What is the exception to the Health Code's requirement for properly thawing frozen foods before cooking?

In the context of food safety and handling, certain foods can be cooked directly from a frozen state without prior thawing, which can help prevent any potential harmful bacterial growth that might occur during thawing. Cooking frozen hamburger patties without thawing them beforehand is considered acceptable because the cooking process heats the meat quickly enough to eliminate harmful bacteria, making it safe to consume.

This practice is based on the understanding that ground meats, such as hamburger patties, can go from frozen to cooked in a manner that maintains food safety standards. While other items like chicken breasts and steaks typically require thawing to ensure even cooking and to prevent areas of the food from remaining at unsafe temperatures during the cooking process, hamburger patties can be cooked safely from frozen.

The other choices, while they can be cooked, generally involve a higher risk if not thawed properly first. For instance, whole cuts of meat like steaks and chicken breasts need to be thawed to ensure they cook evenly and adequately, reducing the chance of foodborne illness.