Having hard time determining the best way to microwave McDonald’s burger so that it still tastes tender and juicy? From cheeseburgers to Big Macs and Quarter Pounders, here are the secrets to microwave a burger the right way!
For a McDonald’s Big Mac or stacked burger patties, it is recommended to heat patties separately to ensure that they are fully reheated. McDonald’s burger patties are about ½” to ¾” thick, so they easily reheat in the microwave.
For best results, separate the burger patty from the bun and also set aside any condiments or raw toppings. Microwave the burger patty on a microwave safe plate for 30 seconds, flip and continue for another 30 seconds. On a separate microwave safe plate lined with a paper towel, reheat the bun for 1 minute.
Make sure that any dairy or meat products have reached an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C. Afterwards, reassemble the McDonald’s burger and enjoy.
Be aware that the exact amount of time can be vary depending on the thickness of the burger patty and the wattage of your microwave. As a result, the amount of microwave time relies on the internal temperature of the reheated food.
There are specialized techniques to microwave McDonald’s so that your leftover fast food tastes hot and delicious all over again. However, reheating fast food definitely starts with the concerns over takeout packaging.
Do you microwave McDonald’s wrappers or McDonald’s burger boxes? There are different methods to use when you reheat fast food leftovers in the microwave, however you should not use disposable containers that are not labeled as microwave safe.
Avoid storing the leftover burgers in the original wrapper or cardboard box. Instead, use an airtight container and reheat on a microwave safe plate.
Can you microwave burgers?
No matter what, reheating burgers is not a simple task. Popping the sandwich into the microwave and pressing the normal reheat setting won’t solve the problem.
Not only will you get an uneven temperature on meat patty, but the bun will be soggy.
As you may heard, microwave has a bad reputation of making food not taste as delicious. For best results, each meal requires different cooking time, power setting, reheating technique, and specialized tools.
Yes, you can microwave a McDonald’s burger as long as it has been properly stored. It is recommended to disassemble the burger and reheat the patty separate from the bun, then reassemble the pieces once everything has reached to desired temperature.
According to the USDA temperature danger zone guidelines, meat and cheese are considered perishable food items that need to be stored in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours. Furthermore, leftover burgers must be reheated to an internal temperature of 165°F or 74°C.
The microwave is the most convenient method to reheat a McDonald’s burger, but is that safe?
Is it safe to microwave McDonald’s burger?
As long as the temperature danger zone guidelines have been followed, and the food has been properly stored in the fridge or freezer within 2 hours, then it is safe to microwave a McDonald’s burger.
It’s actually much safer to consume a reheated McDonald’s burger than a cold one. Heat destroy any harmful bacteria on the patties which makes them safer to eat.
Make sure to turn the burger patty over and rotate midway through the reheating process. Also, allow the burger to rest for 1 to 2 minutes so that the heat settles and the 165°F or 74°C internal temperature is reached.
Anything other than a plain hamburger or cheeseburger from McDonald’s, it’s best to avoid placing a whole burger in the microwave to reheat. If the burger has more than cheese and meat, such as lettuce or fresh sliced tomato, you may want to separate the layers to reheat in the microwave.
Can you freeze and reheat McDonald’s burgers?
McDonald’s burgers shouldn’t be left sitting out for more than 2 hours. The USDA safe handling procedures considers dairy and meat to be perishable food items.
Therefore, it’s important to store the leftover burger in the fridge until the next day meal. A McDonald’s burger can be kept in refrigerator for a maximum of 3-4 days to still taste fresh and juicy.
McDonald’s burgers freeze well and maintain their full flavor freshness for up to four months. However, it’s important to remove the lettuce or tomatoes, and wrap them carefully to prevent air from entering the food.
Freezer burn is a real concern, so carefully wrap the burger before freezing to reduce exposure to air. In addition, take out the lettuce or tomatoes from burgers if necessary to prevent excess moisture from ruining the burger while defrosting.
When reheating frozen burger patties, use defrost option to bring the food to room temperature. Use a low power level setting and check the burger patties every 2 minutes.
To defrost frozen hamburger buns in microwave, try laying a slightly damp paper towel over the buns to make the bread roll nice and moist.
How to microwave McDonald’s burger?
In order to microwave McDonald’s burger use the “reheat” setting. For better heating consistency, deconstruct a stacked burger like the Big Mac or Quarter Pounder to heat up the patties and buns separately.
Here is the best way to reheat a McDonald’s burger in the microwave:
- Remove the burger from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
- Disassemble the burger and scrap any condiments or toppings off the patty and buns.
- Place the burger patties in the center of microwave-safe plate and heat for up to two minutes using a low power setting.
- If the patty is thick, try pausing the cycle halfway and flipping over the meat.
- Touch the patty to see it it is warm and add an additional 30 seconds more to meet the desired internal temperature.
- Wrap the bun in a slightly damp paper towel and heat in the microwave on medium power for 60 seconds at a lower power setting as well.
- Afterwards, assemble the burger and enjoy!
A plain McDonald’s hamburger or cheeseburger can be microwaved as is. However, it is recommended to deconstruct any stacked or layered burger to reheat in the microwave for best results.
Things to know before microwaving McDonald’s burgers
Microwaving McDonald’s burger does require couple of things to know to keep the meat juicy, buns soft, and cheese melty. The goal is to avoid dry and stale burger that no longer tastes fresh.
Here are a few more McDonald’s burger microwaving tricks to make your experience even more enjoyable:
- Do not use the disposable packaging to reheat fast food in the microwave.
- Use a slice of wax paper or paper towel to absorb any grease and make the microwave-safe dish easier to clean up.
- Separate the layers of the burger to reheat evenly.
- Use medium microwave power level to reheat food.
- Allow the burger patty to rest after reheating to ensure the proper internal temperature is reached.
- Especially for reheating the meat, make sure the patty temperature is at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit or 74 degrees Celsius.
If your heated burgers are too hot to hold, use these burger buddy sandwich holders to keep your mess situated. In addition to reheating the leftovers in the microwave, they help reduce the greasy mess and keep the sandwich contained in one piece.
Make a habit of deconstructing the McDonald’s burger before reheating in the microwave, you may also do so before or after defrosting frozen burgers. Reheating a burger in separate layers will give consistent heat throughout, make the reheating process much quicker and also make it taste much more delicious.
For best results, use a microwave safe plate and avoid using the takeout packaging that fast food is served in. Follow time and temperature guidelines to ensure safe food handling.
