Cook the burgers for about five minutes on the first side, then use a metal spatula to flip them and cook on the other side. After the first flip is a good time to add seasoning, since the meat will be less frozen and the seasoning will have a better chance of sticking to the surface. (For what it’s worth, we like seasoned salt.)
Cook the burgers until they reach 160°F on an instant-read thermometer. For standard frozen burgers, this will take about 15 to 20 minutes total, but the exact timing will depend on the thickness of the patties.
Transfer the cooked burgers to the clean plate, annnnnd you’re done. Time to toast some buns, then pile on the toppings and enjoy your meal.
Is It Safe to Grill Frozen Burgers?
Yep, it’s completely safe to grill burgers from their frozen state. According to the USDA, it’s safe to grill both meat and poultry from frozen as long as you cook it to the proper doneness—for ground beef, that’s 160°F. Keep in mind, though, that it will take about 50 percent longer to cook meat from frozen than thawed, so you’d probably save more time day-of by defrosting in the fridge overnight. Defrosting meat also ensures it will cook more evenly, but with thin burger patties, this isn’t a big issue. So if you forget the defrost, don’t sweat it.
