the packaging could have been damaged and allowed the meat to become contaminated.
The best way to check to see if beef has spoiled is the old-fashioned sniff test. You may need to allow it to thaw a bit first before smelling, but it’s best not to risk it if it doesn’t smell quite right.
Is 2-year-old frozen hamburger still good?
Absolutely! Ground beef can be stored for many years without any concern of spoilage. However, the meat can suffer freezer burn, and texture may be affected. If the beef has been properly stored, it should be free from bacteria.
Are frozen burgers good for you?
Frozen burgers are as good for you as any other comparable burger. Freezing doesn’t inherently make burgers unhealthy, but it is fair to say that burgers aren’t the healthiest choice despite being quite delicious.
For a healthier burger, you want to ensure that it is at least 100% beef and preferably 100% USDA Certified Organic.
Fat content is the other thing to pay attention to, but that’s a tradeoff. More fat generally gives better flavor, while low fat is usually healthier.
Other Resources:
Helpful Links
Wrapping Up:
Best Frozen Hamburger Patties
There are plenty of frozen burger patty options on the market today. So many, in fact, that choosing which to buy can be overwhelming.
Our favorite is from Mount Pleasant Grass-Fed Beef Co. but they will cost you. Texture and flavor were the best in our test though and this makes them our #1 pick.
Be sure not to thaw your patties prior to cooking for the best results. This will help ensure they come out juicy and with proper texture.
Season them with salt and pepper, or your preferred seasoning, a few minutes before you remove them from the heat to allow the flavors to meld together.
Last, always read the instructions on the package. Different manufacturers prepare their patties in different ways for your convenience. By following their instructions you’ll have the best chance of getting the best out of your frozen burgers.
