Turkey burgers are a great alternative to the classic beef burger. However, sometimes working with frozen turkey burgers might seem more trouble or time than they are worth. Luckily, you can easily cook turkey burgers in the oven.
To cook a frozen turkey burger, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, line a baking sheet with foil, and place the patties on the foil. After cooking them for 10 minutes, it is recommended to take the sheet out and flip the patties. After 20 minutes or so, the burgers will be cooked.
This is just the basic concept, and there is much more to cooking turkey burgers in the oven that cooks should be aware of. Some additional factors to consider include a more in-depth explanation of how to cook frozen turkey burgers in the oven, why the oven is the best option for cooking frozen turkey burgers, and additional tips and tricks on how to best cook a frozen turkey burger.
How to Cook Frozen Turkey Burgers: 3 Simple Steps
The goal is always to cook meals following the directions on the container. However, life does not always go as planned, and sometimes people forget to defrost the burger patties, don’t have the proper pans washed, or have additional struggles that make using the stove top inconvenient. Luckily, ovens are perfect for those times when dinner is in danger. When it comes to cooking frozen burger patties, the steps are easy to understand, apply, and remember consistently.
1. The first step is to preheat the oven.
Every oven works differently, so setting the heat on the oven might involve some buttons, knobs, or even switches. The recommended temperature is 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is recommended because it cooks the meat thoroughly and quickly.
Another additional bonus is that 400 degrees Fahrenheit is often the temperature recommended to cook other frozen items so that a person can cook fries or other sides on another rack simultaneously. A person can choose to cook the patties at a lower temperature, but it will cause the cooking time to double.
2. While the oven is preheating, grab a baking sheet.
The recommended size for the baking sheet is one that is proportional to the number of patties someone is trying to cook.
There should be space between each of the patties, and there should be no overlap. Before putting the patties on the baking sheet, line the baking sheet with aluminum foil. The aluminum foil should reduce the likelihood of the patties sticking to the pan. The foil should also help collect any grease or liquids that come out of the burger during the cooking process. This will make the cleanup process easier, which is definitely a plus.
Related How Long Does Turkey Last? | Raw vs. Cooked.
3. Cook the patties
Once the oven is ready, it is time to put in the burgers. It is best to put the sheet on the middle rack, as that will ensure that the heat evenly cooks the burger. After 10 minutes or so, people often take the burgers out for a few minutes to flip them and add seasonings to them.
Frozen meat patties often are often not seasoned enough, if they are seasoned at all, so it is recommended to add at least salt and pepper to them. People also really enjoy putting garlic salt, barbeque seasoning, lemon pepper, and many other spices on turkey burgers. The best thing about burgers is that they are a blank slate for flavor. My family has seasoned burgers with taco seasoning before.
After seasoning, put the burgers back in the oven for another 10 minutes to finish cooking. Once the 10-minute timer ends, make sure that the patties are crispy, browned, and have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the patties reach 165 degrees, they are hot enough to kill any germs that would cause food-related illnesses.
Oftentimes, patties are cooked prior to freezing, which adds another layer of safety. Once the patties meet these requirements, take them out of the oven and prepare to eat them. Turkey burgers often have toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and so much more!
Related When Is a Fried Turkey Done? (The USDA Weighs In).
Why is the Oven the Best Method for Frozen Turkey Burgers?
The next thing to understand is why people choose to use the oven to cook frozen turkey burgers. Luckily, there are many different reasons! One of the biggest reasons is that the oven cooks the burger thoroughly. Using the stove or a grill, unless it is done properly, can cause patties to be burnt on the outside and raw on the inside.
The heat from an oven is much more thorough. Some people enjoy putting turkey burgers in the oven because they feel it makes the burger moister than if they use other cooking methods. Another cosmetic-related reason for using the oven is that the burger patty will retain its shape while cooking. This can be especially useful if someone will be putting the turkey burger on a bun rather than a piece of lettuce.
Tips and Tricks to Improve Frozen Turkey Burgers
Turkey burgers can be a yummy treat or a good substitute for hamburgers. However, there are many different ways to elevate a turkey burger to make it a showstopper! The best place to start is at the basics: seasonings and flavor profiles. Turkey burgers are less fatty and rich than hamburgers, so the flavor profile is inherently different.
Some people still enjoy the basic burger toppings on a turkey burger, like cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, onion, ketchup, and mustard. Others really enjoy being able to use more fresh and unique flavors like salsa, balsamic vinegar glazed veggies, avocado, bacon, and many others. When cooking turkey burgers, you can and should pair them with your favorite foods.
Another tip to improve frozen turkey burgers is to pair them with good sides. French fries are a great start. Sweet potato fries, onion rings, and mozzarella sticks are also great options. They make a great choice for people in a rush because they can be heated alongside the frozen burger patties. Salads, fruit combos, and coleslaws pair wonderfully with turkey burgers, and these sides can be prepared ahead of time.
This all just goes to show that people can cook turkey burgers without worrying about making sure they have time to thaw. It also goes to show that an oven is a wonderful tool, and frozen turkey burgers can still be a fulfilling meal even when you are limited on time.
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For more, check out Do You Cover Chicken When Baking? | Guidelines to Follow
Anne James has a wealth of experience in a wide array of interests and is an expert in quilting, cooking, gardening, camping, mixing drinks (worked as a professional bartender), and making jelly.
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