Should IQF chicken breast strips, hamburger patties, and smoked sausage be cooked from a frozen or thawed state?

The correct choice is to cook these items from a thawed state because doing so ensures more even cooking and helps achieve the desired texture and flavor. Cooking from a thawed state allows the proteins in the meat to cook thoroughly and uniformly, which reduces the risk of undercooking the interior while the exterior may appear done.

While cooking from a frozen state can be done, it typically requires longer cooking times and can lead to uneven heat distribution. This increases the chance of parts of the meat being undercooked, which could pose food safety risks. Additionally, certain items may not cook properly if they are still frozen, affecting quality and palatability.

Cooking fresh items is generally seen as ideal, but frozen items are commonly available and convenient; thus, ensuring they are thawed prior to cooking optimizes their quality and safety.