Impossible Foods, the company that produces the Impossible Burger, has made waves in recent years by creating a product that comes close to matching ground beef.
But like ground beef, it has to be kept frozen. So what about those days when you don’t have time for defrosting?
There’s no need to worry!
This blog post will show you how to defrost your frozen impossible burgers quickly and easily using nothing but a microwave oven.
Can you defrost Impossible Burger in the microwave?
Yes, you can defrost Impossible Burgers in the microwave. However, Impossible Foods recommends thawing it in the refrigerator. So when defrosting in the microwave, you want to make sure that you’re keeping an eye on it and not microwaving for too long.
Also, before defrosting Impossible Burgers patties in the microwave, you’ll need to make sure you first remove it from its packaging. You should then place the Burger on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with another plate to stop splattering or making a mess.
Another thing to pay attention to is following the correct defrosting time period and the power setting you use.
But we’ll go over all of these later on.
Why defrost Impossible Burger in the microwave?
Defrosting your impossible burger in the microwave is safer than defrosting it on the countertop and faster than defrosting with water or in the refrigerator. However, it’s riskier to defrost Impossible meat in a microwave than in a refrigerator as you can easily spoil it if you’re not careful.
Is it safe to thaw Impossible Burger in the microwave?
Yes, thawing Impossible Burgers in the microwave is safe. Impossible Burger is a plant-based meat substitute made with soy protein, potato protein, and coconut oil that are all safe to microwave!
Although impossible burgers are safe to microwave, you still have a few safety risks that you have to watch out for once you’ve thawed them. The first is that they are perishable and can go bad at room temperature. To avoid this, it’s best to cook it immediately once thawed. You could also thaw the Burger in the refrigerator overnight for a few hours so that it doesn’t become unsafe to eat.
Another safety risk of microwaving Impossible meat is that microwaves can easily cause them to cook due to their high heat output. So when defrosting your burger, you’ve got to pay attention to how long you nuke them and do so at intervals. Down below, we explain the right defrost setting to use for best results.
Lastly, even though impossible meat is already fully cooked and then frozen, you still need to reheat them before serving it. Impossible Foods recommends that the burger patty needs to be reheated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
How to Defrost Impossible Burger in the Microwave
To defrost Impossible Burger in the microwave:
- Remove it from the packaging and place the burger patties in a microwave-safe dish.
- Set the microwave to defrost mode or nuke the Impossible Burger at 30% power using for 2-3 minutes.
- Flip the burger patties every 30 seconds until fully thawed.
- Cook it immediately using your preferred method.
Make sure you flip or rotate the meat every 30 seconds and allow it to sit for 10-15 seconds after each run to ensure it thaws evenly. Your impossible meat should be done defrosting within about 2-3 minutes.
Now, you might wonder why you can’t just allow it to run for the full 3 minutes and be done with it.
Well, the answer is simple…
Microwaves cook or heat whatever you stick in it really quickly. When you nuke in intervals, you allow the Impossible burger patty to defrost evenly and prevent hot spots from forming.
Flipping your Impossible Burger patties during heating prevents it from being thawed too much, which will cause the meat to start cooking instead.
If it does start cooking, you will easily misjudge the cooking time needed for the meat when you go to prepare it for your burgers or meatballs. As such, you’ll end up with a change in texture or overcooked food, which will definitely spoil your dinner.
Furthermore, depending on the wattage and power setting on your microwave, defrosting frozen impossible burgers continuously can cause them to burn, which is why we recommend doing it in intervals.
Impossible meat contains soy leghemoglobin, which will coagulate at 158°F so cooking them to medium-well or well-done can leave you with a dry burger that doesn’t have the gooey mouthfeel of ground beef.
How long does it take Impossible Burger to thaw?
The length of time it takes Impossible Burger to thaw is highly dependent on the method used to thaw it and the thickness or size of Impossible Burger patties. However, it usually takes about 2-3 minutes in a microwave, about 15-30 minutes when submerged in water about 12-24 hours to thaw in the refrigerator.
So choose the method you use depending on how quickly you need your burgers thawed. However, keep in mind that Impossible Foods recommends that you defrost impossible meat in the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
How to Thaw Impossible Burger in Water
Thawing Impossible meat with water is one of the most direct and faster methods to defrost it.
