Quick Guide: How to Cook a Frozen Patty
See a frozen patty and want to satisfy your craving but are afraid of ruining it? Don't be afraid. Follow me and turn this hard thing into a popular delicacy in just a few steps.
What is the best way to cook a frozen patty?
Frying in a pan is a pretty good way to cook frozen patties.
First, place the pan on the stove, turn on low or medium heat, pour some oil into the pan and let the oil evenly cover the bottom of the pan. Then the patty will not stick easily when put in.
Next, directly put the frozen patty into the pan and cover it with a lid. Use the hot air to thaw the inside of the patty quickly and let it cook through slowly. Fry for about two or three minutes.
Open the lid and take a look at the bottom of the patty. If it shows a little golden color, gently flip it over with a spatula. Be careful when doing this to prevent breaking the patty.
After flipping it over, continue to fry. Adjust the heat appropriately according to the condition of the patty. During frying, season it with some salt, black pepper and the like according to your own taste.
Keep flipping and frying like this until both sides of the patty turn into a beautiful golden brown. When a chopstick or fork can be easily inserted into the middle of the patty and no blood seeps out, it means the patty is cooked. Take it out directly and put it on a plate to eat.
Do you need to thaw the frozen patty in advance before cooking?
Complete thawing is not necessary. Direct frying is easier to retain the meat juice.
After taking the frozen patty out of the refrigerator, leaving it at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes is enough. This can make the surface slightly softened and easier to absorb flavors and heat evenly. Complete thawing will instead make the patty become loose and not easy to form.
Use medium heat when frying, and the time should be slightly longer than that of an ordinary patty. It takes about 5 to 6 minutes on one side. Judge whether it needs to be flipped by observing the color change at the edge of the patty to ensure that each side can be fried until golden.
Do you need to add cooking oil when cooking a frozen patty?
Oil needs to be added, but not too much. A thin layer of oil on the pan is enough. If it is a non-stick pan, you can even add no oil at all, because the frozen patty will produce oil itself.
The main purpose of adding oil is to prevent the patty from sticking to the pan and at the same time make the heating more uniform. It is recommended to choose oils that can withstand high temperatures such as peanut oil or sunflower seed oil, so that it is not easy to produce fumes.
Before putting in the patty, preheat the pan to the appropriate temperature and then add oil. After the oil temperature rises, gently put in the patty, so as to avoid splashing oil and also make the surface of the patty form a crispy crust faster.
Can you cook several frozen patties together?
Yes, but there are a few points to note:
First, the size of the pan must be appropriate. If the pan is relatively small, putting too many patties in it can easily cause them to be too close to each other, making it difficult to flip them and not conducive to uniform heating. It may be that some patties are cooked while others are not.
Second, pay more attention to the state of each patty during cooking. Because the patties in the center of the pan and those at the edge are heated slightly differently, so adjust the heat in time and flip each patty more often to ensure that they can all be fried until both sides are golden brown.
How to prevent the frozen patty from falling apart when cooking?
Aspects of thawing:
Fry the patty after it is completely thawed. In this way, the meat will be tighter and less likely to fall apart. When thawing, place the patty in the refrigerator for thawing. Thawing at room temperature is prone to bacterial growth.
Aspects of heat control:
When frying, control the heat well. Start by frying on medium heat until the surface is golden brown, then turn to low heat and fry until fully cooked.
Aspects of flipping operation:
When flipping, be quick. Use a spatula to gently hold the entire patty and flip it over in one go.
Aspects of assisting in tightening:
If you are worried that the patty will fall apart, you can gently press the edge of the patty with your hand before frying to make it tighter. You can also sprinkle a little flour on the surface of the patty. This will not only prevent it from falling apart but also make the crust crispier.
Can you air fry frozen patty?
Sure, and the effect is good. Set the temperature at about 180 degrees, and it takes about 8 to 10 minutes. Flipping it once in the middle can produce a crispy outside and tender inside texture.
The advantage of using an air fryer is that there is no need to add oil, which is healthier and more convenient. It is best to preheat for 2 to 3 minutes before frying so that the heating is more uniform. When putting in the patty, be careful not to overlap it to avoid affecting the heating.
If you like a crispier crust, you can gently brush a layer of oil on the surface or slightly extend the heating time. However, pay attention to observation to avoid over-frying and making the meat tough.
