Air-Frying Burgers: Quick, Easy, And Delicious?

Air fryers are a convenient and quick way to cook burgers. They can be used to make juicy burgers with a variety of ingredients, including beef, turkey, chicken, and bison. The air fryer is also a great way to melt cheese onto your burger and toast the buns. By adding a small indent in the centre of the patty with your thumb, you can prevent the burger from puffing up during cooking. The cooking time for burgers in an air fryer is generally around 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the patty and the model of the air fryer.

How to prevent burgers from swelling in the centre

Yes, you can cook burgers in an air fryer. To prevent burgers from swelling in the centre, you can try the following:

Firstly, indent the centre of the patty with your thumb or the back of a spoon. This will help the burger to cook evenly and prevent it from puffing up during cooking. The indentation should be about 1 1/2 inches wide and 1/2 an inch thick. The patty should be about 3/4 to 1 inch thick overall.

Secondly, use course-ground meat or ask your butcher for ground meat with a higher fat content, which will help the burger to hold its shape. A ratio of 80% meat to 20% fat is ideal.

Thirdly, avoid overworking the meat when mixing, as this can lead to dense burgers that retain excess moisture. Gently combine the ground beef and seasonings, and form into patties.

Finally, when cooking, use a low to medium heat and avoid pressing down on the patty with a spatula. This can cause the patty to puff up and squeeze out juices.

The best type of meat to use

When it comes to choosing the best type of meat for your air fryer burger, ground beef is a popular choice. An 80/20 blend of ground beef is ideal, as it has the right amount of fat that keeps the patties juicy without making them greasy. This ratio ensures that your burgers stay moist and tender. You can also add ingredients like red onion, garlic, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and English mustard to enhance the flavor of your beef patties.

If you're looking for an alternative to beef, ground turkey is a great option. It's leaner than beef but still results in juicy and tasty burgers. You can season them with salt, pepper, and onion and garlic powder. BBQ sauce is also a great addition to turkey burgers as it helps with caramelization and adds a delicious flavor.

For those who want to explore different types of meat, ground chicken or bison burgers are worth trying in the air fryer. These alternatives provide a unique twist on the classic burger and can be just as juicy and flavorful.

Don't forget that you can also make plant-based burgers in your air fryer. Impossible Meat or Beyond Meat are great options for creating delicious vegetarian or vegan burgers that are just as satisfying as their meat counterparts.

How long to cook burgers for

Yes, you can cook a burger in an air fryer. The cooking time will depend on how well-done you like your burgers, the temperature you set your air fryer to, and the number of patties you are cooking.

If you like your burgers well-done, set your air fryer to 350°F and cook for 8-9 minutes. You don't need to flip them while they cook. If you prefer your burgers with a bit of pink, cook for a little less time. For a medium consistency, cook for 4 minutes on each side, so 8 minutes in total.

If you are cooking two patties, you may need to increase the cooking time to 12 minutes, flipping them halfway through. You can also add cheese to your burgers and cook for an additional minute or two.

It's important to note that results will vary depending on the air fryer size and brand, and the thickness of your patties. You may need to adjust the cooking time to achieve your preferred degree of doneness.

What temperature to cook burgers at

Yes, you can cook burgers in an air fryer. The cooking time and temperature will depend on the type of meat used, the thickness of the patty, and the size and brand of the air fryer.

For a beef burger, it is recommended to use ground beef with an 80/20 blend of meat and fat to keep the patties juicy. Form the beef into four patties, each about 3/4 inches thick and 4 1/2 inches in diameter. Make the patties slightly larger than the buns as they will shrink during cooking. Create a small indent in the middle of the patty with your thumb to prevent the patty from puffing up during cooking.

Preheat the air fryer to 370°F or 400°F and place the patties in a single layer in the basket. For a 370°F air fryer, cook the patties for 6 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes, or until the beef reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. If you are using cheese, add it during the last minute of cooking. For a 400°F air fryer, cook the patties for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time.

If you are using frozen patties, increase the cooking time by about 5-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the patties. For thicker patties, you may need to reduce the temperature to 375°F and cook for about 15 minutes, checking the internal temperature to ensure it reaches 160°F.

What to serve with air fryer burgers

You can serve air-fried burgers with a variety of toppings and sides.

For toppings, lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles are all popular choices. You can also add cheese, such as cheddar, to your burger and cook it for an extra minute to let it melt. If you want to add some extra flavour, sauces like barbecue sauce, ranch, buffalo sauce, or garlic aioli are all great options. You can also add bacon, caramelized onions, guacamole, arugula, or pimento cheese. If you want to keep it simple, just add some salt and pepper.

If you want to serve your burger in a bun, you can toast it in the air fryer in around a minute. You can also serve your burger in a lettuce wrap to keep it low-carb.

As for sides, air fryer French fries, sweet potato fries, creamy coleslaw, and potato salad are all great options. You can also serve your burger with a side salad or some roasted vegetables. If you're looking for something more substantial, why not try a DIY burger bar with toppings and sides so everyone can create their perfect burger?

Frequently asked questions