Can You Put Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer?

If you’ve been wondering whether you can use your air fryer to cook frozen hamburgers, you’ll be happy to learn that you absolutely can. The air fryer makes great burgers, and we’ve got step by step instructions to show you how to use this handy kitchen tool to make juicy and flavorful burgers that the whole family will love.

Be sure to make our Air Fryer Juicy Lucy Burger.

Benefits of Using the Air Fryer

There’s a lot to love about the air fryer, and we use it for just about everything in my house. Here are just a few reasons why we love this tool so much:

• Air frying gives your food the same delicious crispy browned exterior and it cooks food faster than a conventional oven, so it’s a great choice for those busy weeknights.
• Since it uses hot air to cook the food, you don’t need to add as much oil, so it’s a great way to make your burgers a little healthier.
• Air Fryers are super easy to use and most have removable cooking baskets, allowing for easy clean up.

We particularly love cooking burgers in the air fryer, since it does a great job of cooking the meat evenly on all sides, so you won’t end up with overdone or undercooked areas or your burgers. It’s also the easiest way to cook burgers and it’s less messy than using the stovetop. Any excess grease will drip down through the air fryer basket, so your burgers won’t be sitting in a lot of grease, and you won’t have to worry about that grease splattering all over your kitchen.

Tools You’ll Need

Instant-Read Thermometer – I’d recommend investing in a good quality instant-read thermometer. You can pick one of these up on Amazon for less than $20. Since your cooking time will always vary based on the size and thickness of the burgers, a thermometer takes the guesswork out of your cooking and gives you an instant reading of the internal temperature of your burgers, ensuring that they’ve reached a safe temperature to kill any harmful bacteria.

Flipping Tool – You’ll need to flip your burgers about halfway through the cook time, so be sure to have a sturdy turner or spatula handy. This will also be a big help when removing your burgers from the air fryer.

How to Cook Frozen Burgers in the Air Fryer

Once you’re ready to start cooking, follow these steps to have a delicious and juicy burger ready to serve in minutes.

Step 1: Place the frozen burger patties in your air fryer, spaced out in a single layer. Note – you don’t need to preheat the air fryer for this. You can turn it on and start cooking right away.

Step 2: Cook the burgers for about 15 minutes, flipping them once at about the halfway point in the cooking time.

Step 3: Check for doneness using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 160 degrees F for beef hamburger patties.

Step 4: If you’re adding cheese to your burgers, the best way to do this is to wait until the very end of the cooking time (the last minute or so) and cook just long enough to melt the cheese slice.

Step 5: Remove the burgers from the air fryer and place on hamburger buns, then add your favorite toppings.

Note: If you are starting with freshly made beef patties rather than frozen, the cooking process is basically the same, although fresh meat may need slightly less cooking time. Be sure to use your meat thermometer to check for doneness.

How Many Burgers Can I Cook at Once?

Air fryers vary in size, and the important thing when cooking burgers is to make sure they are spaced out and not overlapping. This will help ensure that they are cooked evenly and thoroughly throughout. Some large air fryers can fit as many as four burgers, but if yours is on the smaller side, you may only be able to fit one or two.

If you do have a small air fryer, consider making sliders instead. The small size of these mini burgers will allow you to best maximize your fryer basket space.

Can I Cook Other Types of Burgers?

Sure – one of the best things about the air fryer is its versatility – you can use it to cook just about anything, from meats to veggies to starches. If you prefer ground turkey, ground chicken, or veggie burgers instead of the traditional beef patties, go right ahead and cook those in the air fryer too. 

When cooking other types of burgers, you’ll want to keep in mind that chicken and turkey burgers will generally cook more quickly than beef, since they’re leaner. Also, the safe internal temperature for poultry is 165 degrees F, which is slightly higher than that for ground beef.

Can I Thaw the Burgers Before Cooking?

If you’re starting with frozen burger patties, there’s no need to thaw them prior to cooking. This is time consuming and won’t do anything to improve the taste or texture of your burgers.

Should I Season the Frozen Burgers Before Cooking?

Yes – if your burgers aren’t already seasoned, go ahead and add sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, or your favorite burger seasoning before placing the frozen patties in the air fryer. You might need to allow the burgers to thaw for just a few minutes in order to help the seasonings to stick to the frozen patties.

How Do I Keep The Burgers From Sticking to the Air Fryer?

For best results, spray your air fryer basket with a little non-stick cooking spray or brush it with some olive oil before you start. This should prevent any sticking and make your burgers super easy to remove from the air fryer.

How Do I Store Leftover Burgers?

If you have leftover burgers, it’s best to refrigerate them as quickly as possible. Wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They should keep for about 3 days.

What to Serve With Your Air Fryer Burgers

If you’re looking for some great air fryer burger recipes, give these Air Fryer Juicy Lucy Burgers a try. And if you need some delicious sides to serve with your burgers, you can’t go wrong with a potato or veggie dish.

French fries and onion rings are the classic choices with burgers, and your air fryer will do a terrific job of cooking these to a perfect and crispy golden brown. You can also go with tater tots or homemade potato chips for some other great potato options that are a little different and equally as delicious as a side of French fries.

If you’re going low carb or looking for a lighter option, try making some crispy green beans or breaded zucchini fries. Both of these French fry alternatives will come out so crispy and delicious in the air fryer that you might not even miss the potatoes.

If you’ve never used your air fryer to cook burgers before, it’s time to give it a try and create the perfect burger night. Once you see how easy it is and how delicious the results are, the air fryer may just become your favorite way to cook burgers.

Favorite Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas
• Air Fryer French Bread Pizza
• Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Nuggets
• Air Fried Oreos