Place the impossible meat while it is still in the packaging into a large bowl then fill the bowl with cold water. You should replace the water every 5-10 minutes and thaw for about 30 minutes in total. Or you could simply place it in a bowl and allow water to trickle into it so it overflows.
How to Thaw Impossible Burger at Room Temperature
You might be tempted to defrost impossible meat at room temperature but this is never something you should do. Impossible Burgers are high perishable and should never be left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. So to defrost impossible burger patties at room temperature is always a bad idea.
How to Thaw Impossible Burger in the Refrigerator
To defrost Impossible Burgers in the refrigerator, simply remove as many impossible meat patties or the entire package from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Allow the impossible burger patties to sit and thaw for about 24 hours, then cook them immediately.
It’s best if you thaw the burgers overnight so you don’t have to sit around waiting hours.
What is the fastest way to thaw impossible meat?
The fastest way to thaw impossible meat is to thaw it in a microwave which takes about 2-3 minutes, followed by thawing in water which requires about 30 minutes. However, we recommend thawing your impossible burgers in the refrigerator for 24 hours for the best results.
Do I need to defrost Impossible Burger before cooking it?
Impossible Foods recommends thawing your frozen Impossible Burgers before cooking it so you should always thaw it first. Thawed meats always retain a better taste and texture when they are thawed before cooking and it’s no different for Impossible Burgers.
Once they are thawed, you shouldn’t let them sit out for more than two hours or so before cooking them. If they were thawed in the refrigerator, you can leave them there for up to 10 days.
Thawing your impossible burgers first also reduces the risk of undercooking them, and it also provides a better end result when cooking. The manufacturers recommend that the burgers should have an internal temperature of 165°F before serving. So if you don’t thaw them first, you can easily misjudge the doneness and end up eating undercooked food.
Additionally, you also need to remember that when you cook frozen foods, the cooking time is increased by about 50%.
Can I refreeze defrosted Impossible Burger?
According to Impossible Foods, you should never thaw then refreeze their Impossible burgers since they are perishable. If it is thawed in the refrigerator, it can last for up to 10 days if unopened and only 3 days if it has been opened.
FAQ
How to defrost Impossible burgers quickly?
The quickest way to defrost your impossible burgers is to just cook them frozen. This is perfectly safe to do and it will only take about 50% longer to cook. So if your Burgers would normally take about 3 minutes to thaw, cooking them frozen will skip that step and allow you to go straight to cooking.
What is the safest way to defrost Impossible Burger?
The safest way to thaw Impossible meat is in the refrigerator because it is the most gentle method and doesn’t run the risk of bacteria growth. Additionally, it also retains the best taste and texture when defrosted in the fridge.
Can I cook Impossible Burgers from frozen?
Yes, cooking your impossible burgers frozen is completely safe and easy to do. Doing so will not affect the taste or quality of your meal. The only thing to keep in mind is that it will take about 50% longer to cook a frozen Impossible Burger patties.
How to prepare Impossible Burger from frozen
To cook impossible burgers from frozen, preheat a well-oiled pot on your stove to medium-high heat. Place the impossible burgers into the pot and cook for 4 minutes per side. Once you’ve cooked on both sides, remove it from the pan and let it rest for 1-2 minutes before serving.
How long to cook frozen impossible burger?
You will need to cook frozen impossible burgers for about 8 minutes total or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F. You should allow the burger to cook for 4 minutes on each side. This cooking time is up by 50% from the unfrozen which would typically require 2-3 minutes on each side.
What are the best ways to cook Impossible Burger?
Some of the best ways to cook Impossible Burger include grilling, cooking in a pan, and even baking.
Should I thaw Impossible burger before grilling?
It’s always best to thaw Impossible Burger before grilling so that you can ensure an even cook. You don’t want to risk undercooking your Impossible Burger by not thawing it first.
Conclusion
Defrosting Impossible Burger in the microwave is easy and fast. When you use a microwave to defrost your Impossible Burgers, it usually takes about two minutes which is one of the fastest ways to thaw them. If you are looking for a way that’s quick and easy then microwaving might be what you need.
However, if time isn’t an issue and you plan ahead, you should stick to the recommendations of Impossible Foods and defrost their burgers in the refrigerator. While thawing in the refrigerator takes much longer than the other methods, it’s safer and will give you a better tasting and textured meat as well as reduce the risk of undercooking it.