How to Cook Frozen Burgers

When you want a burger, you want a burger. Sometimes you just don’t want to wait for a full-on refrigerator thaw-out. So, what do you do?

In this blog, we’ll go over how to cook burgers from frozen, a quick, safe, and delicious method.

Here at Frontière Natural Meats, we sell a variety of burger patties, pre-formed and frozen for convenient storage until you’re ready to cook them. From frozen bison burgers to organic beef burgers to frozen elk burgers, as well as all-natural beef burgers and even blended burgers, we’ve got varieties for every taste. For our purposes in this blog, we’ll use frozen bison burgers as the primary example.

Traditionally, we might suggest you place your frozen burgers in the refrigerator to thaw slowly and safely overnight. But it’s also perfectly safe to cook frozen bison burgers — or whatever type of meat you choose.

Can you safely cook a burger from frozen?

Yes, you can cook a frozen burger. In fact, many types of meat can be safely cooked from frozen—it just requires a little extra cooking time. The main risk is uneven cooking, but our frozen bison burger patties are flat and uniform in size, which helps cook them more evenly.

With just a little patience, you can enjoy a juicy, flavorful burger straight from the freezer.

Choose your cooking method

You can cook frozen burgers on:

• A stovetop in a skillet or pan

• An outdoor or indoor grill

• In the oven

The key is avoiding super high heat, which can cause sticking and uneven cooking. Medium heat works best to ensure even browning and a tender, juicy center.

 

Use a metal spatula or butter knife

Frozen patties often stick together in the package. To separate them:

• Microwave for 30–60 seconds to soften the edges.

• Use a metal spatula or butter knife to gently wedge between patties.

• Avoid steak knives to reduce the risk of injury.

• Hold steady with a kitchen towel for extra grip.

Consider adding seasoning

Seasoning is a great idea for a burger, and there’s no reason not to season a frozen burger. The only issue you might have is that it won’t stick as well to the frozen meat as it would to a burger that’s slightly thawed. Microwaving the frozen bison burgers for a short 30-second defrost in the microwave will help soften the surface, allowing the spices to adhere more readily to the meat.

When it comes to burger seasoning, consider a selection from our newest partner, Savory Spice. The Santa Maria’s Sea Salted BBQ Rub has a briney flavor with notes of garlic and pepper that pairs perfectly with beef, bison or elk. Order it on its own, or enjoy it as part of the Frontière Natural Meats Grill Master Collection.

Flip and check often

When cooking frozen bison burgers, flip them every 3 to 5 minutes and monitor internal temperature. Use an instant-read thermometer and cook to 160°F, the USDA's recommended temperature for ground beef.

Depending on thickness and cooking surface, it may take 20 minutes or more to cook completely.

You can cook just about any frozen burger with this method—bison, elk, or beef. Just give yourself a little extra time, flip often, and you’ll be rewarded with a juicy, flavorful burger that’s just as satisfying as one cooked from thawed.