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Hamburgers in the Freezer

Hamburgers in the Freezer

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Submitted by snugglesmoochies

Freezer-prep hamburgers: portion, bundle, and freeze quarter-pound patties with their buns for grab-and-grill weeknight dinners. Cook straight from frozen on the grill or in a skillet. No thawing required.

YIELD

4 servings

PREP

15 min

COOK

20 min

READY

40 min

This isn’t really a recipe so much as a smart meal prep system. Quarter-pound hamburger patties get portioned, separated with waxed paper, and tucked into a freezer bag with their buns, ready to grill the moment hunger strikes.

The waxed paper between patties is the small detail that makes everything work. Without it, the patties freeze into one solid puck and you’re stuck hacking them apart with a knife. With it, you peel off exactly how many you need and the rest stays bagged.

Cook them frozen, no thawing. Frozen patties hold their shape better on the grill and develop a deeper crust because the outside sears hard while the inside slowly comes up to temp. The result is juicier than you’d expect.

Go for 80/20 ground beef for the right fat-to-lean ratio. Lean ground beef freezes fine but cooks up dry and crumbly. The fat is what keeps these tender after a long freezer stay.

Pro Tips

  • Press a thumbprint into the center of each patty before freezing. It prevents the burger from doming up into a meatball as it cooks.
  • Season the raw patties with just salt and pepper before freezing. Heavier seasonings can taste muted after weeks in the freezer.
  • Cook on medium-high heat to give the frozen interior time to come up to temperature without scorching the crust.
  • Use within two months for best flavor. Vacuum sealing extends that to four months.

Variations

  • Mix grated onion and Worcestershire into the beef before forming patties for built-in flavor.
  • Stuff each patty with a cube of cheddar or blue cheese before freezing for surprise melty centers.
  • Swap in ground turkey or a 50/50 beef-pork blend for different flavor profiles.

Ingredients

1 453.6
POUND G GROUND BEEF
4 4
EACH EACH HAMBURGER BUN *
1 1
EACH EACH FREEZER BAG
quart *
1 1
EACH EACH FREEZER BAG
gallon *

Directions

Form ground beef into four quarter-pound patties.

Separate with waxed paper; freeze in 1-quart freezer bag.

Bundle with: four hamburger buns in gallon freezer bag.

To prepare: do not thaw. Place frozen patties in skillet and pan-broil, OR, broil over barbecue grill.

Serve with buns and your favourite topping ingredients.

* not incl. in nutrient facts Arrow up button

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 114g (4.0 oz)
Amount per Serving
Calories 279 58% from fat
 % Daily Value *
Total Fat 18g 28%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 98mg 33%
Sodium 94mg 4%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 0%
Sugars g
Protein 55g
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 3% Iron 16%
* based on a 2,000 calorie diet How is this calculated?
Trans-fat Free, Low Carb, Sugar-Free, Low Sodium
 
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