How To Reheat Burger In Air Fryer?

Microwaves seldom restore the crunch and freshness of the burgers upon reheating.

Thankfully, now you can use your air fryer to reheat leftover hamburgers, turning them into a fresh-off-the-grill treat.

In the following guide, I will share a cooking method to turn your McDonald’s, Five Guys, or Turkey burger into a hot, crispy masterpiece.

To reheat leftover burgers in an air fryer, place them in your preheated air fryer and cook for 5 minutes at 350 F. Turn the sides of the burger after two minutes to ensure even reheating on both sides.

Reheating Burgers In An Air Fryer

Below is everything you need to know about reheating your leftover burgers in an air fryer.

Take the cooked hamburger out of the refrigerator 10 minutes before reheating.
Remove cold toppings such as lettuce, tomatoes, or cheese before reheating to prevent them from getting soggy and losing their crunch.
Preheat the air fryer to 350 F.
Add the cooked burger patty or patties to the air fryer basket, placing them in a single layer without overlapping.
Rewarm the burger buns separately for best results (optional). Or place the beef or Chicken burger patties with bun in your air fryer.
Set the timer to 5 minutes.
Open the air fryer after 2 minutes and flip the burger to get even browning on the underside of the bun.
Check the patties’ internal temperature using a meat thermometer —it should at least reach 165F for food safety.
Once the burger is nice and toasty, carefully remove it using the spatula.
Add back any cold toppings you removed earlier.
Serve your burger with condiments like ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise.

Here is a quick air fryer burger reheating chart for you.

Plain Hamburgers

Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
Time: 3-5 minutes

Note: Flip halfway to avoid overcooking one side.

Cheeseburgers

Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
Time: 4-6 minutes

Note: Add the cheese during the last minute of cooking to prevent it from melting further.

Fast Food Burgers (KFC, Burger King, other fully made burgers, etc.)

Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
Time: 3-4 minutes

Note: As fast food burgers are often thinner; therefore, they reheat quickly.

Burger with Bun

Temperature: 350°F (175°C)
Time: 3-5 minutes

Note: For best results, lightly toast the bun separately.

Reheating leftover burger buns at lower temperatures prevents them from getting chewy and hard.

Note: Reheat the fries separately to achieve the desired crunch.

PS: These time and temperature guidelines are only estimates and may require adjustment depending on the type of burger you are reheating. Start configuring time at lower settings, gradually increasing it until your burger is thoroughly reheated.

Quick Summary

Equipment

Air fryer: Use any air fryer that you have. I used my favorite, Ninja Foodi, for this task because it is super easy to use and versatile.

Ingredients

Hamburger Patties: the refrigerated patties could be leftovers from McDonald's, other restaurants, or a cookout.
Silicone Spatula: For placing and removing the burger patties and bun in the air fryer.
Meat Thermometer: (optional)

Time & Temperature

Preheat Time: 4 minutes
Reheat Time: 5 minutes
Total Time To Reheat Burger: 9 minutes
Temperature To Reheat Burger: 350F

Why Choose An Air Fryer To Reheat Burgers?

Several reasons make air fryers better than other methods for reheating leftover burgers.

Air frying allows the burgers to retain their original texture and taste.
Using an air fryer results in even heating from all sides.
Air frying is a quicker and more straightforward method.
Because of their versatility, air fryers can reheat various types of leftovers like fried chicken and burritos, not just hamburgers.
Unlike stovetop, reheating in an air fryer doesn’t require adding more oil, making it a healthier method.

Reheating Burger In Microwave Vs. Air Fryer

The main difference between reheating burgers in an air fryer vs. a microwave lies in the crispiness and taste of the outcome.

Reheating a burger in a microwave only takes 1-2 minutes, but it can make the bun soggy and even chewy. Even though the burger reheats thoroughly, microwaving somewhat mutes the flavor and freshness.

In comparison, air frying retains the original taste and texture of the burger.

How Long Do You Need To Reheat The Burger In An Air Fryer?

While reheating a burger in an air fryer takes less than 10 minutes, the actual time can vary depending on the burger’s thickness and size. I reheated a plain burger in the air fryer in approx. 7 minutes at 350 F.

Other recipes you can reheat in an air fryer:

Wrapping Up!

Air frying is the best method to reheat fast food, including burgers, restoring them to their original taste, juiciness, and crunch. On top of that, it takes less than 10 minutes to refresh a leftover burger that might have otherwise gone to waste. We have outlined the easiest method to reheat chicken or beef burgers in an air fryer, hoping it will help you enjoy your leftover food as if it were fresh.