Are you looking forward to throwing a backyard and grill party and are wondering how to grill frozen meat? There are different types of meat that you can grill from steak, chicken, pork, salmon, and sausages. If you do not have time to defrost meat, you can grill them straight from the freezer. Find out how below.
How do you grill frozen meat? The techniques and methods on how to grill frozen meat will have to depend on the type of meat. The grilling procedure is still the same. If you do not have time to thaw meat, all that you need to do is to add cooking time. This is because frozen meat takes longer to cook. You also need to make sure that you cook the meat at the right temperature so that it is properly cooked.
You can grill beef, chicken, pork, and any other meat from frozen. It can result in properly cooked, juicy, and tender meat that everyone will surely enjoy. Below, we have shared some tips on the best and the safest ways to cook meat from frozen.
Can You Cook Frozen Meat on a Grill?
You can cook frozen meat on a grill but it is not advisable. Take note that the meat will cook at different temperatures. Moreover, cooking meat from frozen can result in loss of nutrients from the meat. When not properly done, the meat can get burnt on the outside while the inside is still uncooked.
How to Grill Frozen Meat
How to grill frozen meat depends on the type of meat. Different grilling techniques are required for different types of meat. Below are tips on how to grill frozen meat according to its type.
Steaks
Cooking steaks from frozen can be a good technique. The reason for this is that thawing the steak causes some of the moisture to be lost. If the steak is grilled while it is still frozen, the moisture stays on the inside while it is cooking. Moreover, defrosted steak can easily get overcooked especially in the middle and part. This can be avoided if the steak is still frozen while it is cooked. It is ideal to cook a steak at 250 to 275 grill temperature and then bring the internal temp up slowly. Choose a steak that is about 1 to 1 and a half inches thick.
Place the steak on the grill with direct heat from 500 to 700°F for about 5 to 7 minutes until they are seared. Make sure that the internal temperature is between 70 and 90°F. Once it is seared, season the steaks and move them over to indirect heat from 300 to 350°F so that they can slowly cook to perfection. Take note that because the steak is still frozen, it will take a little more time to cook.
Chicken
Like any type of frozen meat, frozen chicken takes longer to cook. Pre-heat the grill at about 375 to 450°F. Season the chicken and place them on the grill. Cook the chicken for about 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until the internal temperature reaches 160 to 165°F.
Burgers
When it comes to grilling burgers, there is not much of a difference between cooking them thawed or frozen. However, frozen burger patties can take longer to cook. The ideal cooking temperature for frozen burgers should be about 325°F. Season the burger patties and place them on the grill. Flip them after five minutes. Continue flipping the burger patties every five minutes until the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Pork Chops
Grill frozen pork chops as you normally do, but the cooking time can take longer. To grill, season the frozen pork chops and put them on the preheated grill. The internal temp of the grill should be between 145 to 160°F.
Salmon
Make sure that the frozen salmon is stored in an airtight container with no frost. Preheat the grill to 375°F and place the salmon skin-side up. Season the salmon with salt and pepper or with your favorite seasoning. A ½-inch thick salmon should be grilled for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. A 1-inch thick salmon should be grilled for 6 to 8 minutes on each side.
Shrimp
Take the frozen shrimps and let them thaw a bit for 15 to 30 minutes so you can easily slide them on skewers. Spread butter and seasoning on the shrimp using a basting brush. Turn the skewers and repeat the process on the other side. Preheat the grill at 350 to 450°F and cook the shrimp for three to four minutes on each side. Add two more minutes if you like your shrimp a bit crispier.
How Long Can Frozen Meat Last?
How long frozen meat can last will have to depend on your freezer and on whether the meat was vacuum-sealed or not. Vacuum-sealed meats can last for a year and those that are paper-wrapped can last for six to eight months. Moreover, large cuts of meat will last longer when frozen. Meat that is left in the freezer for too long can dry out and also pick up odors. Frozen meat is safe to consume unless there is a change in temperature like when you defrost, freeze, and defrost again. This can give bacteria a chance to grow.
Tips on How to Cook Frozen Steak
When done properly, a frozen steak can taste better than the defrosted ones. The reason for this is that the extra-cold temperature of the frozen steak allows the interior temperature to rise more slowly as it grills. This protects the stake from overcooking and also helps create a uniform pink interior. Below are the tips on how to cook frozen steak.
Tip 1: Use Direct and Indirect heat
Direct heat refers to the hottest part of the grill which is directly on top of the flames. Temperature can get as hot as 2500 degrees in this location. On the other hand, indirect heat is away from the flames with a temperature of around 300 degrees. Use direct heat to sear the edges of the steak. Afterward, let the middle of the steak cook using indirect heat.
Tip 2: Freeze Properly
How the steaks are frozen will make a big difference in your grilling success. Place the steaks in a resealable freezer bag making sure that they are positioned flatly. Remove air bubbles from the bag. See to it that you do not let the steaks remain in the freezer for too long because they can develop freezer burn. Frozen steaks that are properly wrapped will stay freezer burn-free for about 3 to 6 months in the average freezer.
Tip 3: Use Thick Steaks
Choose frozen steaks that are 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick. It is not recommended to grill frozen steaks that are thin because the inside can easily overcook before the outside are well-browned.
Tip 4: Track the Temperature
When grilling, make sure that you have fast and accurate temperature readings. Take note that the leave-in probe of alarm thermometers is not ideal to use because the high temperatures that come from the griller can damage them. Choose fast readings from an instant-read thermometer so that you can quickly spot-check the steaks without having to hold your hand over the heat for too long. For more information on how to grill steak, you can check out this article that we have written titled, how do you grill a frozen steak without thawing it?
✅ Video – How to Grill a Frozen Beef Steak
T-ROY COOKS shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to grill frozen beef steak. In the video, the advantages of cooking frozen steak are explained. Watch the video for more tips and information.
Do You Have to Thaw Meat Before Grilling?
If you have time, it is recommended to thaw meat before grilling them. The main reason is that it is easier to cook thawed meat and they will be cooked through properly. On the other hand, you can cook meat from frozen, but you have to be extra careful that the meat is cooked through. We have also written this article that discusses if it is safe to cook frozen meat without thawing. Check out the article for an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Do You Have to Thaw Chicken Before Grilling?
For best results, it is ideal to thaw chicken a day or two before grilling. Take note that chicken that is thawed earlier is safer to eat as compared to those thawed a few minutes before grilling. You can also check out this article that discusses how to defrost chicken quickly. We have shared the different methods that you can use to defrost the chicken.
Can You Cook Frozen Meat in the Oven?
You can safely cook frozen meat in the oven without defrosting it first. On the other hand, you need to remember that the cooking time can take about 50% longer than thawed meat. This is the same for all types of frozen meat. We have also shared this article that discusses how long should you grill frozen chicken. You can check out the article for more tips and information about the topic.
Can You Cook Beef from Frozen in Slow Cooker?
Do not cook frozen beef or any other frozen meat in a slow cooker. It is not safe because the temperature will not quickly reach the temperature of 70°C. The food will stay in the danger zone temperature for a long enough time. This means that harmful bacteria will not be killed and there is an increased risk of food poisoning and other food-borne illnesses. You can also read this article that talks about if you can cook frozen chicken on a pellet grill. We have shared helpful tips and information about grilling using a pellet grill.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed how to grill frozen meat. Frozen meat is grilled as you normally would. However, you need to be mindful of the temperature. Make sure that you carefully and thoroughly cook frozen meat to avoid food-borne illnesses. It is safe to cook frozen meat but the cooking time may take about 50% longer as compared to meats that are defrosted.