Air-Fried Smash Burgers: Quick, Crispy, And Juicy

Smash burgers are a classic American favourite. The cooking technique involves smashing a ball of ground beef onto a hot cooking surface to create a thin patty with a large surface area. This method creates a juicy burger with a crispy exterior and a tender interior. Air fryers are a great alternative to the traditional griddle or cast-iron skillet, offering a healthier, more convenient, and consistent cooking option. With an air fryer, you can enjoy smash burgers all year round without having to brave the outdoors.

Choosing the right beef

The type of beef you use for your smash burgers can significantly impact their taste and texture. Here are some tips to help you choose the right beef and create juicy, mouthwatering smash burgers in your air fryer:

Opt for Higher Fat Content

When selecting ground beef for your smash burgers, go for a blend with a higher fat content, such as an 80/20 ratio of lean meat to fat. This ratio ensures your burgers are juicy and packed with flavour. The fat is crucial to achieving the signature taste and texture of a smash burger. The fat content contributes to the rich flavour and helps keep the patties moist, preventing them from drying out during cooking.

Fresh or Thawed Beef is Best

While you can use frozen beef patties, it's best to start with fresh or thawed ground beef for smash burgers. The technique of smashing requires the beef to be malleable so that you can create thin patties that cook evenly. Frozen patties won't smash down properly and may result in uneven cooking.

Portion Control

Consistency is key when it comes to portioning the ground beef for your smash burgers. Try to divide the beef into even portions to ensure that each patty cooks at the same rate. This will help you achieve a consistent level of doneness for all your burgers.

Handle with Care

When forming the beef into balls or patties, be careful not to overwork the meat. Overhandling the ground beef can lead to tough burgers. Aim for loosely formed balls that you will smash in the air fryer. This will help keep your burgers juicy and tender.

Avoid Overcrowding

Cook your smash burgers in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. This allows for better air circulation and ensures even cooking. Space is crucial to achieving a nice crust and consistent doneness for every burger.

Preheat your air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the smash burger-making process. It ensures the appliance reaches the desired temperature for cooking, which is typically between 375°F and 400°F. This step is essential for achieving a delicious smash burger with a crusty exterior and a juicy interior.

When preheating, it is advisable to consult your air fryer's instructions manual to understand its specific preheating requirements. Different models may have unique features or settings that influence the preheating process. Following the manufacturer's instructions will help you preheat your air fryer effectively and safely.

The preheating time can vary depending on the model of your air fryer. Some air fryers may take longer to reach the desired temperature than others. As a general guideline, aim for a preheating time of around 3 to 5 minutes. This duration should be sufficient for the air fryer to reach the desired temperature range.

While preheating, you can simultaneously prepare the beef balls or patties. Forming the beef into loose balls or patties before placing them in the air fryer will save time and ensure an efficient cooking process. Remember to handle the meat gently and avoid overworking it to maintain its juiciness.

Additionally, preheating your air fryer offers several benefits. Firstly, it helps to create a consistent and even cooking environment, ensuring your smash burgers are cooked perfectly every time. Secondly, preheating reduces the overall cooking time, making it ideal for quick meals. Lastly, it helps achieve the desired texture and flavour of the smash burgers by searing the exterior while keeping the interior moist and juicy.

Don't overwork the meat

When making smash burgers, it's important not to overwork the meat. This means you should handle the ground beef gently and avoid excessive mixing or shaping. The reason for this is that loosely packed balls of meat will create a more tender texture in the final burger. If you overwork the meat, you can end up with a denser, chewier burger.

When forming the ground beef into balls before smashing them, use a light touch. You don't want to compact the meat too much. Also, make sure the beef is cold when you're shaping it, as this will help it hold its shape.

Once you've smashed the burgers, try not to press down on them while they're cooking. This can squeeze out the juices, making your burgers dry. Just let them do their thing in the air fryer, and they'll come out juicy and delicious.

Another tip to avoid overworking the meat is to use a gentle hand when mixing in any seasonings or additives. You want to mix just enough to combine the ingredients, but not so much that you end up with a tough burger.

Remember, the key to a great smash burger is to handle the meat as little as possible. This will result in a tender, juicy burger with a delicious crust.

Use parchment paper

Using parchment paper is a great way to prevent your smash burgers from sticking to the air fryer basket or the spatula. Simply place a square of parchment paper on top of the beef ball before smashing it down with a spatula or burger press. This will not only help with cleanup but also make the smashing process easier.

To start, take a ball of ground beef and place it on a sheet of baking parchment. Then, using a flat meat mallet or a potato masher, flatten the ball into a patty that is about 1cm thick. It's important to make the patty wider than the bun, as it will shrink a little during cooking. Repeat this process to form four evenly sized burgers.

Once you've formed your patties, it's time to season them. Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of the patties, and you can also add other seasonings like garlic powder or onion powder to enhance the flavour.

After seasoning, place the patties in the air fryer basket, with the seasoned side facing up. Cook your smash burgers at 200°C for 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking process.

When the burgers are browned and cooked through, add a slice of cheese to each patty and return them to the air fryer for about a minute, just enough time to melt the cheese.

Now your smash burgers are ready to be served! Place them on toasted buns with your favourite toppings and condiments, such as lettuce, tomatoes, gherkins, crispy onions, and sauce. Enjoy your juicy and flavourful smash burgers straight from the air fryer!

Smash, season, and cook

To make smash burgers in an air fryer, start by preheating your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). This ensures the air fryer is hot enough to cook the burgers quickly and evenly.

Next, divide the ground beef into equal portions and roll them into loose balls. Be careful not to overwork the meat, as this can make the burgers tough. The ideal mix for juicy burgers is ground beef with an 80/20 blend of lean-to-fat ratio. This ensures your burgers are juicy and flavourful.

Now it's time to smash the burgers. Place a ball of beef in the air fryer basket and use a spatula or burger press to smash it into a thin patty. This step increases the surface area of the burger, resulting in a crispier exterior. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the burgers in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Once the burgers are smashed, it's time to season them. Sprinkle the top of each patty with salt and pepper, or your desired seasonings. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder and onion powder to enhance the flavour of your burgers.

After seasoning, slide the basket into the air fryer and cook the burgers for about 5-10 minutes for medium-rare to medium, or longer for well-done. If you're adding cheese, place it on the patties during the last minute of cooking so it melts perfectly.

Finally, assemble your burgers by placing the cooked patties on the buns and adding your chosen toppings. Enjoy your juicy, flavorful smash burgers straight from the air fryer!

Frequently asked questions