How Long For A Burger In The Air Fryer? | Time Rules

How Long For A Burger In The Air Fryer? Cooking Time Basics

When someone asks how long for a burger in the air fryer?, the honest answer is that it depends on patty size, temperature, and whether the meat starts out frozen.
For most standard 4–6 ounce beef patties cooked at 370–380°F (188–193°C), you are usually in the 8–12 minute range, with a flip halfway through.

Frozen patties need a little more patience. Plan on about 12–18 minutes at a similar temperature, again turning once so both sides crisp and brown evenly.
No matter the time, the target for ground beef is a safe internal temperature of 160°F (71°C), checked with a thermometer pushed into the center of the patty.

Quick Air Fryer Burger Time Ranges

The table below gives a starting point for different burger types and sizes. Use it as a guide, then fine-tune for your own air fryer once you see how hot and fast it runs.

Burger Type	Patty Thickness	Approximate Time At 375°F
Fresh beef, 4–6 oz	½ inch (1.25 cm)	8–10 minutes
Fresh beef, 6–8 oz	¾ inch (2 cm)	10–12 minutes
Fresh turkey or chicken	½ inch (1.25 cm)	10–12 minutes
Fresh turkey or chicken	¾ inch (2 cm)	12–14 minutes
Frozen beef patty	½ inch (1.25 cm)	12–15 minutes
Frozen beef patty	¾ inch (2 cm)	14–18 minutes
Plant-based patty	½ inch (1.25 cm)	8–12 minutes
Mini slider patties	⅓ inch (0.8 cm)	6–8 minutes

These times assume you preheat the air fryer, leave space between patties, and cook burgers in a single layer.
A crowded basket slows air circulation and adds minutes, while smaller baskets with strong fans often work faster than large oven-style models.

Factors That Change Air Fryer Burger Timing

Two burgers rarely behave the same way in an air fryer. The meat blend, fat content, and setup inside the basket all change the clock.
Once you know what affects cook time, you can adapt any recipe to your own kitchen.

Patty Thickness And Size

Thickness is the biggest driver of how long a burger needs. A flat, ½-inch patty at 375°F may reach a safe internal temperature in about 8–10 minutes.
A thicker ¾-inch patty made from the same meat can need several extra minutes, simply because heat takes longer to reach the center.

Larger 6–8 ounce patties also release more fat as they cook. That extra fat can cause smoking if your basket has no drip pan or water in the drawer.
In that case, shorter cycles with a quick pause to drain grease or wipe the drawer can help you keep both time and smoke under control.

Fresh Or Frozen Burger Patties

Fresh patties heat faster because the center starts closer to room temperature. Frozen patties need extra minutes just to thaw in the middle before the meat can warm through.
Plan on 30–50 percent more time for frozen burgers compared to the same size patty cooked fresh at the same temperature.

Many store-bought frozen burger boxes list oven instructions. As a rough rule, you can air fry those patties at the same temperature and start with about three-quarters of the oven time.
Test one batch and write down the result so you can repeat it next time without guessing.

Air Fryer Style And Temperature

Basket-style air fryers usually cook burgers a bit faster than large oven-style models. The fan sits closer to the food, and the smaller cavity reaches temperature quickly.
Oven-style fryers sometimes need an extra 2–4 minutes for the same level of doneness, especially if the tray sits low in the unit.

Temperature also matters. Cooking burgers at 350°F gives gentle heat and a juicy center but can stretch the cook time.
Cooking at 390–400°F speeds things up and deepens browning, yet the edges can dry if you forget to check early. For a balanced result, many home cooks settle around 370–380°F.

Stuffed Burgers And Cheese Inside

When cheese or fillings sit inside the patty, treat the burger as extra thick. The air fryer still has to push heat through the meat to that center pocket.
Start at the higher end of the time range for your patty thickness and check a thermometer near, but not inside, the cheese pocket so you measure the meat itself.

If cheese melts out and hits the basket, it can scorch and smoke. Lining the basket with a perforated parchment sheet or a reusable liner rated for air fryers keeps cleanup easier and helps the burger cook evenly without sticking.

Step By Step Method For Air Fryer Burgers

Knowing how long for a burger in the air fryer? is only half the answer. The way you prep and handle the patty matters just as much for texture, juiciness, and food safety.

