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A few sources claim to have invented the hamburger. Some trace its origins to Roman times, based on Isicia Omentata, a dish of minced meat and spices formed into a patty and fried. Hamburgers might also be a direct descendant of Hamburg steak, a puck of minced beef brought to the US in the late 19th century by emigrants from Hamburg, Germany. And Louis Lassen, of Louis’ Lunch, in New Haven, Connecticut—more than a century old and still in operation—is said to have created one of the first iterations of the burger as we know it today in 1900: a patty between two slices of bread.
Although we love a lacy-edged smash burger and other carefully crafted burger recipes, sometimes life happens and you need a whole bunch of burgers for a crowd of hungry people—quickly. That’s when frozen burgers come in clutch. No, you won’t be able to control the quality in the same way you might be able to with a homemade patty, but you can zhuzh your burgers with caramelized onions, and upgraded ketchup with tahini. Throw in a few great sides (we have baked bean recommendations; frozen french fries too), and you’ve got a party.
You’ll find a variety of frozen burgers in your grocery store’s freezer section, but which brands are the best? We put nine burgers through our latest taste test to find out.
How we picked the products
To determine the list of frozen burgers we’d test, we combed through Reddit threads, YouTube reviews, and other tastings to determine which brands should be on our list. We avoided riffs like bacon burgers, and excluded upgrades like frozen Wagyu burgers. Instead, we stuck to classic beef burgers that were widely available in the US, and sold in traditional sizing (no sliders—sorry, White Castle fans!) to standardize our testing.
In addition to our selection of frozen burgers, we tried a couple of refrigerated burgers to see how they compared (you can always freeze them when you get home, right?). Although we decided they ultimately fall into their own category, we named one a wildcard favorite.
How we set up our blind taste test
Before our tasters arrived in the test kitchen, we cooked each patty from frozen in a skillet with a bit of neutral oil according to its package directions. When the patties were sizzling and browned on both sides, we transferred them to a labeled sheet tray. After a short rest, we cut them into bite-sized pieces. Tasters gathered around the anonymized burgers to try a piece of each before discussing its merits (or flaws).
How our editors evaluated
Our tasters said their criteria for a great frozen burger hinged on texture. They wanted a frozen burger that was at least somewhat comparable to a handmade patty. Its texture should be loosely packed, not dense. The burger would also have to be juicy, something dry and cardboard-like just wouldn’t do.
Although all of our burgers were cooked on the stove and went into the pan frozen—we even stashed the ones purchased in the refrigerated section in the freezer overnight—our tasters hoped for a patty with a fresh, beefy flavor. The burgers should be well-seasoned, with a just-grilled quality. Any traces of freezer burn or other off-flavors were immediate no’s.
The all-around favorite: Philly Gourmet Pure 100% Beef Patties
Founded in 1960, Philly Gourmet has a mile-long lineup of frozen burger varieties. We tested the brand’s Pure 100% Beef Patties, but other offerings are thicker (Thick & Beefy) and thinner (100% Beef Smashed Patties) to suit anyone’s tastes. True to its name, and according to its packaging, Philly Gourmet’s 100% Beef Patties do, in fact, contain just one ingredient: beef.
Why it won us over: Our tasters noted that a beefy Philly Gourmet patty was nearly as tender as a handmade burger patty. It “actually feels like it could have been [fresh] ground beef,” remarked director of creative development Ian Stroud. While associate test kitchen manager Inés Anguiano praised their robust beef flavor.
We’d love it in: Since you’re saving time with frozen patties, invest some into a few mouthwatering toppings. Squish those patties into the BA Patty Melt.
The juiciest burger: Wegmans Seasoned Angus Beef Burgers
While a lot of burgers in our taste test weighed in at a quarter pound, this East-Coast supermarket version is notable in that each burger is a third of a pound. More burger is always better. Wegmans’s hamburgers are also distinct in that they’re labeled “seasoned,” although in this case that simply refers to sea salt. The other ingredients mentioned on the packaging include beef and cherry powder (the latter reportedly helps delay oxidation and extend shelf life).
Why it won us over: Wegmans’s frozen burgers are springy and light with the same crumbly edges you’d find on a handmade burger. While several burgers in our lineup were nearly flavorless, Wegmans’s was expertly salted and wonderfully savory. The thick, juicy patties developed a nice Maillard crust, which made the rich meatiness and prominent umami notes even stronger. All in all, Wegmans’s flavorful frozen burgers were the closest we tasted to freshly made patties.
We’d love it in: An extra juicy burger demands some extra delicious accoutrements; a Sunny Side Burger With Salsa Verde is the perfect summer project.
Our tasters had positive feedback for the Wahlburgers’s thick refrigerated burger patties. Inés compared it to a steakhouse burger, and senior director of creative development Dan Siegel said it could be passed off as a made-from-scratch burger. Although these refrigerated patties aren’t technically frozen, they require just about the same amount of planning (plus, they’d be happy to live in your freezer for a couple days if needed.)
- Amazon Fresh Ground Beef Burgers: Tasters found this burger to have a puzzling aftertaste that turned them off.
- Ball Park Flame Grilled Beef Patty: These pre-cooked frozen burgers had a notably smoky flavor which got mixed reactions; ultimately, they were a no.
- Bubba Burger Original: Although we’re fans of Bubba’s veggie burgers, the beef version we tried had a fatty flavor that fell flat at our tasting.
- Good & Gather All Natural Beef Patties: With a rubbery texture, these burgers weren’t a hit.
- Holten’s Chop House Smashed Burgers: Tasters said these burgers lacked flavor but agreed they would be fine with some dressing up (think fully loaded).
- Kirkland 100% Grass-Fed Beef Patties: Some tasters reported a somewhat fishy flavor in these burgers, while others said they didn’t taste much of anything.
Beef patties are great, but so are salmon ones, and lamb ones, and potato ones too.
