Can you eat rustlers without cooking?

In this brief article, we will answer the question, “Can you eat rustlers without cooking them?” and discuss the benefits and drawbacks of eating rustlers without cooking and what happens if you cook rustlers, as well as the best way to reheat rustlers.

Can you eat rustlers without cooking?

Yes, you can eat Rustlers burgers without cooking them. They are already precooked and safe for consumption, you just need to ensure that they are correctly stored so that you eliminate any chances of food poisoning. Consuming pre-cooked burgers is considered safer than cooking the burger at home (1). 

Rustlers are a wide range of burgers and sandwiches which are manufactured in Dublin, Ireland and have been manufactured since 1999. Rustlers burgers are ready-to-eat and only require to be microwaved so that they are reheated and can be enjoyed. 

Is it safe to eat Rustlers without cooking?

Yes, it is safe to eat Rustlers without cooking because Rustlers burgers are pre-cooked food. The process of making pre-cooked burgers includes mincing, salting, seasoning, cooking, packing and storing the product. 

The quality of the product depends on the cooking method and the ingredients added, as well as the quality of the meat. During storage, pre-cooked burgers can suffer deteriorative processes, which lead to color and flavor changes, especially due to the oxidation of lipids (2).

Studies showed that the cooking method can significantly affect the changes during storage, whereas chicken burgers prepared by grilling had a higher acceptance after being stored for 7 days and reheated.

Rustlers contain many additives, including preservatives, antioxidants, flavorings, acidity regulators, stabilizers and emulsifiers and are packed in proper packaging. These factors help improve the safety and extend the shelf life of these products (3).

What are the benefits and drawbacks of cooking before eating Rustlers?

The benefits of cooking Rustlers before eating are (2,4,5):

  • Reheating improves the safety of the food. Although Rustlers have been already cooked and are added with many food additives to improve their safety, reheating to a safe temperature of 160°F can destroy any remaining microorganisms in the food.
  • The perception of taste is temperature dependent. Heating in food can improve the sensory properties of the food.

The drawbacks of cooking Rustlers before eating are (2,4):

  • Reheating meat can lead to hardening of the tissue due to additional loss of moisture
  • Reheating volatilizes the aroma compounds, including the volatiles that are related to oxidation of lipids. The heat applied to the meat can cause additional deterioration, generating off-odors and off-flavors
  • Reheating can change the color or the food

Can you freeze Rustlers?

Yes, you can freeze Rustlers, as freezing can increase the shelf life of meat products (6). However, according to the manufacturers´ website, it is only recommended that you refrigerate your rustlers but do not freeze them (3). 

This is because freezing your rustlers tends to destroy the quality of the product. It is advised that you consume your Rustlers before the “Best by Date” which is usually on the label.

How can you reheat Rustlers?

You can reheat Rustlers using the following methods (6):

  • On stove top: place the burger in a pan and heat thoroughly. Cook burger and bun separately till they reach a temperature of at least 165°F.
  • In oven: Place burger with the bun in oven set no lower than 325 °F and allow to warm up till the temperature reaches 165°F.
  • In the microwave: At medium energy, reheat the burger with the bun for a few minutes till the temperature reaches 165 °F. Allow standing time.

Other FAQs about Burgers that you may be interested in.

Can you cook burgers from frozen on bbq?

Can you cook burgers on the stove?

Can you cook burgers on a griddle?

Conclusion

In this brief article, we have answered the question, “Can you eat rustlers without cooking them?” and discussed the benefits and drawbacks of eating rustlers without cooking and what happens if you cook rustlers, as well as the best way to cook rustlers.

Citations

  1. Gilbert, Jessica. Good Food Purchasing for the Buffalo Public Schools. 2018. University at Buffalo.
  2. Ferreira VC, Morcuende D, Madruga MS, Hernández-López SH, Silva FA, Ventanas S, Estévez M. Effect of pre-cooking methods on the chemical and sensory deterioration of ready-to-eat chicken patties during chilled storage and microwave reheating. J Food Sci Technol. 2016, 6, 2760-9.
  3. Rustlers. FAQ. 
  4. Parvin R, Zahid MdA, Seo J-K, Park J, Ko J, Yang H-S. Influence of Reheating Methods and Frozen Storage on Physicochemical Characteristics and Warmed-Over Flavor of Nutmeg Extract-Enriched Precooked Beef Meatballs. Antioxidants, 2020, 9, 670.
  5. Talavera, K., et al. Influence of temperature on taste perception. Cellular molec life sci, 2007, 64, 377-381.
  6. Leftovers and food safety. United States Department of Agriculture.

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