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How To Defrost Beyond Burgers In The Microwave

Norah Clark
Beyond Meat burger

Norah Clark

Norah Clark, Editor of Boyd Hampers! Norah is a food writer with over a decade of experience in hospitality as a pastry chef, sous chef, and barista; former chef at the Savoy Hotel, Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Plaza Hotel.

It's recommended to defrost Beyond Burgers overnight in your refrigerator, but you can also use the microwave to thaw your frozen patties in 30-second intervals to prevent overheating.

If you're a frequent plant-based eater or simply looking for a meat-free meal, keeping Beyond Burgers in your freezer offers a tasty and quick dinner option for anyone hungry.

Preparing a Beyond Burger isn't significantly different from cooking a regular beef patty; however, it must be defrosted properly before cooking.

Follow these simple steps to make perfectly frozen Beyond Burgers and enjoy one of the top plant-based burgers in the comfort of your home kitchen. This is even faster than fast food.

The Best Way To Defrost Beyond Burgers

The company suggests that the most effective method for defrosting Beyond Burgers is to remove them from the freezer the night before you plan to cook them and allow them to thaw slowly in your refrigerator.

The reason is that these patties don't have as much oil as a traditional, animal-based hamburger.

They take just two minutes to cook once they're thawed, much less time than it typically takes to cook a beef patty.

These patties have a marbled appearance resembling real beef. Instead of animal fats, Beyond Burgers contain coconut oil and cocoa butter to provide the fat, juiciness, and flavor. However, they are not cooked in the same way as marbled meat.

Have You Just Bought a Bag of Frozen Burgers?

If you find yourself returning home from work with a bag of frozen burgers and a hungry family to feed in just a few hours—or even tomorrow—read on.

Ways to Freeze Beyond Burgers

Freezing Beyond Burgers in the Microwave

You've likely used your microwave to defrost frozen food items before. Usually, it's just a matter of using the normal settings until you achieve the desired result. However, this approach isn't suitable for hamburger patties.

When you use the regular settings on your microwave, Beyond Burgers will start to cook on the outside before the inside has thawed.

To avoid this, locate the defrost setting on the microwave. This will reduce the temperature to around 70% of its normal power. You should also thaw the patty gradually, in intervals of 30 seconds.

If the patty remains in the microwave for too long, even on the defrost setting, it will become mushy when the fats escape and begin to cook unevenly.

To get the best results, try these tips:

  • Use the defrost setting.
  • Cook your hamburger patty(s) in 30-second bursts.
  • Keep a toothpick handy. When the patty starts to soften, poke five or six holes in it to help the heat distribute more evenly.
  • If the exterior begins to brown, remove it.
  • If it's still slightly frozen, cook it in a skillet at a lower temperature and allow it to cook a bit longer on each side.

How to Cook Frozen Beyond Burgers

If you don't want to risk ending up with mushy or improperly cooked burger patties, but you'd like to enjoy them by the next day, you can cook them from frozen. In that case, cook Beyond Burgers at moderate to low temperatures. If you rush the cooking process with high heat, you'll get a burger that's dark or even burnt on the outside but still pink inside.

You'll also need to cook each patty 2 to 3 minutes longer per side than the recipe suggests, allowing the heat to penetrate the frozen center.

If you prefer a slightly crispy exterior, you can increase the heat after confirming that the center is cooked.

Can You Refreeze Beyond Burgers?

All Beyond Meat burgers are sold frozen. Some supermarkets may allow them to thaw while they're displayed in the meat or deli section.

If you buy frozen patties, or if you remove patties from the freezer and don't use them all, it's recommended to store the remaining patties in the refrigerator and use them within 2 to 3 days. Do not refreeze Beyond Burgers once they've been thawed.

If you've purchased frozen Beyond Meat burger patties, you can keep them in the fridge until you're ready to cook them.

Frequently Asked Questions

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