Air-Fried Pork Burgers: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Cooking pork burgers in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a delicious dinner on the table. They can be made from ground pork, with the option to add ingredients such as cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs, and apple. The air fryer uses dry circulating hot air to cook food, meaning that your burgers will be cooked evenly on all sides, with a golden brown outside and tender inside.

Choosing the right pork

When it comes to choosing the right pork for your burgers, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, look for ground pork with a good balance of fat and lean meat. Aim for a ratio of 85% lean meat to 15% fat, as this will give your burgers a juicy texture and a good flavour.

If you are buying pre-packaged ground pork from a grocery store, this ratio is likely to be available. However, if you are buying from a butcher or mincing the meat yourself, you may need to select the right cut of pork to achieve this ratio. Good cuts of pork to use are the shoulder or the belly, as these have a good balance of fat and lean meat.

If you are mincing the meat yourself, it is important to trim off any excess fat or tough connective tissue before grinding. This will ensure your burgers have a good texture and are not too fatty.

When it comes to cooking your pork burgers in the air fryer, it is best to let the meat rest for 10-12 minutes outside of the refrigerator before forming the patties and adding the seasonings. This will help the meat relax and ensure it doesn't get too tough when cooking.

Finally, when forming the burger patties, be careful not to overwork the meat as this will make the proteins tough and the burgers dry. Simply combine the ingredients until just mixed, and form into patties with a small indent in the centre to ensure even cooking.

Preparing the meat

Firstly, take your ground pork and let it rest outside the refrigerator for about 10-12 minutes to remove the chill. This step is important to ensure the meat doesn't get tough when it goes directly from cold to hot. For a pound of ground pork, you can form it into four evenly sized pieces.

Next, add your desired seasonings to the meat. A simple combination of dried seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder can enhance the natural flavour of the pork. You can also experiment with other seasonings like Montreal steak seasoning, fajita seasoning, or even create your own blend. If you want to get creative, you can add a little beef broth, beer, or Worcestershire sauce to the mix for extra juicy burgers. However, be careful not to overwork the meat when mixing in the seasonings, as this can make the proteins tough, resulting in dry and less tender burgers.

Once you've seasoned the meat, it's time to shape it into patties. Divide the ground pork mixture into equal portions and form them into circles that are about 1/2 inch thick. A useful tip to prevent the patties from puffing up during cooking is to create a small indentation in the centre of each patty. This will also help them cook more evenly.

If you're making cheeseburgers, you can add a slice of cheese to the top of each patty after they're cooked and let the residual heat melt it. For a cheeseburger with a crispy texture, place the cheese on the patties and air fry for an additional minute.

Now, your pork burger patties are ready to be cooked in the air fryer! Remember to preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature, usually around 360-375°F, and ensure the patties are placed in a single layer without overlapping for even cooking. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your patties and your desired doneness, but on average, it takes about 10-15 minutes to cook pork burgers in an air fryer.

Cooking the patties

Now that you have your pork burger mixture ready, it's time to shape them into patties. Divide the mixture into four equal parts and form each section into a patty. You can use your thumb or a spoon to make a small indentation in the centre of each patty—this will help prevent the patties from puffing up during cooking.

Once your patties are formed, it's time to cook them in your air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 360-375°F (some recipes suggest 350°F or 400°F depending on your air fryer). Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.

Place the pork patties in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the patties in batches. Cook the patties for 7-10 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes. The total cooking time will depend on the thickness of your patties and your desired doneness. For a well-done burger, aim for an internal temperature of 160°F.

While your patties are cooking, you can prepare your burger buns. Place the buns cut-side up in the air fryer and toast at 375°F for 2-5 minutes, or until golden brown.

Once the patties are cooked to your desired doneness, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving. This will allow the juices to redistribute and ensure a juicy burger.

Now it's time to assemble your burgers! Place the patties on the toasted buns and add your favourite toppings. Some popular topping ideas include cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion, sauerkraut, and condiments such as ketchup, mustard, or barbecue sauce.

Adding cheese

When it comes to adding cheese to your air fryer pork burgers, timing is crucial. You'll want to add the cheese just before your burgers are done cooking so that it has a chance to melt but doesn't burn. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Prepare your pork burgers as usual and cook them in the air fryer for most of the recommended cooking time.
• Keep an eye on the burgers, and when they are almost done to your liking, open the air fryer and place a slice of cheese on top of each burger patty.
• Close the air fryer and let the residual heat melt the cheese. This shouldn't take long, so keep a close eye on it to avoid overcooking or burning the cheese.
• Once the cheese is melted, remove the burgers from the air fryer and serve them on toasted hamburger buns with your favourite toppings and condiments.

Serving suggestions

Buns and Toppings

You can serve your pork burgers in toasted buns with your choice of toppings. Some classic options include lettuce, tomato, pickles, and cheese. You could also add bacon, BBQ sauce, ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise.

Sides

Sides such as French fries, sweet potato fries, or corn on the cob are great options to serve with your pork burgers. If you're looking for something healthier, you can serve your burger with a side salad or wrap.

Other Variations

If you're looking for something different, you can try the following variations:

• Pork and apple burgers: Mix grated apple and cheese into your pork mince, then serve with your choice of toppings and sides.
• Cajun-inspired pork burgers: Season your pork mince with Cajun seasoning, or make your own using garlic powder, paprika, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and oregano.
• Bacon burgers: Add bacon to your ground pork mixture, or use it as a topping.

Frequently asked questions