Tillie Doyle
Air fryers are a quick, easy, and surprisingly tasty way to cook hamburgers. They can be cooked from frozen, and you can even toast the buns in the air fryer, too! The patties stay juicy, and you can cook them to your preferred doneness. Plus, the fatty grease drips off the burgers, and you can add cheese to the burgers in the final minutes of cooking for perfectly melted cheese.
How to Cook Hamburgers in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 350°F (175°C) or 370°F |
| Patty Thickness | 1/2" thick or 3/4" – 1" thick |
| Patty Diameter | 4 1/2" |
| Patty Indentation | Yes |
| Patty Spacing | Should not be touching |
| Patty Number | Depends on air fryer size |
| Patty Meat | Ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, or bison |
| Patty Fat Content | 80/20 or 85/15 |
| Patty Seasoning | Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, or steak seasoning |
| Patty Brushing | Melted butter, beef soup base, or barbecue sauce |
| Patty Cooking Time | 6-10 minutes, then flip and cook for 3-5 minutes |
| Patty Internal Temperature | 160°F (71°C) |
| Patty Cheese | Optional, add after patties are done |
| Bun Toasting | Optional, 1 minute in the air fryer |
| Leftover Reheating | Preheated air fryer at 350°F for 2-3 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Pre-cooking preparation
Before you start cooking your hamburgers in an air fryer, there are several preparation steps you should take to ensure your burgers turn out juicy and flavorful.
Firstly, decide on the type of meat you want to use. While most recipes call for ground beef, you can also experiment with other types of meat, such as ground turkey, chicken, or bison. If you're using beef, opt for a blend with a higher fat content, such as an 80/20 or 85/15 blend, as fat adds flavor and moisture to your burgers.
Once you've selected your meat, it's time to season it. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, gently combine the ground beef with your choice of seasonings. A popular option is Montreal steak seasoning, which can be enhanced with a bit of Worcestershire sauce or a sprinkle of sugar. You can also create your own seasoning blend by adding salt and pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to the meat. Avoid overworking the meat, as this can lead to dry burgers. Form the seasoned meat into patties, roughly 3/4 to 1 inch thick, making them slightly larger than your buns to allow for shrinkage. Use your thumb to make a small indent in the center of each patty to prevent them from puffing up during cooking.
If you're not ready to cook your burgers immediately, you can freeze them for later. Place a piece of parchment paper between each patty and store them in the freezer. Frozen burger patties can be cooked directly from frozen in your air fryer; just remember to add a few extra minutes to your cooking time.
Before placing your burgers in the air fryer, preheat the appliance to 350°F (175°C) or higher, depending on your preference. It's also recommended to add about 1 cup of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to prevent smoking caused by dripping grease. You can also use a piece of bread for this purpose. Lightly spray the basket with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.
Now, you're ready to start cooking your hamburgers in the air fryer!
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Cooking methods
First, prepare your meat. For the juiciest burgers, use a blend of ground beef with a high fat content, such as 80/20 or 85/15. You can also use ground chuck, ground turkey, ground chicken, or bison. In a medium-sized bowl, gently combine your meat with seasonings like salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and Montreal steak seasoning. Avoid overworking the meat as this can lead to dry burgers. Form the meat into patties, making a small indent in the center of each to prevent them from puffing up during cooking. The patties should be about 3/4–1 inch thick and slightly larger than your buns to allow for shrinkage.
Next, preheat your air fryer. Most recipes recommend a temperature of around 350°F (175°C), but this may vary depending on your air fryer and desired level of doneness. It's a good idea to add about 1 cup of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to catch the grease and prevent smoking. You can also spray the basket with a non-stick spray.
Place the patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren't touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Air fry for 7-12 minutes, depending on the thickness of your patties and your desired level of doneness. You do not need to flip the burgers during cooking, as the air fryer will cook them evenly.
