Frozen turkey burgers: The best and the foulest
Enjoying a fat, juicy burger outfitted with all the right condiments is like being handed summer on plate. It’s an invitation to get outside and share a distance-picnic and some summer fun.
Beef may be the expected protein, but those who prefer a healthier option can find it in a grilled turkey burger. Made right, a turkey burger bursts with flavor and freshness — and can shave 30% to 50% of the calories and saturated fat off your burger, depending on which patty you choose.
Turkey burgers can be tricky, as the protein’s lean nature can easily result in a dry, tough bite. Thankfully, freezer cases are stocked with plenty of successful options, including seasoned and plain, lean and nearly fatfree.
The best frozen turkey burgers are fresh, tender and juicy, with subtle seasoning and enough fat to carry the flavors. They are also large enough to fit a bun, and thick enough to satisfy. The worst are sorry little rounds that are dry, dense, spongy and tasteless.
Here’s the scoop on the best frozen options — and those that should be dropped in the fire. Nutrition info refers to a single burger patty, which ranges from 4 to 5.3 ounces.
Diestel Family Ranch Organic Turkey Burgers
For those who prefer an unseasoned, low-sodium burger, this wins. Made from dark turkey meat, it has delicious turkey flavor and remains juicy when fully cooked. It’s plain — and tasty. 170 calories, 7 g fat, 105 mg sodium, 22 g protein. $9.99 for four 4-ounce patties at some Whole Foods locations, including Oakland, Lafayette, San Jose and Los Altos, or online at diestelturkey.com.
Butterball Turkey Original Seasoned Burgers
This lumpy, freezer-burnedlooking burger is the one you wish you could make from
scratch. Purists may question the salt content (and appearance), but it’s moist, tender, hefty in size, and it delivers great turkey flavor underscored with a light touch of seasoning. 240 calories, 11 g fat, 510 mg sodium, 31 g protein. $6.98 for six 5.3-ounce patties at Walmart.
Jennie-o Turkey Burgers
Rich flavor thanks to a mix of light and dark turkey meat makes these large patties flavorful and tasty, if slightly salty. 240 calories, 15 g fat, 340 mg sodium, 25 g protein. $7.49 for six 5.3-ounce patties at Target.
Applegate Organics Turkey Burgers
This upscale brand gets a lot of things right — the rosemary extract is a great compliment to the turkey and it’s impressively tender— but the size is pitiful. It’s a full inch too small for even the smallest burger bun. 150 calories, 8 g fat, 105 mg sodium, 20 g protein. $9.99 for four 4-ounce patties at Whole Foods.
Butterball All Natural Turkey Burgers
Smaller than the “seasoned” version and made with all white meat, these patties are decidedly bland and watery. 180 calories, 8 g fat, 320 mg sodium, 22 g protein. $6.98 for eight 4-ounce patties at Walmart.
Jennie-o Seasoned Turkey Burgers
Far too much garlic, onion and rosemary turns this burger into a sausage-flavored bite. It’s not bad, but it’s way overseasoned to classify as a burger. 240 calories, 15 g fat, 500 mg sodium, 25 g protein. $7.49 for six 5.3-ounce patties at Target.
Good & Gather All Natural Turkey Burgers
These rubbery rounds could bounce to the floor and back into your bun. They’re shockingly dry and tough. They have no antibiotics, no hormones, no steroids, no flavor. 190 calories, 9 g fat, 450 mg sodium, 26 g protein. $5.99 for six 5.3-ounce patties at Target. (No stars)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com.