The Impossible Burger is a plant-based burger that has become popular in recent years as more people look for meat alternatives. It mimics the taste, texture, smell, and cooking experience of a traditional beef burger. Many people wonder if you can cook an Impossible Burger in the oven instead of pan-frying or grilling it. The short answer is yes! While the Impossible Burger package directions say to cook it in a pan, you can absolutely cook it in the oven with great results. Here is a detailed look at how to cook an Impossible Burger in the oven.
Benefits of Cooking Impossible Burgers in the Oven
There are a few benefits to cooking Impossible Burgers in the oven rather than pan-frying them:
– More evenly cooked: Oven cooking leads to an evenly cooked burger since the heat circulates all around. Pan cooking can lead to overbrowning on the outside before the inside cooks through.
– Less splatter: There’s no risk of hot oil splatter when oven baking. This makes cleanup easier.
– Hands-free: Once the burgers go in the oven, you don’t have to watch them closely like on the stovetop. Set a timer and go do other tasks until they are ready.
– Can cook more at once: Pan sizes limit how many you can cook at once. With oven baking you can arrange multiple burgers on a baking sheet.
– Imparts oven-roasted flavor: The dry oven heat gives a nice roasted flavor you don’t get from pan frying.
How to Cook Impossible Burgers in the Oven
Cooking Impossible Burgers in the oven is easy to do. Here are step-by-step instructions:
1. Preheat oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). You want it fully preheated before baking.
2. Prepare baking sheet: Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. This prevents sticking. You can also lightly grease the foil.
3. Shape patties: Gently shape the Impossible Burger into round patties about 1/2 inch thick and 3-4 inches wide. Handle carefully to avoid dense or misshapen patties.
4. Arrange on baking sheet: Place patties on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them apart. Do not overcrowd.
5. Brush tops with oil (optional): You can brush the tops lightly with olive oil or avocado oil. This gives browning.
6. Bake: Bake for 18-22 minutes until browned. Flip halfway through. Internal temperature should reach 165°F.
7. Rest: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. The burger will firm up as it rests.
8. Serve: Serve on buns with your favorite toppings and condiments.
Tips for the Best Oven-Baked Impossible Burgers
– Don’t overhandle the meat when shaping patties to prevent denseness.
– Bake at 400°F. Higher temps dry them out. Lower temps don’t brown well.
– Flip halfway through baking for even cooking and browning.
– Let rest before serving so juices redistribute.
– Add desired toppings after baking so they don’t burn.
– Use an instant-read thermometer to check doneness.
– Make a few small slits in the patties before baking to prevent puffing up.
How to Tell When Impossible Burgers Are Done
Because the Impossible Burger is plant-based, you can’t rely on visual cues like you could with beef. Here are tips for determining when Impossible Burgers are fully cooked in the oven:
– Use a thermometer: Insert an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part of a burger. It should reach 165°F.
– Check firmness: A fully cooked Impossible Burger will feel firm when pressed in the center rather than soft and mushy.
– Seek browning: The burger should be nicely browned on both the top and bottom surfaces.
– Cut into one: You can cut into the center of one patty to check the internal color. It should no longer be pink.
– Check times: Bake for 18-22 minutes in a 400°F oven until the above signs of doneness are reached.
If in doubt, it’s best to use a thermometer for an accurate reading. Raw or undercooked Impossible Burgers won’t be unsafe to eat, but they will taste mushy instead of having the proper texture.
Can You Cook Frozen Impossible Burgers in the Oven?
You sure can! Here are some tips for baking frozen Impossible Burgers in the oven:
– Add 5-7 extra minutes to the baking time to account for frozen state.
– Arrange frozen patties on baking sheet and bake without thawing first.
– Preheat oven fully before baking frozen patties.
– Flip patties halfway through bake time.
– Check temperature with a meat thermometer. Should reach 165°F.
– Let rest 5 minutes after baking because they’ll be extra hot.
