Air Fryer Turkey Burgers: Cooking Time Perfection

how long to cook raw turkey burger in air fryer

Turkey burgers are a great option for a healthy, tasty meal, and cooking them in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a delicious, juicy result. Air-fried turkey burgers are lean, seasoned, and packed with flavour, and can be cooked from fresh or frozen in around 12-15 minutes. The key to a good turkey burger is making sure it's cooked through without being dry, and an air fryer helps to create a juicy burger with a crispy, golden crust.

Characteristics Values
Cooking time 12-15 minutes
Temperature 360°F
Flip halfway through Yes
Internal temperature 165°F
Meat thermometer Yes
Preheat air fryer Yes
Grease air fryer basket Yes
Single layer Yes
Space between burgers Yes
Doneness Temperature, not time
Patties 4
Patty thickness 1/2"
Patty weight 6 oz
Chilling time 20-30 minutes
Freezing Possible
Reheating 4-5 minutes at 360°F

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Turkey burger ingredients

Turkey burgers have a reputation for being dry and bland, but adding certain ingredients can help prevent this. The key to juicier turkey burgers is choosing the right lean-to-fat ratio. Packaged ground turkey is often a mix of light and dark meat, but you’ll want to choose one that’s 93% lean and 7% fat. This makes for a moist and succulent texture.

When it comes to flavour, turkey is a blank canvas, so it's important to add ingredients that will pack a punch. A simple combination of dijon mustard and Worcestershire sauce adds a savoury, umami flavour. You can also add a little mayonnaise to help add moisture and act as a binder for the patties.

If you want to add extra vegetables to your turkey burgers, you could try grated onion, which will add moisture and flavour. You could also add breadcrumbs, dried onion flakes, ketchup, garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper.

If you want to get creative with your toppings, you could try lettuce, sliced tomatoes, mayo, cheese, avocado, sliced pickles, mustard, and caramelized onions.

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Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for cooking raw turkey burgers in an air fryer depend on the weight of the burgers and the model of the air fryer. It is recommended to cook turkey burgers until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to prevent undercooking.

To prepare the air fryer, preheat it to 360°F (180°C) or 380°F (193°C) and grease the air fryer basket. Place the turkey burger patties in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap or touch. For a 6-ounce patty, cook at 360°F (180°C) for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. For larger patties, add 3 minutes for every ounce over 6 ounces.

For frozen turkey burgers, increase the cooking time to 18 minutes at 360°F (180°C), flipping halfway. Alternatively, cook at 380°F (193°C) for about 15 to 18 minutes, flipping halfway. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the burgers reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

If you are cooking multiple burgers, you may need to cook them in batches to ensure even cooking. Additionally, creating a thumbprint or indent in the centre of each patty before cooking can help prevent shrinkage during cooking.

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Preparing the air fryer

Firstly, it's important to preheat your air fryer. Set the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and let it preheat for about 3 to 5 minutes. This step is essential as it creates the right cooking environment for your turkey burgers.

Once preheated, it's time to prepare the air fryer basket. Lightly grease or spray the basket with a non-stick cooking spray. This step ensures that your turkey burgers don't stick to the surface and makes cleanup easier. You can use a little olive oil or any cooking spray of your choice.

When greasing the basket, ensure you don't overcrowd it. Place the turkey burgers in a single layer, leaving a little space between each patty. This is important because the air fryer circulates hot air, and if the patties touch, they won't cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the burgers in batches.

Before placing the turkey burgers in the air fryer, it's a good idea to use a kitchen scale to measure the weight of each patty. This ensures that all the patties are of equal size, helping them to finish cooking at the same time. Additionally, creating a thumbprint or indent in the centre of each patty before cooking can help prevent shrinkage during the cooking process.

Finally, if you're cooking frozen turkey burgers, there's no need to thaw them first. You can place them directly into the air fryer and adjust the cooking time accordingly. Frozen turkey burgers may require a higher temperature or a longer cooking time to ensure they're cooked through.

By following these steps, you'll be able to prepare your air fryer optimally for cooking juicy and delicious turkey burgers.

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Cooking the turkey burgers

Ingredients

Ground turkey, breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, grated onion, apple sauce, egg, parsley, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning salt, pepper, garlic, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, olive oil, and soy sauce.

Patty Preparation

Mix the ground turkey with your choice of seasonings and other ingredients in a bowl. Form the mixture into four equally-sized balls, then press down into a round patty shape. Use your thumb to make a dent in the middle of each patty to prevent shrinkage during cooking. Chill the patties in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to help them firm up and stick together.

Air Fryer Preparation

Preheat your air fryer to 360°F–380°F (180°C–200°C) for 3–5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or a little non-stick spray. Place the burgers into the basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap or touch.

Cooking

Cook the turkey burgers for 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through. The burgers are done when they reach an internal temperature of 165°F, which can be checked with a meat thermometer. Leave the patties to sit for 5 minutes before assembling your burger to retain the juices.

Serving

Serve the burgers on a bun or lettuce wrap with your choice of toppings and sides.

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Serving suggestions

Once your turkey burgers are cooked, you can serve them on a bun or in a lettuce wrap with your choice of toppings and sides.

For toppings, you could go for cheese—sharp white cheddar, gouda, havarti, swiss, provolone, or American. To melt the cheese, place it on top of the patties during the last 1 to 2 minutes in the air fryer. You could also add veggie toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, sauteed mushrooms, sliced avocado, jalapenos, arugula, or pickled onions. For sauces, you could add mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, pico de gallo, chipotle aioli, BBQ sauce, or tomato relish.

For sides, you could go for air fryer potato wedges, roasted broccoli, sauteed asparagus, or a tomato bacon green bean salad. If you're looking for something more indulgent, you could serve your turkey burger with air fryer French fries or sweet potato fries.

If you're cooking for guests, you could let them build their own burgers with a selection of toppings and sauces.

Frequently asked questions

It takes 12 to 15 minutes to cook raw turkey burgers in an air fryer. The burgers should be flipped halfway through the cooking time.

The air fryer should be preheated to 360 degrees Fahrenheit for cooking raw turkey burgers. If the raw turkey burgers are frozen, the air fryer should be set to 380 degrees Fahrenheit.

Turkey burgers are cooked when they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be checked using a meat thermometer.

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