Cooking hamburgers in a NuWave air fryer is a quick and easy way to make juicy burgers with crispy edges. The amount of time needed to cook hamburgers in a NuWave air fryer depends on the size and thickness of the patties, as well as your desired doneness.
Quick Answer
Most 1/4 pound hamburger patties will take 8-12 minutes to fully cook in a NuWave air fryer, based on a temperature of 370°F. Thicker patties may take a few minutes longer. Use an instant-read thermometer to check for your desired doneness.
Factors That Affect Cook Time
There are a few key factors that determine how long hamburgers need to cook in the NuWave air fryer:
- Thickness – Thicker patties will take longer to cook through to the center than thinner patties.
- Temperature – Cooking at a higher air fryer temperature will decrease cook time.
- Doneness – Burgers cooked to lower doneness levels like rare or medium-rare will cook faster than well-done burgers.
- Quantity – Cooking more patties will increase the overall cook time.
- Fat content – Leaner burgers may cook slightly faster than higher-fat burgers.
Patty Thickness
The thickness of your hamburger patties is one of the biggest factors in determining cook time. Here are some general guidelines for NuWave air fryer cook times based on patty thickness:
| Patty Thickness | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| 1/4 pound (4 oz), 1/2 inch thick | 8-10 minutes |
| 1/3 pound (5 oz), 3/4 inch thick | 10-12 minutes |
| 1/2 pound (8 oz), 1 inch thick | 12-15 minutes |
As you can see, thicker hamburger patties need a few extra minutes to fully cook through compared to thinner patties. Keep thickness in mind when forming your patties.
Air Fryer Temperature
Cooking at a higher temperature will speed up the cooking process. Most recipes recommend cooking hamburgers in the air fryer between 350-400°F. Higher temperatures like 370-390°F will cook the burgers a bit faster.
Lower temperatures around 300-325°F will result in a slower cook time. This may be preferred if you want very precise control over doneness. Just keep in mind that cooking significantly under 350°F may produce less browning.
Doneness Level
How well-done you prefer your hamburgers also impacts total cook time. Here are the approximate target internal temperatures and cook times for different doneness levels:
| Doneness | Internal Temp | Cook Time |
|---|---|---|
| Rare | 125-130°F | 6-8 minutes |
| Medium-Rare | 130-135°F | 8-10 minutes |
| Medium | 140-145°F | 10-12 minutes |
| Medium-Well | 150-155°F | 12-14 minutes |
| Well-Done | 160°F+ | 14-16 minutes |
Rare and medium-rare burgers have a shorter NuWave air fryer cook time, while well-done burgers need to cook for a more extended period to reach food-safe interior temperatures.
Number of Patties
Cooking more hamburger patties at once will increase the total cooking time. This is because it takes longer for the heat to penetrate multiple layers of burgers. For food safety, patties should be cooked in a single layer and not stacked directly on top of each other.
If cooking more than 2-3 patties, it’s best to cook them in batches. Let the air fryer fully preheat again in between batches for best results.
Fat Content
Lean hamburgers with around 15-20% fat may cook through slightly faster than higher-fat burgers. Burgers with 80/20 or 73/27 fat ratios may need a couple extra minutes since fat conducts heat more slowly than lean meat.
In most cases, the differences are quite small. But you may notice leaner burgers cooking just a minute or two faster in some instances.
How to Cook Perfect Hamburgers in the NuWave Air Fryer
Follow these tips for cooking moist, juicy hamburgers in the NuWave air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 370-390°F.
- Shape patties evenly to the desired thickness, 1/2 to 1 inch thick.
- Lightly brush both sides with oil or spray with cooking spray.
- Cook patties in a single layer on the fryer basket. Do not overcrowd.
- Flip patties halfway through cooking.
- Cook until the center reaches your desired doneness temperature.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
The air fryer gives burgers a nice sear while cooking the inside hot and juicy. Adjust cook times as needed to get your perfect level of doneness.
Conclusion
Cooking hamburgers in the NuWave air fryer takes 8-16 minutes depending on size, doneness, and other factors. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the patties reach a safe internal temperature. Let the patties rest before serving up tender, juicy burgers.