How to cook frozen meatballs

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Meatballs are one of the most popular meat dishes around the world. They can be prepared in many variations and form the basis of many dishes, such as Swedish meatballs, Mexican albondigas, or Italian meatballs in tomato sauce.

However, making meatballs from scratch can be quite a labor-intensive process. So if you don’t have the time or desire to make meatballs from scratch, you can use frozen meatballs. In this article, we will look at how to make frozen meatballs.

Cooking frozen meatballs consists of two simple steps: defrosting and the cooking process itself.

Defrosting

Transfer the meatballs from the freezer to the refrigerator. Defrosting in the refrigerator is the safest and most recommended way to defrost meatballs. It provides a slow and even defrosting process.
Before defrosting the meatballs, wrap them in cling film or transfer them to a container with a tight lid. This will avoid drying out and maintain the best flavor and texture.
For faster defrosting, you can put the meatballs in a plastic bag and submerge them in cold water for 1-2 hours. Be sure to invert the bag with the meatballs every 30 minutes to ensure even defrosting.
The use of a microwave is not recommended for defrosting the meatballs. A rapid defrosting process can overheat or overcook parts of the meatballs. It can also result in uneven heating of the food.
When the meatballs are completely defrosted, they are ready for further processing, depending on the recipe. Simply fry, bake, or boil the meatballs at your discretion!

In this article, I will share a few simple options on how to make delicious, juicy and flavorful meatballs.

Pan frying

For the meatballs to fry well, the pan should be hot enough, but not too hot, so they don’t burn.
When the pan is hot enough, you need to add oil. Usually 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil is enough. This will help the meatballs not stick to the pan and ensure good frying.
Once the oil has warmed up a bit, you need to place the meatballs on the frying pan. There should be enough distance between them so they don’t stick together.
Then cover the pan with a lid and fry the meatballs for 5-7 minutes over medium heat.
Once the meatballs are cooked on one side, you need to flip them to the other side. Use a spatula or tongs to do this.
Then cover the pan with a lid and continue frying the meatballs for another 5-7 minutes.
Once the meatballs are cooked on both sides, you need to check that they are ready. The best way to do this is to cut one meatball and make sure it is cooked all the way through. The inside of the meatballs should be homogenous, with no soggy midsection.
If the meatballs aren’t ready yet, you should continue frying them for a few more minutes, turning each meatball over after 1-2 minutes.
If the meatballs are ready, remove the pan from the heat.

Baking in the oven

This method is suitable for those who want to get a crispy crust on the meatballs and do not want to fry them in a pan.

Step-by-step process for making frozen meatballs in the oven:

Preheat oven to 180-200 degrees.
Take the pre-frozen meatballs.
Prepare a baking tray by covering it with foil or baking paper. This will help you clean the grease and juices from the meatballs easily.
Place the meatballs on the baking tray, leaving enough space between them.
Place the tray with the meatballs in the preheated oven and bake the meatballs for 20-25 minutes, turning them after 10 minutes to ensure they are evenly cooked on each side.
Check that the meatballs are ready with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the meatballs should be at least 70 degrees C to make sure they are fully cooked.
Transfer the meatballs to a plate and serve hot.

As you can see, cooking frozen meatballs in the oven is very easy. They turn out juicy, and the smell in the house will be amazing. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the meatballs while baking and flip them so they cook evenly on each side. Bon appetit!

Cooking in Sauce

Prepare the ingredients for the sauce. For this you will need: onions, carrots, garlic, tomatoes, tomato paste, broth or water, salt, pepper, herbs to taste. Dice onion and carrot and chop garlic.
In a deep frying pan or saucepan, heat the oil and fry the onions and carrots over medium heat until soft, about 5-7 minutes.
Add the garlic and fry for another 1-2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and tomato paste, stir and let everything simmer for another 5-7 minutes.
Add broth or water and bring to a boil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Place the meatballs in the sauce and stir to coat them in the sauce. If there is not enough sauce, add a little more broth or water.
Reduce the heat to medium, cover and cook the meatballs in the sauce for about 20-25 minutes, turning them after 10 minutes to ensure they are evenly cooked on each side.
Check that the meatballs are ready with a meat thermometer. The internal temperature of the meatballs should be at least 70 degrees C to make sure they are fully cooked.
Transfer the meatballs in the sauce to a plate and sprinkle with fresh herbs. Serve hot.

Grilling

Grilling is another popular way to cook frozen meatballs. Grilling meatballs not only adds a flavorful and crispy flavor to them, but it can also be a healthier way to cook them since excess fat drains onto the grill and doesn’t get into the dish.

Here’s a step-by-step process for making frozen meatballs on the grill:

Prepare the grill. To do this, you need to preheat the grill to a medium temperature (about 200 degrees Celsius). You also need to grease the grill grate with oil or grill grease.
Defrost the meatballs. Frozen meatballs should be thawed in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter at room temperature before cooking.
Prepare the meatballs. Take the meatballs out of the package and place them on the grill. Remember to place the meatballs on the grill grate with some spacing between them so they don’t stick together during cooking.
Grill the meatballs. Flip the meatballs on the grill every few minutes. Total cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the meatballs and the temperature of the grill. On average, the meatballs should be grilled for about 10-15 minutes until fully cooked.
Check for readiness. To make sure the meatballs are fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the meatballs. It should be at least 70 degrees Celsius. You can also check if the meatballs are done by cutting one of the meatballs in half – the meat inside should be fully cooked and not have a pink hue.

Serving

Once the meatballs are fully cooked and checked for readiness, you can serve them. They can be served as a main course, as an appetizer, or as an accompaniment to another dish. Meatballs combined with various sauces, vegetables and side dishes can be a great addition to your lunch or dinner.

If you have any leftover unfrozen meatballs, you can keep them in the freezer for up to 6 months.