When it comes to making juicy homemade burgers, it's important to know a hamburger's done temperature (because no one wants to bit into a dry burger). But just like making meat loaf or other ground beef recipes, it can be hard to tell burger doneness by just looking at it. This is because even if some of the meat is pink, it could still be safe enough to eat (more on that next). Whether you like cooking burgers on the grill or pan-fried on the skillet, here is the best way to tell if your burger is done.
Get Our Best Homemade Burger Tips
How to Test Hamburgers for Doneness
The only sure way to find out if your hamburger is done is by using a meat thermometer. An instant-read meat thermometer ($15, Walmart) ensures perfectly cooked hamburger patties that are still juicy on the inside while brown on the outside. To correctly check the burger temperature, insert the thermometer through the side of the patty so the point is in the center. If you're using a regular food thermometer, leave it in the patty for at least 10 seconds to get an accurate temperature reading.
How to Use a Meat Thermometer Accurately for Perfectly Tender Results
What Temperature is a Hamburger Done?
A hamburger made from ground beef, pork, veal, or lamb cooked to 160°F, regardless of color, is safe to eat. (Ground turkey or chicken burgers must be cooked to 165°F.) If the beef has been mixed with eggs or other ingredients, grill the burgers to 165°F.
Your perfect burger awaits! Turn your ordinary hamburger patties into your best meal ever with some of our favorite burger recipes. Going meatless? Try our protein-packed veggie burger recipes.
You don’t need a fancy grill to cook frozen beef burgers! All you need is an oven and a couple kitchen items to cook frozen burger patties at home. Baking burgers in the oven is convenient because it takes minimal work. This method doesn’t require flipping or keeping an eye on the hamburger meat like when you cook burgers on a grill. Plus, the clean up couldn’t be easier!
If you live in a cold climate it can be tough to grill in the winter. Or maybe you want burgers but don’t have a grill! Luckily, this guide will show you the BEST way to perfectly cook frozen burgers in your oven.
What you’ll need
Here we’ll go over what kitchen items you’ll need to bake frozen hamburgers in the oven. Really, the only item you NEED to have is something to bake the burgers on, such as a baking sheet. The other items are optional.
Baking sheet: The ideal baking sheet will be flat with a small (1/2″ to 1″) ridge. A cookie sheet will also work. You can either put the patties directly onto the baking sheet or place a wire rack on the baking sheet and then place the burger patty on the wire rack. By using the wire rack, it allows the fat that is released during cooking to drip away from the burger and thus result in a less greasy burger. However, we did not notice a difference in taste between burgers baked directly on the baking tray and those baked on a wire rack. If you need a baking sheet you can get one here.
Aluminum foil (optional): Aluminum foil will line the bottom of the baking sheet to catch the grease. This is here for an easy cleanup. You can get by without using the aluminum foil but will have to clean the grease from the baking sheet after.
Metal wire rack (optional): Using a wire rack on top of a baking sheet allows some of the extra fat and grease to drip off the patties as they cook, resulting in a less fat burger. This is an optional item. If you’re looking for a great baking sheet and wire rack combo, you can get one here!
Frozen Burger Patties: This guide is for cooking ⅓ pound patties, as that is the most common size. If you use a different size patty you will have to adjust the cook time slightly. A meat thermometer is a great tool for this! We love the ThermoWorks Therma Pen One!
Cheese, sauce or seasoning (if desired): In my opinion, cheese definitely makes for better-tasting burgers! You can also add some great flavor to your burger by adding seasonings and sauces such as steak seasoning, BBQ sauce, ketchup, and mustard to cook into the burger.
How to Cook Frozen Burgers in Oven
Cooking frozen burger patties couldn’t be easier! You don’t even have to thaw the patties – just take them right out of the freezer and cook them from fully frozen. Check out the instructions below with photos for each step.
Step One: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Two: Lay aluminum foil on baking tray or sheet. If using a wire rack, place on top of baking sheet. (Note: using a wire rack is optional. A wire rack will allow the grease to drip off the burgers as they cook and result in a less greasy burger. If using a wire rack, add 5 minutes to the cook time) Place your frozen burger patties on baking tray or wire rack. Add seasoning or sauce to the top of each frozen burger patty.
Step Three: Place frozen hamburger patties on the middle oven rack and bake burgers for 25-30 minutes.
