Are Frozen Turkey Burgers Healthy
Beef may be the expected protein, but those who prefer a healthier option can find it in a grilled turkey burger. The best frozen turkey burgers are fresh, tender and juicy, with subtle seasoning and enough fat to carry the flavors. They are also large enough to fit a bun, and thick enough to satisfy.
What Temperature Do You Cook Frozen Hamburger Patties
When you grill frozen hamburger patties, you should preheat your grill to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes, and grill them at 350ºF until done. Make sure the frozen hamburger patties reach an internal temperature of 160ºF.
Thawing And Food Safety Tips
The best way to defrost frozen hamburger patties is to store them in the refrigerator at 40 F for a few hours. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, food thawed using this method is safe to store for another day or two before cooking.
A shortcut is to put the frozen ground beef in a water-tight plastic bag and keep it under a constant stream of cold running water, or changing cold water in a bowl every 30 minutes, until thawed. Turn the meat over frequently. Cook any meat defrosted in this manner right away.
Thawing in the microwave for several minutes works, but it can negatively affect the quality of the final product. A microwave often begins to cook the outside of the patties before the inside is fully thawed, and it can contribute to a rubbery texture in the cooked hamburgers.
You May Like: How To Mail Baked Goods
Plain Ground Turkey Or Pre
For this turkey burger recipe, I wanted to keep things super simple, so I used a pre-pattied ground turkey burger that included spinach and kale.
But you can absolutely use regular ground turkey for this! However, its a lot of fun to mix things up from time to time, just to add some different flavors to the mix!
Making Your Own Patties: If youre making your own turkey patties, you can add the seasoning right into the ground turkey before making your patties, but I find that waiting until after I patty them out, I can taste the flavors a LOT more. But whichever way you prefer to season them is just fine!
Pre-Pattied Burgers: I love the turkey burgers that come with paper liners, because it makes separating the patties for easy seasoning and less mess. Heres how I do it
Hamburgers In Convection Oven
The steps to cooking hamburgers in a convection oven are generally the same regardless of the type of burger you’re making. Which means adding seasonings, diced onions, steak sauce, garlic or any other ingredients will not drastically alter the cooking time or temperature.
Read more:11 Food Safety Mistakes You Don’t Know You’re Making
Read Also: Baked Mac And Cheese Nytimes
How To Freeze Turkey Burgers
I love to meal prep a big batch of turkey burger patties and freeze them for quick meals on busy days. I partially thaw the burgers for a few hours in the refrigerator before cooking them. This way, the burgers cook evenly and hold their shape on the grill.
The easiest way to get the burger patties to freeze flat is to first flash freeze the burgers on burger-sized squares of parchment paper in a single layer on a baking sheet or baking dish. Once the patties are frozen through, stack them, with the parchment squares in between, and place them in a zip-top bag or other airtight storage container. You can store frozen turkey burger patties in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How To Cook A Frozen Turkey
First, manage your guests’ expectations. Cooking a frozen turkey will take around 50 percent longer than cooking one that’s already been thawed. So you’ll want to break out the snacks to make sure folks don’t start eating the furniture.
For a 14 to 18 pound turkey, which would ordinarily require four hours of cooking time, you’ll need about 6 hours in the oven, plus another 30 to 45 minutes to rest afterward .
You’ll want to modify the cooking times if your turkey weighs less or more than that. A meat thermometer will help. But as a rough guide, figure 1.5 times whatever your cooking time would’ve been.
Second, preheat your oven to 325 F. You want a very low temperature so that the outside of the turkey doesn’t burn before the inside has cooked.
Line a roasting pan with foil, and put a roasting rack in it. This will ensure that the turkey stays above any liquid that may drain out, which would cause it to steam rather than roast. And it will cook more evenly on a shallow pan than one with high sides.
You may have better luck setting the wrapped turkey onto the rack and then peeling the wrapper off the turkey, rather than trying to handle a naked, frozen turkey. Just make certain that you’ve removed all of the wrappers.
Recommended Reading: Honey Baked Ham Simpsonville Sc
What Should I Serve My Hamburger Patties With
This is entirely up to you. You could add onions, mustard, pickles, and ketchup to it for a tasty treat!
