How to Grill frozen burgers (All Grill Types)

Grilling frozen burgers is an excellent method to cook your burgers without wasting time waiting for them to defrost.

However, getting the timing and temperature perfect so that the burgers cook evenly and don’t break apart on the grill will be difficult, if you’ve never done it before.

In this post, we’ll go through how to cook frozen burgers so you can have a juicy and perfectly cooked burger even if you forgot to defrost it the day before your cookout.

Step 1: Preheat the grill

The grill must be hot before you begin to grill frozen burgers. Depending on your grill and how quickly it heats up, you’ll want to preheat it for 10 to 15 minutes. Set your grill’s temperature to medium-high. If you’re using a charcoal grill, light up the grills and allow the coals to all heat up, make sure to spread the coals out evenly.

If you’re looking to get a nice sear while also maintaining the integrity of the burger patties on the grill, make sure to add some oil (on natural/electric grills) to the cooking surface to ensure the burger patties do not stick to the grates.

Step 2: Clean The Cooking Surface

It’s important to make sure that the grill is clean and free of all leftover food or grease. An easy way to clean the grate is with a grill brush. Although it’s the easiest method, there are concerns that the bristles could get into your food and can be dangerous. A safer alternative is a wet paper towel or rag.

If you are cleaning the grates in a charcoal grill, wait until the coals have had some time to cool down before you clean the grates. This will help you clean the grates in a safer environment.

Step 3: Add Frozen Patties on the Grill

Once the grill is clean and pre-heated, proceed to place the burger patties on the grates. Be sure to evenly space out each patty and make sure they are not touching. This will allow for a more even cook.

If you are using a gas or electric grill, you can place the frozen burger patties directly on the grates.

If you are using a charcoal grill, set a piece of aluminum foil on the grates, then add the frozen patties on top of the aluminum foil. Charcoal grills are not as evenly heated as other grill types so this step is vital.

Step 4: Close the Lid

After placing the frozen burgers on the grill, close the lid and let the burger frozen burgers cook for about 5-7 minutes on one side.

If you’re using a gas grill let it cook the whole 5-7 minutes with the lid closed. If it’s a charcoal grill, it’s fine to check on the frozen hamburger patties to make sure they’re not getting burned. Be sure not to open the lid too frequently, this will let too much heat escape and may cause the burgers to fall apart when flipped.

Be sure to adjust the temperature. If the frozen burger patties are cooking too fast, turn down the temperature or let more heat escape, if it’s cooking too slow then turn up the heat. Thin burger patties will cook faster, so be mindful of this

Step 5: Flip the burgers

Use a spatula to flip each burger patty over one by one. Be sure not to press down on the hamburger patty. This will cause them to lose their juice. Let the beef patties cook for another 5-7 minutes.

If you are using a charcoal grill make sure the burger patty does not fall through the grate when you are turning them over.

Expert tip: You can add some oil, salt and pepper, and other toppings to add more flavor to the ground beef.

Step 6: Check the temperature

When cooking frozen burgers on the grill it is important to make sure the internal temperature is at least 160°F. If you followed the steps above, and the frozen hamburger patties weren’t extremely thick, they should be completely cooked. Use a meat thermometer to check the thickest part of the burger.

If the internal temperature isn’t at least 160°F, lower the temperature and let the meat cook a minute or two on each side.

At this point in the stage feel free to begin adding cheese on top of the meat patties, if you’d like your cheese slices to be melted.

Expert tip:

If you like your burgers medium-rare, aim for an internal temperature of 145°F.

If you like your burgers medium, aim for an internal temperature of 160°F.

If you like your burgers well done, aim for an internal temperature of 170°F.

We typically recommend well-done burgers because ground meat can sometimes be contaminated. Unlike a steak, where the bacteria would mostly be on the outside of the meat and can be killed with a simple grilling on both sides.

Check out our article on how to cut a steak, and also our article on appetizers that go well with steak. The appetizers in that article would pair great with burgers as well.

Step 7: Let the burgers rest

Let the burgers cool down for a minute or two, this will ensure the burger patties are not too hot to eat. Feel free to add the buns to the grill, if you like your buns toasted.

Toasting the bottom bun especially will prevent it from becoming too soggy.

Step 8: Eat Up!

We have now successfully been able to cook frozen burgers.

Take your buns off the grill, and prepare the beef patties with any other condiments your guests enjoy.

Do you put seasoning on frozen burgers?

Yes, in fact, to season frozen burgers, it’s the same process as seasoning regular burger patties. Place some salt, pepper, garlic, and onion. Letting the frozen burgers sit out for a few minutes will allow the seasoning to stick better.

Simple Mistakes to Avoid

Grilling frozen burgers is almost as easy as grilling thawed burgers. But, it’s easy to make a mistake and ruin your frozen meat patties.

Under-seasoning meat

Some meat patties come pre-seasoned, for these frozen burgers, you don’t have to worry about under-seasoned meat. But, many come unseasoned. It’s important to remember that frozen burgers don’t hold the seasoning as well so you’ll want to add extra seasoning.

Searing

Many people think that cooking at a higher temperature will make their frozen burgers cook faster. This is true, but only for the exterior. You may end up burning the outside of the meat and the interior of the frozen beef patties will be frozen or undercooked. Be sure to cook at medium-high heat.

Thickness

Another common mistake is to prepare frozen burgers thin. Though they will cook faster, they will be hard to flip and may break apart if the frozen meat patties are too thin.

Flare-ups

Flare-ups are a common occupational hazard when grilling. Especially when cooking fatty meat, or frozen meat. A flare-up is when dripping oil from the meat and water mix causes a sudden burst of smoke or fire.

This is not only a safety hazard but may cause your burgers to become bitter.

To avoid flare-ups do not use a ton of oil in your marinades, and be sure to clean your grill grate before grilling frozen burgers.

Get to cooking!

Grilling frozen burgers is a great way to save time if you don’t have time to thaw the ground beef. By following the steps laid out in this instructional you can ensure you are cooking the juiciest grilled burgers every time! Whether you are grilling for a family dinner or hosting an event at your home, you can use these tips and tricks to impress your guests! Happy grilling!

By following these steps, you can ensure that your burgers cook evenly, stay juicy, and are fully cooked. With a little bit of practice, you will be able to cook perfect burgers every time. You’ll never need to search how to grill frozen burgers again!