Owning an air fryer means trying out new things every day. So, it’s exciting to know that we can make favorite recipes like hamburgers in these speedy appliances. But not everyone has fully subscribed to air fryers, and the idea of cooking patties in these things may seem peculiar. Bu air fryers are quite easy to maneuver, and with proper guidance, you can monitor how long your hamburgers should cook in them.
Hamburgers Nutrition Facts
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Hamburgers
While cooking time is crucial to the success of any recipe, other factors do also come in handy. And keeping these in mind can help you make the best air fryer hamburgers you can imagine.
Check the Thickness and Fat Ratio
The air fryer can get clogged if excess grease drips into its unit, so consider using lean ground beef to make your patties. And if you’re buying premade ones, check for the meat-to-fat ratio, and confirm it’s at least 80-20. This tip isn’t just good for your air fryer but also ensures healthier hamburger recipes.
Also, you’ll want to keep the patties at a thickness of one-inch maximum. And if you’re making them yourself from scratch, check that every patty is roughly the same thickness and size.
Cooking Multiple Patties
Depending on your air fryer size, you can prepare up to four patties at a go. But ensure that this number doesn’t overcrowd the basket; otherwise, hot air won’t properly circulate to cook the patties fully. So, if your basket can only take two hamburger patties at a go, stick to that. The procedure is relatively fast anyway, so you don’t need to rush.
Check for Doneness
Beef needs to cook to a safe temperature of 160F before eating. So, always check for the doneness with a meat thermometer. And the best way to do it is by poking the probe at the side of the patties till it reaches the center. So don’t stick it from the top, or you’ll break the shape and ruin the recipe.
Forming Hamburger Patties
For those making hamburgers from scratch, you’ll need a quick guide on the best way to prepare the patties. Here’s how to go about it;
- Sprinkle a moderate helping of salt and pepper on the ground beef. Always start with cold ground beef straight out of the fridge, so the shape and structure are retained after molding. You can also include other ingredients like garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika. But keep the amount moderate, as you can over-season the ground beef and disrupt the structure-forming nature of the burger fat.
- When mixing the beef, try using a cold fork to fold the seasonings into the meat gently. Using your hands wi
- ll render the ground beef to room temperature, causing it not properly to form patties. And when using a fork, don’t be thorough about mixing, but use gentle fold until the ingredients are even.
- Divide the patties into equal amounts and gently roll them on a countertop or cold baking tray. Then, lightly mold them into patties of at most one-inch thickness with the tip of your fingers.
- Place the patties into the basket and cook as instructed if you’re cooking at once. But if you’re making them for later, wrap the patties in plastic and chill them in the fridge or freezer till you need them.
Cooking Time for Air Fryer Hamburgers
The sweet temperature spot for cooking hamburgers in an air fryer is 350F. And at this point, the temperature isn’t so hot that the patties scorch or too low that they’ll overcook at the top. So, when cooking hamburgers at 350F, you’ll need a total of eight minutes, during which you’ll flip the patties at the four-minute mark. But note that this cooking time only apples to burgers at one-inch thickness, and thinner ones will need less time.
What about Frozen Hamburgers?
If you’ve formed hamburgers patties and kept them in the freezer, you can cook them using an air fryer. And what’s more, is you won’t have to thaw them; they’ll cook straight out of cold storage if you’re in a hurry. But consider extending the recipe by one or two minutes, depending on when the 160F safe doneness is reached. And remember that this only applies to frozen burgers of one-inch thickness.
Print
Air Fryer Hamburgers (2 Servings)
Ingredients
- Two burger patties, four ounces each
- Two hamburger buns
- Toppings
Instructions
- Heat the air fryer to 350F, and when it’s ready, put the patties in the basket and lower them into it. Then, cook for eight minutes, flipping them halfway through the time.
- Check the thepatties’doneness with a meat thermometer; the burgers will be ready at 160F. If you’re adding cheese, put the slices at the final minute so they melt into the patties before you take them down. Or you can cook the burgers the full time, then add the slices and cook for an additional one minute, so the cheese melts onto it.
- Assemble the patties with your desired toppings at once, and serve hot.
More suggestions can be watched here.