How to cook Microwave Burgers in air fryer

In the years I've heated microwave burgers as intended, I've found this method to still be the best solution, with the burger bun best warmed up in the air fryer.

Cook a Microwave Burger in an air fryer if you must, providing you know the beef patty cooks far better in the microwave. The air fryer heats up the burger bun well, but not so much the beef patty. Air fry the patty on a sheet of foil for 8 minutes - turning patty halfway - at a high temperature of 400°F/205°C.

Whilst your typical air fryer can be used for convenience to put together a frozen or fresh burger of some kind, of course that time-saving can carry over to microwave burgers.

I will admit, microwave burger patties are best heated in the microwave in an effort to preserve the size and shape of the patty. Where an air fried microwave burger patty is likely to see additional shrinkage.

If you don't mind the patty losing about 20% in width, then you should be good to proceed to air fry your microwave burger.

Air fryer baskets of a larger capacity will allow you to position the beef patty and burger bun in the air fryer, so the microwave burger components can be cooked all together.

Give the microwave beef patty a minimum of 8 minutes in the air fryer  - and with just 30 seconds left to time - you can warm up the burger bun. Microwave burger buns must be heated, else the bun will be both too cold and wet.

NOTE: I like to heat the microwave burger patty in the microwave by following the packaging cooking instructions - patties usually take 90 seconds - and then utilize the air fryer just to warm up the bun.

Prepare Microwave Burger

We aren't following the microwave instructions here thus we must make our own preparation for air frying a microwave burger. With the only difference being, you should bring the chilled beef patty up to room temperature.

• STEP 1: Take all ingredients out of packaging - So your not in a rush to remove the ingredients later: take beef patty; cheese slice; and bun out of packaging
• STEP 2: Sit Burger at room temperature for 15 Mins. - Burger patty will be cold inside with it stored in the fridge, thus 15 minute should be enough to thaw it out

• STEP 3: Preheat air fryer - Air fryer needs to preheat for a minimum of 5 minutes, at a temperature of 400°F/205°C
• STEP 4: Position Burger on foil - Line your air fryer basket in foil in an effort to keep the basket clean, where you'll centre your beef patty

NOTE: Remember to unfold the cheese out of the plastic wrap so your not flustered later while attempting to remove it when it comes to placing it on the beef patty.

Air fry Burger

Air fry Feasters to Rustlers burgers and snacks in under 8 minutes, with 5 minutes of preparation. Burgers must be piping hot in the middle but should be flipped over halfway to ensure even cooking.

• STEP 1: Set temp to 400°F/205°C; time to 8 Mins.  Rustlers cheeseburger of mine to 8 minutes to heat through, with time and temperature applying to a multitude of microwave burger varieties
• STEP 2: Cook until halfway; flip Burger over - Don't forget to flip the burger patty over at the 4 minute mark, to ensure both sides brown

• STEP 3: Heat Bun & Cheese with 30 sec. to end - Isn't necessary to melt the cheese as it will itself when in contact with the hot beef patty; burger bun will need a minimum of 30 seconds to heat through
• STEP 4: Assemble your burger and serve - Take both burger bun slices out of the air fryer basket; pop the beef patty on top - while wasting no time in adding the cheese to melt/soften - and squeeze on the burger sauce before serving

NOTE: Air fryer instructions refer to a single beef patty only, but can be used to air fry a microwave double cheeseburger; a pork rib sub; chicken burger patty and additional microwave burger items.

Microwave vs. air fryer burger

With no doubt, microwave burgers really do cook best in a microwave. Microwaves are fast and convenient, with no other method beating the microwave for cooking formulated beef burger patties.

In under 90 seconds, a microwave beef burger patty will heat through yet retain its size and shape, with no loss due to shrinkage, which can't be said for air frying.

I personally like to microwave the beef patty specifically in the microwave, then use the convenience of the air fryer to simply warm up the bun. Cheese doesn't need to be melted in an air fryer but if you do, ensure the patty is in the microwave.

Of course, microwaving the beef patty provides you the opportunity to warm up a plate at the same time, which is possible in an air fryer if the plate is small enough.

To be honest, air fryers don't cook genuine beef hamburger patties you make at home or buy in-store, so aren't ideal for microwave burgers either.

Like I said, the 8 minute air fry time is enough to cause shrinking and deform the patty, which can be avoided if relying on the microwave only.

Rely on the microwave to warm through the bun only, which the microwave can't do very well, which causes condensation... and a steaming hot bun.

Summarise

With an option to heat a microwave burger patty in an air fryer, I will tell you now, the patty continues to heat up best in the microwave.

Air frying microwave beef patties will cause both shrinkage and deformation of the patty, which can then lead to drying out the burger.

Where the air fryer comes in helpful when cooking a microwave burger, is that the air fryer will do well to warm through the bun for as little as 30 seconds. With a minute or more needed to produce a crusty bun.

If you wish to continue to air fry your microwave burger in the microwave; do so by setting the time to 8 minutes, along with the temperature set to 400°F/205°C. Burger patty should be flipped over halfway to allow for even cooking.

Whilst you are preparing the burger for air frying, remember to preheat the air fryer so the time will match mine in the tutorial featured.

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