How to Cook Frozen Burgers (Stove, Grill, Oven, Air Fryer)

Yes, you can cook frozen burgers without thawing them first. The USDA says it's safe to cook meat straight from the freezer; it simply takes about 50% longer than cooking fresh or thawed meat. Cook frozen patties over medium heat, flip them a few times so they cook evenly, and take them off when a thermometer reads 160°F in the center.

Is it safe to cook burgers from frozen?

It is. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), food can be cooked safely from the frozen state as long as it reaches the right internal temperature. In fact, cooking from frozen sidesteps one of the most common home mistakes: thawing meat on the counter. When a frozen block of beef sits out, the outer layer can warm into the 40°F to 140°F "danger zone" where bacteria multiply quickly, even while the center is still icy.

The trade-offs are time and evenness. Heat has to travel through ice before it starts cooking the middle, so the outside can brown (or burn) before the center is ready. The fix is moderate heat and frequent flipping, which we'll get into below.

Store-bought frozen patties are made to be cooked from frozen, so check the package for the manufacturer's directions. Homemade patties work just as well if you froze them flat and separated with parchment.

Frozen burger cooking times by method

These are rough guides for a standard 1/4- to 1/3-pound patty about 1/2 inch thick. Thicker patties, crowded pans and cold grills all add time, so treat the thermometer as the final word.

• Skillet or griddle, medium heat: about 12-18 minutes total, flipping every 3-4 minutes
• Grill, medium heat (roughly 350-400°F): about 15-20 minutes total, lid closed, flipping every 4-5 minutes
• Oven at 400°F, on a rack over a sheet pan: about 20-25 minutes, flipping once halfway
• Air fryer at 375°F: about 12-16 minutes, flipping once halfway
• Thawed patty for comparison: roughly two-thirds of these times

How to cook frozen burgers in a skillet

A heavy pan is the most forgiving way to cook frozen patties because you can see and control the browning. A cast iron skillet holds heat well, so dropping in frozen meat doesn't kill the temperature.

1. Preheat the pan over medium heat with a thin film of neutral oil. Medium, not high: you want the outside to brown at the same pace the inside thaws.
2. Separate the patties. If they're frozen together, pry them apart with a butter knife. Don't run them under hot water.
3. Cook 3-4 minutes, then flip. Seasoning won't stick to an icy surface, so salt and pepper the browned side right after the first flip, then season the second side after the next flip.
4. Keep flipping every 3-4 minutes. If the crust is getting dark while the center is still cold, lower the heat a little or cover the pan loosely for a minute or two to trap heat.
5. Add cheese in the last minute and cover to melt it.
6. Check the temperature. Pull the burgers at 160°F, then let them rest a minute or two while you toast the buns.

For more on pan technique, see our guide to cooking burgers on the stove.

How to grill frozen burgers

Grilling frozen patties works, but direct high heat is where people get burnt-outside, raw-inside burgers. Set up the grill with a hotter zone and a cooler zone if you can.

• Start the patties over medium direct heat for the first few minutes to get some color.
• Flip, season, and keep the lid closed so the grill works like an oven.
• If the outside is browning too fast, slide them to the cooler side to finish.
• Expect some flare-ups as the fat renders out of the thawing meat. Move patties away from flames instead of spraying water.

Our main burger grilling guide covers grill setup and heat zones in more detail.

How to cook frozen burgers in the oven

The oven is hands-off and handles a big batch at once. Set a wire rack on a rimmed sheet pan so fat drips away and hot air reaches the bottom of the patties. Bake at 400°F, flip halfway through, and check the temperature starting around the 18-minute mark. For a browner top, finish under the broiler for a minute or two, watching closely. See how to cook burgers in the oven for broiler tips.

How to cook frozen burgers in an air fryer

An air fryer is basically a small convection oven, so it does a good job with one or two frozen patties. Preheat to 375°F, lay the patties in a single layer without stacking or overlapping, and flip halfway through. Thinner patties may be done in about 12 minutes; thicker ones can take longer. Our air fryer burgers guide has more on timing by size.

How to tell when frozen burgers are done

Color is not a reliable sign of doneness, and that's especially true for burgers cooked from frozen, which can look browned on the outside and still be cold inside. The USDA safe minimum internal temperature for ground beef, pork and lamb is 160°F. Ground turkey or chicken burgers need 165°F.

Use an instant-read thermometer and push the probe in from the side so the tip sits in the center of the patty, which gives a better reading on thin burgers. Check more than one patty, since they rarely cook at exactly the same rate. Some people choose to eat thick homemade burgers at lower temperatures; that's a personal risk choice, and it's not one we'd make with store-bought frozen patties. Our burger temperature guide lays out every doneness level.

Tips for better frozen burgers

• Don't press them. Squashing a thawing patty with a spatula pushes out juice and fat. Frozen patties also can't be smashed like a smash burger, so save that technique for fresh beef.
• Cook them all the way in one go. FSIS warns against partially cooking ground beef and finishing it later, because the partial cook can let bacteria grow without killing them.
• Don't overcrowd. Leave space around each patty so moisture can escape and the surface can brown instead of steam.
• Toast the buns. A warm, toasted bun makes a frozen patty taste a lot closer to a fresh one.

How to freeze homemade burger patties

Freezing your own patties gives you better burgers than most store-bought boxes. Form them a little wider than your buns and press a shallow dimple in the center (here's why burgers shrink and puff without one). Lay them on a parchment-lined sheet pan, freeze until firm, then stack them with parchment between each patty in a freezer bag. Press out the air, label the bag with the date, and use them within about 4 months for best quality. Our guide to forming burger patties covers sizes and weights.

Should you thaw frozen burgers first?

You don't have to, but thawed patties cook more evenly and take seasoning better. If you have time, use one of the USDA's safe thawing methods:

• Refrigerator: overnight for most patties; cook within 1-2 days.
• Cold water: sealed in a leak-proof bag, submerged in cold water changed every 30 minutes; cook right away.
• Microwave: on the defrost setting; cook immediately, since edges may start to cook.

Never thaw burgers on the counter.

FAQ

How long do frozen burgers take to cook?

Plan on roughly 50% longer than fresh. A typical 1/4- to 1/3-pound frozen patty takes about 12-18 minutes in a skillet over medium heat, but always confirm with a thermometer.

Can you cook frozen burgers medium-rare?

The USDA recommends cooking ground beef to 160°F. Frozen patties also cook unevenly, so a lower target is harder to hit accurately. We recommend cooking frozen burgers to 160°F.

Can you cook frozen turkey burgers without thawing?

Yes. Use the same moderate-heat approach, but cook ground turkey or chicken to 165°F in the center.

Why are my frozen burgers burnt outside and raw inside?

The heat is too high. Turn it down to medium, flip more often, and cover the pan or close the grill lid so the center can catch up.

Can you refreeze burgers after thawing?

If you thawed raw patties in the refrigerator, you can refreeze them, though quality may suffer. If you thawed them in cold water or the microwave, cook them before freezing again.