Air Frying Frozen Burgers: How Long Does It Take?

Cooking frozen burgers in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to make a tasty meal with minimal cleanup. It's perfect for those busy weeknights when you need dinner on the table fast, and you can have juicy burgers ready in as little as 10 to 20 minutes, depending on your preferred level of doneness. With no need for thawing, you can go straight from freezer to air fryer, making it an ideal solution for last-minute meals.

How long to cook frozen burgers for rare, medium-rare, medium, medium-well, and well-done

How Long to Cook Frozen Burgers in an Air Fryer

Overview

Cooking frozen burgers in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get your burger fix. You can go from frozen to a juicy, tasty burger in just a few minutes with very little cleanup.

Temperature and Timing

First, preheat your air fryer to between 370°F and 390°F. The higher the temperature, the crispier the exterior of your burger will be.

Then, place your frozen burgers inside the air fryer in a single layer, leaving space between them to prevent steaming. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your burgers, as well as your desired level of doneness.

• Rare (120°F-125°F): 10-13 minutes
• Medium Rare (130°F-135°F): 13-16 minutes
• Medium (140°F-145°F): 15-17 minutes
• Medium Well (150°F-155°F): 16-18 minutes
• Well Done (160°F): 17-20 minutes

For a final internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), which is recommended for food safety, aim for the higher end of the cooking time ranges. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your burgers.

Tips for Best Results

• Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook the burgers in batches if needed to allow proper airflow for even cooking.
• Flip the burgers halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning and cooking.
• Season the burgers with salt, pepper, or your favorite seasonings before cooking to enhance their flavor.
• Let the burgers rest for a couple of minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute for a juicy bite.
• If making cheeseburgers, add the cheese one minute before the cooking time ends, and let the residual heat melt it.

How to get the desired doneness from air fryer frozen hamburgers

Air fryer frozen hamburgers are a quick and easy way to satisfy your burger cravings. With minimal cleanup and no fuss, you can have juicy hamburgers ready in no time. Here are some tips to help you achieve your desired doneness:

Preheat the Air Fryer:

Start by preheating your air fryer. While some recipes suggest cooking the burgers without preheating, preheating can help achieve maximum browning on the outside while maintaining your desired doneness inside. Aim for a temperature of around 370°F to 390°F (190°C to 200°C).

Prepare the Frozen Patties:

Place the frozen burger patties in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer with space between them. Avoid stacking or overlapping the patties, as this can affect even cooking and circulation. If your patties are on the thicker side, they may need a little longer to cook.

Seasoning:

You can season your frozen patties before cooking, but it's not necessary, as most burgers come pre-seasoned. If you do choose to season, a simple salt and pepper combo works well, or you can get creative with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, or your favourite spice blend. Keep in mind that seasoning frozen meat may require more seasoning, as it doesn't penetrate as much as seasoning thawed meat.

Cooking Time and Temperature:

The cooking time will depend on your desired doneness. For a rare burger, cook for 10-13 minutes. For medium-rare, aim for 13-15 minutes. Medium burgers will take around 15-17 minutes, while medium-well should be cooked for 16-18 minutes. Well-done burgers will need the longest time, around 17-20 minutes. Remember that cooking times may vary slightly depending on the thickness of your patties, so adjust accordingly.

Flipping and Cheeseburgers:

It is recommended to flip the patties halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking. If you're making cheeseburgers, add a slice of cheese on top of each patty after cooking and let the residual heat melt the cheese. You can also place the patties back in the turned-off air fryer to melt the cheese.

Using a Meat Thermometer:

To ensure your burgers are cooked to your desired doneness, use an instant-read meat thermometer. The internal temperature for rare is 120-125°F (49-52°C), medium-rare is 130-135°F (54-57°C), medium is 140-145°F (60-63°C), medium-well is 150-155°F (66-68°C), and well-done is 160°F (71°C) and above.

Avoiding Smoking:

When cooking hamburgers, which have a higher fat content, there is a risk of your air fryer smoking. To prevent this, you can turn down the heat, line the drip pan with foil or parchment paper, or place slices of bread at the bottom to absorb the drippings.

By following these tips, you can easily achieve your desired doneness for air fryer frozen hamburgers. Enjoy your juicy and perfectly cooked burgers!

