Cooking frozen foods on the BBQ can be quick, convenient and tasty. But it’s important to remember that frozen foods may not be fully cooked and could cause foodborne illness if they aren’t properly prepared.

In a recent USDA study, consumers often used time, appearance and touch to determine whether or not food was thoroughly cooked. Use a food thermometer to be sure that your foods are safe to eat.

Pre-heat the grill

Like a oven, a grill needs time to heat up and reach the right temperature before you place food on it. Food placed on a cold grill will cook longer than it should and may stick to the grates. Opening the lid and closing it also causes the grill to lose heat and takes your food a long time to reach the desired internal temperature. The most important thing you can do is to preheat the grill before you put anything on it. A hot grill creates flavorful sear marks and helps your food cook evenly.

Cleaning the grates is also crucial to great results.

Check the internal temperature

Frozen foods can be safely prepared if they are cooked to a high enough internal temperature to kill harmful germs that cause foodborne illness. Using a food thermometer is the only way to know when your meal has reached this level of heat. In a recent USDA study, 22 percent of participants who were preparing frozen food incorrectly believed it was fully cooked. This is because the germs can’t be seen, smelled or tasted and the appearance and texture of the food are often wrongly assumed to indicate that it has reached a safe internal temperature.

To help make sure that your grilled meats, chicken and other dishes are thoroughly cooked, use an instant-read food thermometer to check the internal temperature of your dish before serving. A thermometer will also be helpful when grilling frozen foods like burgers, which should reach an internal temperature of 165F to kill any bacteria present in the patty.

Before touching or preparing any raw or frozen food, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for 20 seconds or more, especially after handling raw meats. This will prevent any germs from your hands from transferring to the food that you’re preparing. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves when handling frozen foods, especially meats. This will protect your hands from burns or cuts during the thawing process and grilling.

Sear the burgers

When cooking frozen burgers in a pan, it’s important to sear them before continuing to cook. This gives them a nice crust and locks in the juices. To do this, drizzle a little oil into the pan and heat it to high heat. Once the pan is hot, add the burgers and leave them alone for 3-5 minutes before flipping. Flipping too frequently will cause the burgers to lose their juices and become dry.

If the burgers are well-formed, it shouldn’t take too long for the first side to brown and caramelize. However, if the patty is too lean, the second side may take longer than the first. A good rule of thumb is to cook the burger until a line of tan or light gray extends about two-thirds up the patty.

During the summer, we often recommend “dimpling” the burgers before placing them on the grill. This technique helps the patty puff up evenly when cooked, and provides better control over the internal temperature of the burger. However, when cooking burgers in a skillet on the stove, this isn’t necessary.

To make sure your burgers are cooked to the right doneness, use a meat thermometer. Aim for a medium-rare burger, which means that there is still a small amount of pink meat in the center of the patty.

Serve

Frozen foods can offer a convenient, practical solution to busy days. They also help reduce food waste, save money, and make healthy eating more accessible. However, it’s important to know how to properly grill frozen food to ensure safety and quality.

To grill frozen food, it’s necessary to pre-heat the grill. This will prevent the food from overcooking and burning before it is fully thawed. Moreover, it will allow the food to reach its proper internal temperature.

You can use a gas or charcoal grill to grill frozen food. Depending on the type of grill you have, you may need to adjust the cooking time. For example, if the recipe calls for water to be added to the dish, it may need to cook longer if it’s starting from frozen.

You can also microwave frozen meals. This is a quick and easy way to heat up frozen foods. However, you should remember that every microwave is different, so it’s best to check and stir the food at 90-second intervals until it is thawed. If you don’t have a microwave, you can use the oven or stove to heat up frozen food. You can even repurpose frozen foods to make other dishes, such as casseroles and stews. Try these recipes to get started!