Air Fryer Frozen Burgers: How Long Until They're Done?

Cooking frozen burgers in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to satisfy your burger craving. It's super fast, with most burgers taking around 15 minutes to cook, and there's minimal cleanup as you don't have to worry about grease splatter. The air fryer's convection technology moves hot air around the frozen meat, thawing and browning the patties without drying them out.

How to cook frozen burgers in an air fryer

Step 1: Prepare the air fryer and patties

• Preheat your air fryer to between 350°F and 390°F.
• Spritz the patties with water so that any seasoning will stick.
• Season the patties generously with salt and pepper, or a seasoning of your choice.
• If you're using thicker patties, you may want to leave the seasoning until halfway through cooking.

Step 2: Cook the burgers

• Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring there is space between them to prevent steaming.
• Cook for 10–20 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness.
• For rare burgers, cook for 10–13 minutes.
• For medium-rare, cook for 13–16 minutes.
• For medium, cook for 15–17 minutes.
• For medium-well, cook for 16–18 minutes.
• For well-done, cook for 17–20 minutes.
• Flip the patties halfway through the cooking time.

Step 3: Add cheese and serve

• If you're adding cheese, place it on the patties 30 seconds to 1 minute before the end of the cooking time.
• Alternatively, turn off the air fryer and let the residual heat melt the cheese.
• Cover the cheeseburger with a plate or tin foil to help the cheese melt.
• Serve the burgers on buns with your desired toppings and sides.

How long to cook for different levels of doneness

The cooking time for frozen burgers in an air fryer will depend on how well done you like your burger.

If you like your burgers rare, you should cook them for around 10-13 minutes. For a rare burger, the internal temperature should be 120-125°F (49-52°C).

If you prefer your burgers medium-rare, you should cook them for around 13-16 minutes. For a medium-rare finish, the internal temperature should be 130-135°F (54-57°C).

For a medium burger, you should cook the patty for 15-17 minutes. The internal temperature for a medium burger is 140-145°F (60-63°C).

If you like your burgers medium-well, you should cook them for 16-18 minutes. A medium-well burger will have an internal temperature of 150-155°F (66-68°C).

Finally, if you prefer your burgers well done, you should cook them for 17-20 minutes. A well-done burger will have an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).

It's important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the size and thickness of your burger patties, as well as the size of your air fryer. Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your burgers to ensure they are cooked to your desired level of doneness.

How many burger patties can be cooked at once?

The number of frozen burger patties that can be cooked at once depends on the size of your air fryer basket and the circumference of the patties. For example, if you have a small-sized air fryer, you may only be able to fit one patty at a time. If you have a larger air fryer, such as the Cosori 5.5L XL, you may be able to fit up to four quarter-pounders in the basket. For circular air fryers, it is recommended to cook 2 to 3 patties at a time.

Regardless of the size of your air fryer, it is important to avoid stacking or overlapping the patties. They should be placed in a single layer to ensure even cooking. If you need to cook more patties than your air fryer can accommodate, you can cook them in batches.

How to keep the air fryer from smoking

Cooking frozen burgers in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, juicy burger without the mess of firing up a grill. It usually takes 15-17 minutes in the air fryer for a medium-rare or medium burger. You can adjust the cooking time according to your desired level of doneness.

Now, air fryers are great, but they can sometimes start smoking, which can be a bit alarming. Here are some tips to keep your air fryer from smoking:

Identify the Cause of the Smoke

First, you need to figure out why your air fryer is smoking. The most common reason is that fatty foods release grease, which then splatters onto the heating element and causes smoke. This is especially true when cooking meat at higher temperatures. It could also be due to excess oil or grease in the air fryer, food particles burning and blowing around, or a dirty heating element with old grease or food stuck on it.

Troubleshooting Steps

• Use a slice of bread or paper towel to soak up excess oil: Place a slice of bread or a paper towel at the bottom of the air fryer to absorb the excess oil. This is a simple and effective way to prevent smoking. However, be aware that the bread will be wasted as it shouldn't be eaten after soaking up all that grease.
• Dilute the oil with water: Adding a small amount of water to the bottom of the air fryer can help dilute the excess oil and prevent it from burning and smoking. Just be careful not to add too much water, as it could make your food soggy.
• Clean your air fryer regularly: Keep your air fryer clean by gently wiping down the inside, heating elements, and coils with a damp cloth or paper towel after each use. This will remove any built-up grease or food particles that could cause smoking.
• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer: Don't crowd the basket or rack with too much food, even if the food doesn't have a lot of oil. Cooking a large amount of food at once can still cause oil and food particles to splatter onto the heating element and create smoke.
• Adjust the temperature: If your air fryer is smoking, try lowering the temperature and cooking the food for a longer time. Some air fryers run hot, and certain recipes might call for a higher temperature than necessary.
• Ventilate your kitchen: If you're in a small, closed-off kitchen, even a small amount of smoke can be overwhelming. Open windows, turn on your vent hood, or use a fan to ventilate the area and disperse the smoke.
• Use oils with high smoke points: Opt for oils that can withstand higher temperatures without smoking, such as light/refined olive oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.
• Choose the right air fryer basket size: If you're cooking at high temperatures, make sure your air fryer basket is large enough. A small basket might not be able to accommodate the amount of food you're cooking, leading to overcrowding and increased smoke.
• Contact the manufacturer: If you've tried all the above steps and your air fryer is still smoking, it might be a manufacturer issue. Reach out to the company for help and guidance.

How to reheat leftover burgers

If you have any leftover burgers, you can easily reheat them in the air fryer. Here are the steps to do it:

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F to 390°F.
• Place the leftover burgers in the air fryer basket. Make sure they are in a single layer and not overlapping to ensure even cooking.
• Reheat the burgers for around 15 seconds once or twice until warmed through. You can also reheat them for 2-3 minutes at 350°F.
• If you want to add cheese, it is best to do so after removing the burgers from the air fryer. Cover the cheese-topped burgers with a plate or foil to help melt the cheese.
• Assemble your burger with your favourite toppings and enjoy!

Reheating burgers in the air fryer is a quick and convenient way to enjoy your leftovers without drying them out. You can also reheat frozen burgers in the air fryer by following a similar process, adjusting the timing accordingly.

Frequently asked questions