How To Defrost Beyond Burger?

If you are on the vegan lifestyle or enjoy meat-free days once in a while, you are probably already a fan of beyond burgers. Burgers are easy to make, but sometimes plant-based foods require different preparation. For example, what is the correct way to defrost beyond burgers?

Beyond burgers can be defrosted in a few different ways to ensure you retain the shape and avoid it turning mushy. You can thaw the patties on the countertop for 30-60 minutes, in the fridge for 6-8 hours, or overnight. You can also use the microwave at 30-second intervals until it is defrosted.

There are several essential steps to note when defrosting beyond burgers, such as timings and what to look out for to avoid your burger spoiling. We will go through them in the article.

• Defrosting On The Countertop
• Defrosting In The Refrigerator
• Defrosting In The Microwave
• Can You Cook Beyond Burgers From Frozen?
• So, How To Defrost Beyond Burger?

Defrosting On The Countertop

When defrosting beyond burgers on the countertop, you want to ensure that you will cook it soon after. The manufacturers keep the product refrigerated — meaning the patties need to be cold.

As you would not leave any meat out for hours on end, you shouldn’t leave your beyond patties out for too long either. If you are sure you will cook it within an hour, you can let your burger patties sit on the counter to thaw for about 30-60 minutes.

Leaving it out longer can cause bacteria build-up, as with all kinds of edible food. The consistency of the patties can also change if it loses coldness without being cooked soon enough. Uncooked beyond burgers should not be left at room temperature for more than an hour.

If an hour has passed and you notice the patties have not fully defrosted, place them on a heat-safe plate in the microwave at 30-second intervals until it is soft but not mushy or cooked. Do not refreeze the patties once they are thawed –  cook it immediately.

Defrosting In The Refrigerator

Defrosting beyond burgers in the refrigerator is a safer and better option than leaving it out at room temperature. Patties tend to hold their shape best when kept cold as the binding ingredients solidify with decreased temperature.

You can move beyond burgers from the freezer to the fridge 6-8 hours before cooking. Leaving the patties in the refrigerator overnight also works well. It will thaw and soften while still holding its shape. 

Once you remove the burgers from the refrigerator, try not to leave them out for more than 30 minutes. Try to cook it immediately. Beyond burgers tend to cook best directly from the fridge.

Beyond burgers can go rancid in the fridge if you leave it there for too long. Any meat product or veggies tend to go off eventually, even in the refrigerator. That happens due to the humidity and constant change in temperature from opening and closing the refrigerator door all day.

The best option is to transfer the patties to the refrigerator in the morning for night cooking or overnight for cooking it the following day — if you want it for lunch. That way, the beyond burgers will thaw to  perfection.

Defrosting In The Microwave

Defrosting beyond burgers in the microwave should always be the last option. You should avoid it entirely if possible, but if you are running against time or need a quick fix, the microwave can be your friend if you are careful with the process.

Beyond burgers are already cooked but are safer (and more satisfying) to eat if you heat them through — internal temperature should be at 165°F. The microwave can cook your patties, but it doesn’t always happen evenly and can end up getting spoilt. Therefore try to be extra careful when using the microwave.

Here are a few steps to ensure you defrost beyond burgers in the microwave correctly:

• Remove the packaging and place your beyond patties on a microwave-safe plate.
• Set your microwave to the defrost setting for best results,
• Heat the patties at 30-second intervals, checking them after each interval.
• Have a toothpick handy and poke some holes through the patties (around 4-6 pricks) as soon as you can. You might be able to do that after the first 30 seconds.
• If the outside of the burgers starts to get brown, you will need to stop heating it.
• If the burger patties are still slightly frozen, fry them on low heat for a little longer than usual on each side. They will heat through and cook well that way.

You can follow these steps of microwave thawing if you can carefully observe your burgers. If you leave it too long in the microwave, your patties can turn mushy or cook unevenly.

Can You Cook Beyond Burgers From Frozen?

You can cook beyond burgers from frozen. It is always better and recommended to defrost the patties first for more even cooking; however, if you need to cook them directly from frozen, you can make that happen.

To cook beyond burgers from frozen, you will need to use medium to low heat, ensuring that you can heat it on each side for a little longer than you generally would for it to heat through thoroughly. 

It is safest to eat after the inside is heated to around 165°F, and that is also when it will be most tasty and give you the satisfaction of an actual meat patty. That happens quickly when the burger is defrosted before cooking. But using a longer time on lower heating will still give you the same results.

So, How To Defrost Beyond Burger?

The next time you make some plant-based burgers, you can use one of the defrosting methods. Remember, the refrigerator is better than the countertop, and the microwave requires careful observation for best results.

While all 3 methods work incredibly well, you should choose what works best for you according to your timeframe. You can switch between techniques at your convenience. Ensure that you follow the correct timings and steps to get the best and safest outcome.

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