The results are the same moist, delicious Impossible Burger taste and texture. Just be sure to bake them long enough to fully heat through since starting from frozen state.
Best Oven Temperature for Impossible Burgers
The ideal oven temperature for cooking Impossible Burgers is 400°F (204°C). Here’s why this temp works so well:
– Hot enough to brown the outsides nicely.
– Not so hot that outsides over-brown before inside cooks through.
– Allows 18-22 minute bake time to fully cook interior.
– Gives a nice roastiness but doesn’t overcook or dry them out.
You can experiment with oven temps in the 375-425°F range. Any lower and they won’t brown. Any higher risks drying them out. 400°F is really the sweet spot for oven Impossible Burgers.
How to Add Oven-Roasted Flavor to Impossible Burgers
While oven baking alone will impart some roasted flavor, you can amplify it with a few easy techniques:
– Brush with oil before baking: Brushing the tops with olive oil or avocado oil helps get nice browning for roasted flavor.
– Coat with spices before baking: Coat patties with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano before oven baking.
– Bake on a wire rack: Baking directly on a wire oven rack rather than a pan allows more airflow and browning.
– Finish under broiler: After baking, broil patties briefly to char and caramelize the outsides.
– Let baked burgers rest before serving: The longer rest allows the roasted flavor to develop.
– Top with roasted veggies: Top oven-baked Impossible Burgers with oven-roasted tomatoes, peppers, or onions.
How to Prevent Impossible Burgers From Drying Out
It’s easy to dry out Impossible Burgers in the oven if you aren’t careful. Here are tips for keeping them moist and juicy:
– Don’t overbake. Go for the minimum bake time of 18 minutes at 400°F.
– Always preheat oven fully before baking.
– Brush tops lightly with oil before baking for some moisture.
– Flip patties halfway through bake time to prevent drying of one side.
– Bake patties spaced apart so moisture doesn’t get trapped between them.
– Let patties rest after baking to allow juices to redistribute.
– Add a moist topping like roasted peppers, caramelized onions, or an aioli.
– If reheating leftovers, use the microwave or steam to prevent drying out.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to mess up oven-baked Impossible Burgers if you aren’t careful. Here are some common mistakes to avoid:
– Baking at too high of a temp like 450°F+ which dries them out. Stick to 400°F.
– Overhandling the meat when shaping patties leading to denseness. Handle gently.
– Overcrowding patties on the baking sheet so moisture gets trapped. Leave space between.
– Not preheating oven fully before baking. Always preheat.
– Not flipping patties halfway through baking resulting in uneven cooking.
– Pressing burgers with a spatula while they cook, losing juices. Leave them alone while baking.
– Adding toppings before baking rather than after. They’ll burn in the oven.
– Not letting patties rest after baking so juices redistribute. Rest at least 5 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about cooking Impossible Burgers in the oven:
Should I thaw frozen Impossible Burgers before baking?
No, you can bake frozen Impossible Burgers without thawing first. Just increase bake time by 5-7 minutes.
Can I prep Impossible Burgers ahead of time for oven baking?
Yes, shape patties up to 4 days ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake.
What’s the minimum oven temperature I can use?
375°F, but 400°F is really best for balanced browning and cooking through.
Do I need to flip Impossible Burgers while baking?
Yes, flipping halfway through ensures even browning and cooking on both sides.
How can I prevent burgers from puffing up in oven?
Poke a few small slits in the patties before baking to release steam and prevent puffing.
Should I let Impossible Burgers rest after baking?
Yes, always let them rest 5 minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute.
Conclusion
Cooking Impossible Burgers in the oven is easy and produces delicious results! With oven baking you get an evenly cooked, nicely browned plant-based burger with a nice roasted flavor. Just be sure to preheat adequately, flip halfway through baking, and let rest before serving. Avoid common mistakes like overcrowding, overhandling, and overcooking. In no time, you’ll be turning out perfect Impossible Burgers from your oven.