Step Four: Your burger patties should be cooked thoroughly after 30 minutes, but it’s good to check that the burgers have reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, as recommended by the FDA. To check that the burgers have reached their required temperature, simple place the tip of a meat thermometer halfway into the patty. If you need a meat thermometer you can get one here!
Step Five: Add cheese slices and bake for an additional 2 minutes. If you want a nice crust or crispy finish to your burger you can turn your oven to broil for the last couple of minutes.
Step Six: Remove delicious burgers from oven and enjoy with your favorite toppings!
Quick Facts and Common Questions
How long does this take?
Cooking frozen hamburgers in the oven will take about 35 minutes total. It will take 5 minutes for the oven to preheat and to prep the burgers, and 30 minutes to cook.
How long do cooked beef patties keep in the fridge?
If saving the burgers for later, place patties in an airtight container, plastic bag, or wrap in aluminum foil. The FDA recommends consuming cooked meat that is left in the fridge within 3-4 days (source) For best taste, reheat your burger patty in the microwave, oven, or hot cast-iron pan. Heat burger separately from the buns or any fresh toppings.
How long do beef patties keep in the freezer?
The FDA recommends consuming within 2-3 months if kept in the freezer (source) .
Does the patty thickness make a difference for cook time?
The amount of time you need to cook your frozen hamburger patties will depend on the patty size. 1/3 pound patties are most common, which is what this guide is written to cook for. If you’re using a different size patty, adjust the cook time to reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees. Thicker patties need a longer cooking time, while thinner patties require less time to cook.
How do you season a frozen hamburger patty?
There are a couple ways to season a frozen patty. Seasoning a patty is all about adding extra flavor to the meat. This is most commonly done with spices or sauces. Simply add your favorite spice or sauce to the top of the frozen burger patty before you put it in the oven. You can add barbecue sauce, ketchup, chipotle sauce, or any other sauce right on top of the patty to add flavor as it cooks in. You can also sprinkle seasonings such as salt, pepper, steak seasoning, and more on top of the patties so that they take on that extra flavor while they cook in the oven.
What are good toppings for burgers?
Our favorite bun for our burgers are brioche buns because they’re solid, yet fluffy, and have a great flavor. Our favorite cheese for our burgers is sharp cheddar cheese. Sharp cheeses have a more pronounced flavor and will stand out more than mild cheeses. White cheddar, gouda, and American cheese are also great topping options for burgers! Now, for some add on ideas. To add some spice to your burger we love adding jalapeno slices, cayenne powder, or tabasco sauce. To add some crunch and freshness – butter lettuce, raw onions, and pickles are great additions to your burger. If you want to add some moisture try adding tomatoes, sautéed onions, or avocado. The possibility for burger toppings are endless!
What are the Best Frozen Burgers?
There are a few great frozen beef patty options available. We do a lot of shopping at Costco, and in our opinion have the best burger patties. Plus, you can’t beat the bang for your buck at Costco! Getting frozen patties in bulk is convenient because they last so long in the freezer. Some other brands with frozen beef patties are Bubba Burger and Johnsonville.
How long do you cook frozen burgers on the grill?
Check out our post all about cooking frozen burgers on the grill here!
For some unique burger ideas check out our recipes below:
California Burger
Mint Lamb Burger
Thai Chicken Burger
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You don’t need a fancy grill to cook frozen beef burgers! All you need is an oven and a couple items to cook the perfect burger.
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lay aluminum foil on baking tray or sheet. If using a wire rack, place on top of baking sheet. (Note: using a wire rack is optional. A wire rack will allow the grease to drip off the burgers as they cook and result in a less greasy burger. If using a wire rack, add 5 minutes to the cook time) Place your frozen burger patties on baking tray or wire rack. Add seasoning or sauce to the top of each frozen burger patty.
Place frozen hamburger patties on the middle oven rack and bake burgers for 25-30 minutes.
Your burger patties should be cooked thoroughly after 30 minutes, but it’s good to check that the burgers have reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, as recommended by the FDA. To check that the burgers have reached their required temperature, simple place the tip of a meat thermometer halfway into the patty. If you need a meat thermometer you can get one here!
Add cheese slices and bake for an additional 2 minutes. If you want a nice crust or crispy finish to your burger you can turn your oven to broil for the last couple of minutes.
Remove burgers from oven and enjoy with your favorite toppings!
*Note: Nutrition amounts are an estimate and for information purposes only.
Calories: 193kcal | Protein: 20g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 290mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 2mg