Juicy burgers don’t always have to come off a grill pan, or even a broiler pan. There’s an easy and safe way to cook frozen burgers, and I’m not talking about using a charcoal grill. No, I’m not even talking about making air fryer burgers.
Frozen beef patties can come out of a hot oven too and still have great flavor. I know. It’s hard to believe. Hamburger meat out of the oven retains flavor?
But burgers in the oven don’t have to be blasphemy. There’s an easy and safe way to oven cook burgers, with the right amount of time, that won’t incur the ire of a burger purist.
Still don’t believe me?
Of course, certain cooking methods will result in better-tasting burgers depending on the eater’s preferences. But before you write off frozen patties in the oven and proclaim the almighty grill and its higher temperature the way to yield the best burger, you should probably know the advantages of this unconventional approach.
Is It Better to Cook Burgers in the Oven?
Without even getting into the “how” a frozen hamburger patty is cooked in the oven, you should at least see first how much the pros outweigh the cons.
Less Smoke
Ever grill fresh meat on a hot cast-iron pan? Or even on a griddle on your hot stove?
What happens when you place raw ground beef on the bottom of the pan, exposing it to medium-high heat? Well, there’s a lot of moisture on this type of meat. And what happens when that moisture is hit with direct heat? Let’s just say you have to open every window and every door so your family members don’t call the fire department.
Cooked hamburger in the oven results in a little less smoke…make that A LOT less smoke. And no flare-ups!
Easier Cleanup
And I haven’t even mentioned the cleanup. That moisture burning off in the frying pan turns to grease which jumps out of the pan onto the top of the stove and floor around it. You could never fully enjoy these tasty burgers knowing that afterward you’re going to have to wipe all that down.
And what about the pan itself? It’s a whole specific tiresome process cleaning off that cast iron. That’s a whole other article you have you read in order to know how to properly do that, but let’s just say you have to put some muscle into it. No thanks, if I can help it.
You Can Step Away
Then there’s the time factor.
When you place beef burgers over medium-high heat, you can’t walk away and do something else. Not even for a few minutes. Grill temperature is so high you need to watch it for safety, just in case.
The beauty of using the oven is that it’ll free up your time as the meat cooks inside (and after due to the limited cleaning involved). It’s worth the slightly longer cook time to not have to hover over it.
Less Guesswork
Unless you have an instant-read thermometer, using the oven means less guesswork to figure out when exactly a burger is safely ready to eat. If the burger is on the grill you have to cut it open and have a look inside if you want to know how done it is.
However, an oven is more accurate if you cook the frozen meat for the right amount of time. No fear of food poisoning necessary!
To sum up, frozen burger patties in the oven are minimal work compared to the other different ways.
How Long to Cook Frozen Burgers in Oven
Cooking frozen burgers takes a bit longer in the oven than on the stove, but not by much. It takes 25 minutes total to bake burgers in the oven. And again, you have the perk of being able to walk away and do something else while they’re cooking.
What You Need Before You Get Started
Alright, you’re still reading this so you must be convinced enough to try this cooking method. And now you want to know the best way.
You’ll only need a quick overview on how to cook frozen hamburger patties in the oven because it’s easy to do. Only a few ingredients and tools are needed.
What do you need before you start? As far as equipment goes, you’ll need some tin foil, a ridged baking tray or cookie sheet with edges, and (this is an important part) a metal wire rack.
Why Do I Need a Wire Rack?
Great question. Same reason you place a frozen patty on the barbecue grill – you need somewhere for the grease to go. The same is applicable when you bake burgers.
This is why you first lay aluminum foil on the cooking tray, then place the cooling rack on top of that. You’ll save yourself some annoying cleanup if the grease catches on the foil instead of the ungreased baking sheet.
Speaking of easy cleanup, you’ll want to have some cooking spray handy. Spraying it on the metal wire rack before you place the meat will mean fewer crusty bits you’ll have to scrape off every nook and cranny of the rack.
Less grease is also the key to a healthier burger. If you’re looking for the best way to get protein without the cholesterol in your ground meat, this method will get you a better result than the cast iron pan way.
Oh, you’ll also need a spatula, and when you find out why, you’re going to flip. Sorry, couldn’t resist.
What About Ingredients?
Before we get to the less important ingredients, let’s talk about the most essential part first – the meat.
Now, it doesn’t have to be meat. There are some interesting plant-based burgers and veggie burgers out there, and if you prefer something leaner than beef, there are turkey burgers too.
No matter what your frozen patties are, it’s recommended you get patties around one quarter or one-third pound each. If you get heavier burgers than that, the cooking time gets a bit more unpredictable.
So if you’re hungry, just double up on patties!
As far as how lean the beef patties should be, just know that the more fat, the juicier the result. The packaging will let you know, such as an 80/20 ratio, to help you decide while shopping.
The rest of the ingredients entirely depend on your taste. But here is the bare minimum…
Hamburger Seasoning
For seasoning, just salt and pepper would do. But honestly, just use your favorite seasoning you would put on a roast or steak and it’ll be delicious (especially if it’s anything with garlic and onion).
I personally use McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Hamburger Buns
Next let’s talk buns, hon. Everyone has a favorite bun. There are the classics, like the potato bun, or more whimsical, like pretzel bun or even English muffin (it’s actually wonderful).
Or you can take the healthier route and just wrap the cooked patties in lettuce. At the burger chain In N’ Out, this is called “Protein Style.”
Cheese
Oh, and don’t forget the cheese, unless you’re lactose intolerant, then please forget it for the benefit of everyone sharing a room with you.
I prefer sharp cheeses like cheddar, but like the other ingredients on this list, you do you. It won’t affect how the oven cooks the burgers.
Now you’re ready to cook up some tasty burgers!
How to Cook Frozen Hamburgers in the Oven
First, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the oven heats up, place the seasoned patties on the rack sitting on top of the foiled pan. Space them out from each other (like your teenage daughter and her boyfriend, you don’t want them touching).
Then place this prepared pan in the middle rack of your 425 degree oven and cook for 15 minutes. Go spend that time doing something you love!
Then take the pan out and flip the burgers (toldja you would need a spatula) and put them back in the oven for 10 minutes.
Now if you’re adding cheese, take them out 8 minutes after flipping, add cheese slices to the top of the hot burger, then place it back in the oven for an additional 2 minutes of cook time.
The oven would have burned off any e. coli and harmful bacteria, according to USDA food safety.
And Now the Last Step Before Digging in...
Now all you have to do is make like the Avengers and assemble. Get creative with your condiments or your buns, or make the healthy versions if you even lift, bro.
Now excuse me while I go eat a burger. You seriously can’t write so much about burgers and then not eat one. I mean, come on. Bye!
I love food, beer, mixology, travel, and writing. Why not combine all those things right here in this blog? You can find me in foodie town Los Angeles, where I am usually enjoying some new recommended restaurants with some “taste buds” (friends who enjoy food too).