Is It Safe To Grill Frozen Hamburger Patties Straight From The Freezer?

Say you've gotten home after a long day, and you're ready to cook some burgers. You go to fire up the grill, only to discover that you forgot to take the patties out of the freezer. What now? Luckily, it is possible to grill still-frozen hamburger patties and make a tasty burger that is completely safe to eat. However, cooking a frozen patty is a little different from barbecuing a freshly thawed one, which means there are a few extra steps necessary to make sure your patties are cooked to perfection.

The most important step in grilling frozen patties is to make sure you cook them all the way through. According to the USDA, frozen hamburger meat that is not cooked properly may contain harmful bacteria. To ensure that your patties are cooked through and safe to eat, the inside temperature should reach 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Frozen patties will take longer to reach this temperature than thawed hamburgers, so you will have to budget extra time for the grilling process. 

The key to making the best hamburgers from frozen patties is to get the internal temperature up to 160 degrees Fahrenheit without burning or drying out the meat. So, how do you do that?

To cook frozen patties perfectly every time, make sure to set your grill to the correct temperature. The best grill temperature for frozen hamburgers is 350 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to make sure your grill is preheated to this temperature before getting started because a lower temperature will lead to a longer cooking time and drier meat. On the other hand, a temperature that is too high risks burning the patties before the insides are cooked through. Frozen hamburger patties take at least 15 minutes to cook and should be flipped regularly. Use a meat thermometer to make sure your hamburgers are fully cooked before serving.

Another important step in cooking frozen patties is knowing when to season them. One easy way to take care of this problem is to purchase a pre-seasoned frozen burger brand you trust. However, if you want to season the burgers yourself, then unfortunately, you can't do it while the meat is frozen because the seasoning won't stick. Instead, grill the hamburgers on one side for a couple of minutes then flip and season the warm side. Repeat on the other side. This method will ensure your seasoning sticks to the meat and flavors up your patties.

One problem with frozen patties is that as they cook, the fat from the meat is more likely to drip into the grill and cause fires. These flare-ups are unpleasant and may even burn your meat. To prevent this, cook your hamburger patties over indirect heat. This means placing the burgers away from the grill's flame and on another side a safe distance away.

Before you preheat your grill, it's also a good idea to clean your grates and scrape off any leftover meat from the previous grilling. This will help prevent fires and also stop the burgers from sticking to the grate. This is important, especially if your patties are on the thinner side. Thin patties are harder to flip, especially when sticking to the grill.

Once your hamburger patties are cooked to 160 degrees Fahrenheit in the center, you are ready to serve! All there's left to do now is choose your favorite burger toppings and build your masterpiece.