“frozen hamburger patties” by stu_spivack is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 
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It can be a real pain to separate frozen burgers (trust me, been there, over it!!!). You know the drill. You open up the freezer and pull out a package of frozen burger patties, only to find that they’re all stuck together.
Now you’re faced with the daunting task of separating them without making them break apart or taking too long.
So, how do you separate frozen burger patties? Luckily, there are a few methods that can help you get the job done and we’ve outlined the best ones below.
Let’s get right into it.
How Do You Separate Frozen Hamburger Patties ? (5 Best Methods)
“frozen hamburger patties” by stu_spivack is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 .
When you’re making burgers, the last thing you want is to remove your beef patties from the freezer, only to find that they are stuck together. Frozen burger patties can be difficult to separate and it is annoying especially if your hungry.
Below are 5 methods you can use to separate frozen beef patties, so your life will be a little easier next time you’re ready to fire up the grill, skillet or oven.
Method #1: The Fork Trick
This is probably the quickest and simplest method to separate frozen burgers. All you need is a fork (or two, if you have particularly large patties). Simply insert the teeth of the fork in between the patties and twist. The patties should easily come apart. However, be careful not to twist too hard or you could end up with burger meat that is broken or misshapen.
Method #2: The Slice and Separate Method
If the fork trick doesn’t seem to be working, you can also use a knife to separate the patties. This is the method that most people use, but if not done properly, you could get seriously hurt as you can see by the examples below.
To use a knife to separate frozen hamburger patties, start by placing the knife in between the patties and then slice down. You don’t have to slice all the way through, just enough so that the patties are no longer stuck together. Do it slowly and carefully so you don’t cut yourself.
Now that the burgers are sliced, you can easily pull them apart with your hands.
Method #3: The Hammer & Knife Method
If you’re not comfortable with using a knife on its own, you can also use a hammer to help you out.
Take a sharp knife and insert it into the center of the patties. Next, use a hammer to gently tap the top of the knife, driving it down into the patties. Be sure to use a light hand, as you don’t want to pulverize the burgers. Once the knives are inserted, you should be able to easily pull the patties apart.
This is a much safer method than using a knife by itself and it’s also less likely to result in misshapen burger patties.
Watch the video below to see this method in action.
Method #4: The Cold Water Bath Method
This method takes a bit longer than the previous three, as you are essentially defrosting your hamburger patties. The cold water method is effective, it just will take some time.
What you will do is place the frozen burger patties in a bowl or pot of cold water. Let them sit for 5-10 minutes, or until they’ve thawed enough to be separated.
Once they’re thawed, use your fingers or a fork to pull them apart. You may need to give them another minute or two in the water if they’re still stuck together.
Method #5: Throw Them in the Oven/Grill/Skillet
This is probably the easiest method, but it will take the longest. If you have the time, simply preheat your oven, grill or skillet to the cooking temperature and then place the frozen burger patties on the surface.
Let the patty the burger patty heat up for a minute or two before trying to separate them. Once the heat has had a chance to penetrate the patty and loosen things up, they should come apart easily.
The video below gives you a good overview of this method.
Final Thoughts
Separating frozen burger patties doesn’t have to be difficult, once you follow one of the methods we mentioned above.
Whether you use a fork, knife, or hammer, cold water bath or throw them in the oven, you’ll have perfectly separated patties in no time. Just be sure to use caution when handling sharp objects and always cook your burgers thoroughly before eating.
Now, I know I didn’t cover every single method out there, so if you have a favorite way of separating frozen burger patties, let me know in the comments below. I’m always looking for new methods to try!