Why not bake some frozen french fries to serve with them too? Simply place them in the oven on the other rack and cook them at the same time!
If you would prefer to eat the patties without a bread bun, you could serve them with a side salad and vegetables instead.
Baking Your Frozen Hamburger Patties
Once your oven has preheated fully, you will want to place your baking tray and hamburger patties in the oven.
Be sure to always use heat proof oven gloves when placing trays in or out of the oven.
In total, your frozen hamburger patties should take around 30 to 40 minutes to bake thoroughly from frozen, depending on their thickness.
Please be aware that the temperatures may also vary according to the appliance you own.
The temperatures and cooking guidelines we have provided are a rough estimate.
You will need to ensure your patties are cooked thoroughly using an instant read meat thermometer before taking out of the oven.
Feel free to extend the length of time in the oven if needed.As you are cooking the hamburger patties straight from the freezer, they will take slightly longer to bake than a fresh patty. Though this method is still far quicker than waiting for your pattie to defrost completely before baking.
Recommended Reading: Nature Valley Cocoa Peanut Butter Soft Baked Filled Squares
What Is The Best Way To Cook Frozen Hamburger Patties
Instructions
Using A Convection Oven
Whether you’re making broiled hamburger steak or just a simple dinner of burger and fries, using a convection oven is a simple, healthy and quick method to get the job done. A convection oven uses one or more fans to circulate the hot air, which allows you to preheat and cook faster. It also cooks food more evenly than a conventional oven.
There are two types of convection ovens: one that sits on your countertop and one that is part of your built-in wall oven or slide-in ranges. In general, the convection ovens that are part of your larger unit work better than the units you can buy for your countertop.
According to an article in Fine Cooking, since a convection oven heats your food faster, you’ll want to heat the convention oven to a temperature 25 degrees Fahrenheit lower than if you are following a recipe that calls for using a conventional oven.
You’ll also want to shorten the recommended time by as much as 25 percent if following a recipe for a conventional oven. Plus, when baking hamburgers in a convection oven, consider using a baking pan with low sides since it allows you to get the maximum benefits of using a convection oven.
Read more:How to Cook a Juicy Homemade Hamburger in the Oven
Don’t Miss: Baked Chicken Breast Recipes With Ranch Seasoning
The Importance Of Baking Frozen Hamburgers Thoroughly
As with any type of meat, the hamburgers must be baked thoroughly before consuming them.
If the hamburger patties are not cooked correctly, you increase your chances of developing food poisoning and other unpleasant illnesses, such as salmonella and E. coli. Ground meat must be cooked thoroughly.
Unlike with steaks where bacteria only grow on the surface of the beef, bacteria are spread throughout ground beef.
This means that all of the meat needs to be completely cooked to eliminate any foodborne illnesses and to kill the bacteria completely.
Unlike steak, hamburgers should never be pink or red in the center.
How Do You Cook Frozen Turkey Burgers In The Oven
How do you cook frozen turkey burgers in the oven? Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Remove burgers from packaging while still frozen and place on a lightly oiled, foil lined sheet pan. bake for 16-18 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
How do you cook frozen turkey burgers? Lightly spray or brush both sides of FROZEN turkey burgers with oil and place on broiler pan about 4 under heat. Broil burgers for 7 minutes on each side or until done and a meat thermometer inserted in center of burger registers 165°F.
Can you cook frozen burgers in the oven? There is nothing wrong with baking frozen burger patties in the oven. There is nothing wrong with baking frozen burger patties in the oven. Although putting frozen hamburger meat in the oven increases the cooking time, it is still a quicker option than properly defrosting the patties first.
How long do you cook frozen burgers in the oven at 350? Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° until a thermometer reads 160°, about 20 minutes, turning once.
Don’t Miss: How To Use Laura Geller Baked Foundation
How To Make Baked Turkey Burgers In The Oven
How Do I Make Ready
Step 1: Preheat the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Step 2: Prepare burgers. Place the frozen burgers on a lightly oiled baking sheet. Step 3: Bake burgers. Cook the hamburger in the oven for about an hour. Step 4: Check the temperature. Step 5: Boil to the desired degree of preparation.