Shape And Season The Patties

Start with ground beef that has at least 15–20 percent fat. Leaner meat dries out quickly in an air fryer, because hot air pulls moisture from the surface.
Gently shape patties that are about ½ to ¾ inch thick and a touch wider than the bun, since they shrink as they cook.

Press a shallow thumbprint in the center of each patty. This helps the burger cook flat instead of puffing up like a meatball, which gives you a more even thickness from edge to center.
Season both sides with salt and pepper just before the patties go into the basket so the surface stays flavorful but not wet.

Preheat The Basket

Many air fryers reach temperature in 3–5 minutes. Preheating gives burgers a quick sizzle when they hit the basket, so the surface browns instead of steaming.
If your air fryer does not have a preheat button, run it empty at the cooking temperature for a few minutes before adding the patties.

A light spray of high-heat cooking oil on the basket or tray reduces sticking. Avoid heavy oils poured directly over the food, since they can drip and smoke once they hit the hot surface below.

Cook And Flip The Burgers

Place patties in a single layer with a little space around each one. For fresh ½-inch beef patties at 375°F, start with 8 minutes total cook time.
Flip at the halfway point so the top and bottom brown evenly.

For thicker patties, frozen burgers, or poultry burgers, start at the higher end of the time range from the first table, then check early.
If the patties still look pale on top when the timer beeps, add 2-minute bursts until the color and internal temperature match what you want.

Check Temperature With A Thermometer

Color alone can mislead you with burgers cooked in an air fryer. Some patties stay pink in the center even when the temperature is already safe, while others turn brown before they reach that point.
A digital meat thermometer removes the guesswork.

Food safety agencies such as FoodSafety.gov and the
USDA ground beef safety page recommend 160°F (71°C) as the safe minimum internal temperature for ground beef at home.
Push the thermometer probe sideways into the thickest part of the patty and wait a few seconds for a stable reading before you decide whether to cook longer.

Rest And Build The Burger

Once the burgers reach 160°F, move them to a plate and let them sit for about 2 minutes. Resting helps juices spread back through the meat instead of running onto the cutting board or plate.
Use this short pause to toast buns in the warm air fryer basket or under the broiler.

Add cheese in the last minute of cooking so it melts over the patty without turning stiff. Then stack your toppings, sauce, and lettuce while the burger is still hot and juicy.

Burger In The Air Fryer Cook Time By Doneness

At home, safety should come first, so ground beef burgers belong at 160°F or above. That said, many recipes mention doneness levels such as medium or medium-well, which describe texture more than safety.
The air fryer can reach those levels too, as long as the patty sits in the basket long enough.

Use the next table as a texture guide, not an excuse to pull burgers early. When you want a slightly softer center, get to a safe temperature first, then shorten the time only if you are comfortable with the risk and local guidance allows it.

Burger Type	Internal Temperature	Texture Notes
Ground beef, home cooking target	160°F (71°C)	Fully cooked center, juices still present when not overcooked
Ground beef, restaurant medium	145–155°F (63–68°C)	Softer center, may look pink; not the safest choice at home
Ground turkey or chicken	165°F (74°C)	Firm center, no pink meat; handle with care due to poultry
Plant-based burger patty	Package directions	Usually heated until piping hot with a browned exterior
Stuffed burger patties	Same as base meat	Check in the meat just beside the filling pocket
Mini slider patties	160°F (71°C)	Shorter time, but the same safe internal temperature

In practical terms, a fresh, ½-inch beef patty at 375°F usually hits 160°F in that 8–10 minute window. A thicker patty pushed to 390°F can reach the same temperature in roughly 10–12 minutes but will have a darker crust.
Poultry burgers sit nearer 12–14 minutes at 375°F for a similar thickness, because poultry starts denser and releases moisture differently.

Frozen Burgers In The Air Fryer

Frozen patties are handy on nights when you did not plan ahead. You skip thawing, go straight from freezer to basket, and still end up with a burger that tastes close to a grilled one.
The trade-off is extra cook time, so plan your sides around a slightly longer window.

Timing For Frozen Beef Patties

For standard 4–6 ounce frozen burger patties at 370–380°F, a common range is 12–16 minutes. Start at 6–7 minutes, flip each patty, then cook another 5–7 minutes before checking the temperature.
Thicker frozen patties or very cold freezers can stretch that range to 18 minutes, especially in a roomy oven-style air fryer.