How to keep the air fryer from smoking when cooking burger patties

Cooking frozen burgers in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, juicy burger with minimal cleanup. Here's how to do it without any smoke:

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to around 370°F (195°C). Some sources suggest a higher temperature of 390°F, but this is not necessary and may cause smoking.

Next, remove your frozen burger patties from the freezer. There is no need to thaw them first. You can season the patties generously to your taste, but this is optional. Some recipes suggest adding a small amount of water to the patties so that the seasoning sticks. Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Now, air fry the frozen burger patties for 15-17 minutes for a medium internal temperature. The exact cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of your patties and your desired level of doneness. For a rare burger, cook for approximately 13 minutes, and for a well-done burger, cook for 17-20 minutes. There is no need to flip the burgers during cooking.

If you want to add cheese to your burgers, open the air fryer after cooking and place a slice of cheese on each patty. Close the air fryer and let the residual heat melt the cheese.

Finally, remove the burgers from the air fryer and serve with your favorite toppings and sides.

To prevent smoking, you can try the following:

• Avoid preheating the air fryer to a very high temperature. 370°F is sufficient, and higher temperatures may cause smoking.
• Do not add any oil or grease to the air fryer, as this can cause smoking.
• Use a piece of bread or parchment paper under the air fryer basket to catch any grease.
• Add a small amount of water to the bottom of the air fryer to prevent dripping grease from burning.

How to store and reheat leftovers

To cook frozen burgers in an air fryer, you should:

• Preheat the air fryer to 370°F (or 390ºF).
• Season the frozen patties.
• Air fry the frozen, seasoned burger patties for 15-17 minutes for a medium internal temperature. Adjust the cooking time according to your preferred doneness.
• If you're making a cheeseburger, place a slice of cheese on the cooked patty and let the residual heat melt it.
• Add the burger to your bun, along with your choice of condiments and toppings.

Leftover patties can be kept in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge. To reheat, it is recommended to use an oven, a toaster oven, or an air fryer.

Oven

• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Place the patty directly on a metal rack above a baking pan to prevent excess fat from dripping.
• Heat the patty for around 3 minutes.
• Place the bun on the rack and flip the patty.
• Heat for a further 2 minutes, until the bun is golden brown.

Toaster Oven

• Preheat the toaster oven to 350-400°F.
• Place the patty on the metal rack with a baking sheet underneath to catch any fat drips.
• Heat the patty for 3 minutes.
• Turn the patty and heat for another 2 minutes.
• Add the buns to the toaster to toast them.

Air Fryer

• Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• Place the burgers in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them.
• Cook the burgers for 3-5 minutes on one side, then flip and cook for another 3-5 minutes.
• Check the internal temperature of the burgers with a meat thermometer; they should have reached at least 160°F (71°C).
• Remove the burgers from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

How to make frozen burgers in an air fryer: a step-by-step guide

Step 1: Prepare the air fryer

Start by preheating your air fryer. Different models may have different preheating requirements, but a good rule of thumb is to preheat it at 370°F (190°C) for 3-4 minutes. You can also preheat it to 390°F (200°C) if you want to cook your burgers at a higher temperature.

Step 2: Prepare the frozen burger patties

Take your frozen burger patties out of the freezer. You don't need to thaw them beforehand. Place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap or stack, as this will affect cooking. Spritz or splash a bit of water on the patties so that any seasoning you add will stick better.

Step 3: Season the patties

While some frozen burgers come pre-seasoned, you can always add more seasoning to taste. A simple combination of salt and pepper works well, but you can also get creative with seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, steak seasoning, or Cajun seasoning.

Step 4: Cook the burgers

Cooking times will vary depending on your desired doneness and the thickness of your patties. As a guide, cook the burgers for 10-20 minutes for a medium burger. For rarer burgers, aim for 10-13 minutes, and for well-done burgers, cook for 17-20 minutes. If you're cooking thinner patties, 10 minutes should be enough. Remember to flip the burgers halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.

Step 5: Add cheese (optional)

If you want to add cheese to your burgers, do so in the last 30 seconds to one minute of cooking. This will allow the cheese to melt slightly from the residual heat. You can also place the cheese on the patties after cooking and let it melt in the residual heat of the air fryer, or cover it with foil to help the melting process.

Step 6: Assemble and serve

Remove the cooked burgers from the air fryer and assemble your hamburgers with your favourite toppings and condiments. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions