Around our house, we like to do burgers from time to time. We’ve gotten to the point, in fact, where we prefer grilling our own burgers over going to a local restaurant, because we think we can make pretty good ones, whether it involves adding traditional condiments, barbecue sauce, or toppings like mushrooms or bacon. Our go-to burgers are the Beef Burgers from Aldi, but we’ve been known to try out other burgers as well, from beef to bison to vegan.
We have a particular fondness for grass-fed burgers, both because of the ethics of how they’re raised and because of the fact that they may, in fact, be healthier. Aldi sells grass-fed burgers, but we’ve also noticed that Aldi’s distant cousin, Trader Joe’s, does, too. We recently took the TJ’s grass-fed burgers for a spin.
Trader Joe’s Grass Fed Angus Beef Burgers are available in the frozen section. They come in a box of 4 quarter pound burgers and retail for $6.99, or about $1.75 a burger. That’s pretty expensive compared to a normal grocery burger, and is also more per pound than Aldi charges ($4.50 a pound) for its grass-fed burgers. On the other hand, Angus burgers come from Angus cattle, which are viewed by some as being superior to other cattle. The box doesn’t give a lot of insight as to the exact origins of the burgers, although it does list them as a product of New Zealand.
Cooking them is similar — although not identical — to cooking other burgers. The box notes that they can be cooked on the grill or stovetop. To cook on the grill, preheat the grill to medium-high heat, then cook until well seared (I know it’s time to flip when juices start to surface at the top), then flip and cook until cooked through. To cook on the stovetop, preheat the skillet to medium-high heat, then oil very lightly and cook the burger on the skillet, searing both sides and cooking until cooked through.
The one difference, in my experience, between grass fed and grain fed beef is that grass fed beef can sometimes cook a little faster, owing to its slightly leaner texture. This may or may not be your experience, but I advise keeping a close eye on the burgers either way.
These burgers are exceptional. They’re juicy, tasty, restaurant-quality patties. They have a slightly different taste than grain fed burgers, but only slightly, and in my view the taste is for the better. They go well with just about anything you put on them.
Nutrition information. (Click to enlarge.)
The Verdict:
If you’re looking for a good grass-fed burger, the Trader Joe’s Angus Grass Fed Burgers are awfully good. They’re not exactly cheap compared to other store-bought burgers, but they taste fabulous and embody everything I like about grass-fed burgers. Recommended.
NO LONGER AVAILABLE!!!