How to freeze and thaw burger patties?

The popularity of burgers increases, especially during barbecue season. In addition to the traditional meat version, vegetarian and vegan options are also gaining popularity. But how do you freeze store-bought or homemade burger patties? What are the rules for thawing and the shelf life of the patties? To ensure everything goes smoothly the next time you prepare a burger, these and other questions are answered in the following article.

Freezing burger patties

If eating homemade or store-bought burger patties right away isn't possible, you can freeze them. They'll stay fresh and edible for up to three months in the freezer, helping to avoid food waste. It's possible to freeze both raw and cooked burger patties.

To prevent the burger patties from sticking together during freezing, place them individually on a piece of baking paper cut to the correct size. Another option is to pre-freeze the patties individually on a small baking tray before packaging them. This allows the patties to be easily stacked and stored in a sealed freezer bag or suitable freezer container for the remaining storage time in the freezer at -15°C . Excluding air prevents freezer burn on the patties, which is not only unsightly but can also affect the texture.

Thaw burger patties

Caution is advised when placing frozen meat burger patties directly in a pan or on the grill. This could cause uneven heat distribution and leave some spots raw. Therefore, it's advisable to thaw burger patties slowly in a pan or on the grill at a low temperature. Frozen vegan burger patties can be thawed directly in a pan on low-medium heat with plenty of heat-resistant cooking oil.

Designed by Freepik

A recommended method is slow thawing in the refrigerator, ideally overnight. For a faster method, the thawing process can be accelerated using the microwave function. If this function isn't available, the microwave should be set to a power level between 90 and 180 watts.

It is important to note that once thawed, burger patties should not be refrozen, as they have already come into contact with microbial germs that may be able to survive even at sub-zero temperatures.

Shelf life of burger patties in the refrigerator

When using ground beef or pork, maintaining the cold chain and strict kitchen hygiene are important. Burger patties made from ground beef stay fresh for up to 24 hours in the coldest part of a refrigerator, so it's recommended to eat them on the first day.

Freshly prepared burger patties made from ground beef should be eaten the same day or frozen.

By the way: Burger patties stay fresh in the freezer for up to three months . This also applies to vegan burger patties, which can also be stored for up to three months.