Read Also: Baked Zucchini Fries No Breading
Are Turkey Burgers Better For You Than Hamburgers
Turkey burgers are healthier than hamburgers because they have fewer calories and are lower in fat.
Turkey patties are lean ground meat, bread crumbs, egg, onion, salt, and pepper.
They may also include garlic powder or onion soup mix to enhance the flavour.
Hamburger patties are typically made with ground beef which is higher in fat content.
Turkey burgers are also typically lower in sodium content due to fresh herbs and vegetables, which can contain sodium.
What Happens If You Eat Undercooked Ground Turkey
The most common bacteria people tend to associate with undercooked poultry is Salmonella. The illness which can cause diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramps, among other side effects is usually caused by eating or drinking foods contaminated with the Salmonella bacteria, according to Healthline.
A Turning Your Hamburger Patties
As your frozen hamburger patties start to bake, you will need to ensure that you turning them 2-3 times during the cook. This will help to cook the patty thoroughly and keep each side evenly cooked. Turning your patties every five minutes is best and at around the twenty-five-minute mark, feel free to add any cheese you would like to melt onto your hamburger patties.
How Long Should You Cook Turkey Burgers
Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Cook the burgers over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until browned and crispy. Flip the burgers carefully and cook for 5 minutes longer, or until golden brown and a thermometer inserted in the center registers 165° and the meat is no longer pink.
Ground Beef And Food Safety
Indulging in the occasional burger and fries is not detrimental to your health. However, if you choose spoiled ground beef at the grocery store or fail to follow the proper cooking guidelines, you could end up feeling very ill.
According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, purchasing ground beef with a USDA establishment number on the package, written as “EST,” followed by a number, ensures that you are buying ground beef produced at a USDA-inspected plant. Another part of the package to pay attention to is the “sell-by” date.
This date is for the retailer and not for the consumer. For maximum quality, the USDA recommends cooking or freezing gourd beef within two days of purchasing it.
The last label to check for is the safe food handling label. Make sure the meat you purchase has this label on the package and follow the instructions once you get home. This label tells you how to safely store, prepare and handle raw meat.
After making hamburgers in a convection oven, safely store any leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer within two hours of cooking, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When refrigerated promptly, hamburgers can stay in the refrigerator for three to four days. If you freeze them, label the package with the date and eat within four months.
How Should A Turkey Burger Be Cooked
Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Cook the burgers over medium heat for about 5 minutes, or until browned and crispy. Flip the burgers carefully and cook for 5 minutes longer, or until golden brown and a thermometer inserted in the center registers 165° and the meat is no longer pink.
What To Do When Turkey Is Still Frozen Inside
Here is a useful tip, whether you’re using the method described above, or you’re cooking a turkey the conventional way, and you’ve wound up here because your turkey is still frozen inside and you’re wondering what to do:
Put it back in the oven and continue cooking it!
If it’s still frozen on the inside, it means that the frozen parts, as well as other surrounding parts of the bird, are still uncooked. As in, raw. Not only would raw turkey not be tasty, merely handling it would pose a significant food safety hazard .
So put it back in the oven and let it continue cooking until the pop-up timer pops up and/or a temperature reading at the thigh reads 175 to 185 F. If the reason you took it out of the oven, to begin with, is that the skin is looking quite brown, drape some foil over it to prevent it from getting too dark, and let it continue cooking.
Finally, a word of caution. Whatever you do, DO NOT try to deep-fry a frozen turkey. Hot oil could explode, badly injuring you or someone else, and you might start a fire.
Can You Cook Butterball Turkey Burgers In The Oven
Can you cook Butterball turkey burgers in the oven? Microwave: Remove a frozen turkey burger from box and place with plastic packaging intact on a microwave safe dish. Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Grill: Clean and preheat grill to medium .
How Long Does It Take To Cook Hamburgers At 400 Degrees
How long does it take to cook hamburgers at 400 degrees? It should take about 15 minutes. The best way to ensure theyre done is to use an instant-read thermometer. I aim for an internal temperature of 155°F since I then return them to the oven to melt the cheese, at which point they should reach 160°F.