If you're adding cheese, place it on top of the burgers and return them to the air fryer for an additional 1-2 minutes until the cheese is melted. You can also toast your buns in the air fryer by placing them cut-side up and air-frying for about 1 minute.
Finally, serve your burgers immediately on toasted buns with your choice of toppings and condiments, such as lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, or aioli. Enjoy!
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Temperature and timing
The temperature and timing for cooking hamburgers in an air fryer will depend on the type of patty you are using, the size of your air fryer, and your preferred level of doneness.
For a medium-rare burger, you will need to cook your patty for less time than for a well-done burger. The thickness of your patty will also affect cooking time, with thinner patties cooking faster than thicker ones. If you are cooking multiple patties at the same time, you may need to cook them in batches.
Most recipes recommend preheating your air fryer to between 350°F and 400°F (175°C to 195°C). Once preheated, place your patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching. Depending on the thickness of your patties and your desired level of doneness, cook the patties for 7 to 12 minutes. If you are cooking from frozen, add about 5 minutes to the cooking time.
You may not need to flip your burgers during cooking, but if you do, it is recommended that you cook them for 3 to 5 minutes on the second side. If you are using an instant-read thermometer, cook the patties until they reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C).
Once the patties are cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest. If you are adding cheese, return the patties to the air fryer and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
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Post-cooking steps
Once your burgers are cooked to your liking, it's time to build your hamburger. Start by placing your patty on the bottom bun and then add your desired toppings and sauces. You can toast the buns in the air fryer if you prefer—place the buns cut-side up in the air fryer and air fry for about 1 minute.
If you want to add cheese to your burger, there are a few ways to do this. One way is to add the cheese slices to your burger patty after it's done cooking and then return the patty to the air fryer for another 1-2 minutes until the cheese has melted. Another way is to simply turn off the air fryer once the patties are done and let the residual heat melt the cheese.
You can also cook french fries in the air fryer to serve as a side dish with your hamburgers. If you want to cook fries, it's best to cook them first and set them aside before cooking your burgers. Once your burgers are done, add the fries back to the basket and cook at 400°F for about 3-4 minutes while you assemble your burger.
Finally, serve your hamburgers immediately after assembling to ensure the burgers are warm and the toppings are fresh.
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Side dishes
There are many side dishes that you can cook in an air fryer to accompany your hamburgers. Here are some ideas:
French Fries
For the perfect side dish to your hamburgers, consider cooking some French fries in your air fryer. You can cook them before the burgers and then put them back in the air fryer for the final 3-4 minutes while you are topping your burgers. This will ensure that your fries are hot and crispy when serving.
DIY Burger Bar
You can also create a DIY burger bar with various toppings and condiments that your guests can add to their burgers. Some ideas for toppings include lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, jalapenos, green chilies, sauerkraut, roasted red bell peppers, fried egg, bacon, sautéed or air-fried mushrooms, and more. For condiments, you can offer options like chipotle aioli, homemade garlic aioli, or burger sauce.
Other Sides
If you're looking for something other than French fries, you can cook other side dishes in your air fryer, such as potato wedges, sweet potato fries, onion rings, or even mozzarella sticks. These options will add variety to your meal and can be cooked in a similar way to the French fries, ensuring they are hot and crispy when served.
Salads and Vegetables
For a lighter option, you can serve a salad or grilled vegetables as a side dish. You can offer a simple green salad or get creative with different vegetables, cheeses, and dressings. Grilled vegetables like asparagus, zucchini, eggplant, or bell peppers can be cooked in your air fryer and served as a tasty and healthy side.
With these side dish options, you can easily elevate your hamburgers and create a delicious and satisfying meal for your guests.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 9-12 minutes to cook hamburgers in an air fryer, depending on the thickness of the patties.
When cooking fatty meats like ground beef in an air fryer, it's recommended to add some water to the bottom of the air fryer basket to prevent smoking.
Yes, you can cook frozen hamburger patties in an air fryer. It is recommended to add about 5 minutes to the cooking time.