If the outside browns before the center reaches 160°F, lower the temperature by about 25°F and keep cooking. That gentler heat gives the inside time to catch up without turning the crust too dry or hard.

Frozen Turkey, Chicken, And Plant-Based Burgers

Poultry burgers made from turkey or chicken should reach 165°F in the center. In an air fryer, that usually means about 14–18 minutes for frozen patties of similar size, again with a flip halfway through.
These patties can look dry on the surface while the middle still needs more time, so rely on the thermometer instead of the color alone.

Plant-based frozen burgers vary by brand. Many are already fully cooked and only need reheating until hot, while others behave more like raw patties.
Follow the package directions as a baseline, but expect total time to sit in the 8–14 minute range for a standard ½-inch patty at around 375°F.

Common Timing Mistakes With How Long For A Burger In The Air Fryer?

One frequent mistake is copying oven times directly into the air fryer. Oven instructions usually assume slower, gentler heat on a metal tray.
Air fryers push hot air closer to the food, which shortens the time in many cases, especially for thinner patties.

Another trap is stacking burgers. When patties overlap, the covered areas never sit in direct air flow, so you get uneven browning and cold spots inside the stack.
Cook in batches instead, and keep finished burgers tented with foil while the rest cook so they stay warm without drying out.

Some cooks also rely on color or timing alone without checking temperature. Two patties of the same size can still cook at different speeds, depending on fat level and how tightly the meat was packed.
A quick temperature check keeps guesswork out of the process and helps you tune your personal answer to how long for a burger in the air fryer?.

Troubleshooting Air Fryer Burger Texture And Timing

If your burgers reach a safe temperature but feel dry, you might be using meat that is too lean or cooking at too high a temperature.
Switching to an 80/20 blend and dropping the air fryer from 390°F down to 370°F often gives a better balance between browning and moisture.

When burgers come out underdone even after the timer ends, double-check your thermometer and the basket setup. Thick patties crowded together slow air flow in the center of the basket.
Space them out more, raise the rack if your air fryer has one, and try an extra 2–3 minutes at the same temperature.

Smoke from the air fryer usually means rendered fat is hitting a hot surface. A simple fix is to pour a few tablespoons of water into the drawer under the basket before cooking.
The water catches drips and keeps them from burning while the burgers cook.

Practical Timing Examples You Can Copy

To turn all these ranges into everyday cooking, it helps to have a few ready patterns. Treat these as starting points, then adjust a minute or two either way as you learn how your own appliance behaves.

Weeknight Fresh Beef Burgers

Use 80/20 ground beef and form two ½-inch patties, about 5 ounces each. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F, then cook the patties for 4 minutes.
Flip them, cook 4–5 minutes more, and check the temperature. If they sit just below 160°F, add a final 1–2 minutes until they reach the safe mark.

Add cheese during the final minute so it melts as the patties finish. Rest for 2 minutes, toast the buns in the warm basket, and you have burgers in roughly the same time it takes to set the table.

Frozen Burger Night

Take two frozen beef patties straight from the freezer and preheat your air fryer to 380°F. Place the patties in the basket and cook for 7 minutes, then flip them.
Cook another 6–8 minutes, checking the temperature after 6 minutes so you do not overshoot 160°F by too wide a margin.

If the patties still sit under 160°F but look dark on the outside, drop the heat to 360°F and give them 2–3 extra minutes.
This gentle finish brings the center up to a safe temperature without turning the exterior tough.

Poultry And Plant-Based Burger Option

For turkey burgers, preheat the air fryer to 375°F and cook ½-inch patties for 6 minutes on one side. Flip, then cook another 6–8 minutes and check for 165°F in the center.
Turkey stays safer when fully cooked, so avoid pulling early even if the surface looks done.

With plant-based burgers, aim for the same 370–380°F range but shorten the time slightly. Start with 4 minutes per side, then check the center.
Once the patty feels hot all the way through and the surface browns to your liking, it is ready to go.

After a few rounds of testing, you will know the answer to how long for a burger in the air fryer? for your own setup without checking any chart.
Until then, use the times here, pair them with a thermometer, and adjust by small steps so every burger comes out safe, juicy, and nicely browned.