Cooking Impossible Burgers in an Air Fryer
If you love eating plant-based burgers and enjoy Impossible Burgers, in particular, knowing how to air fry them is essential. It’s an easy way to prepare a delicious and filling meal.
Everyone who has tried an air fryer knows what a game-changer it can be. This is no more true than when you take a meal that usually requires multiple pans or even the entire oven and gets it cooked in only a few minutes. And it’s just that simple to cook an Impossible Burger patty in an air fryer.
Can You Air Fry Frozen Impossible Burger Patties?
Yes, absolutely! You can cook frozen, impossible burger patties in the air fryer. While it might seem strange at first to toss a rock-hard burger patty into the air fryer, it’ll certainly get the job done!
After unwrapping the patty, toss one into the air fryer or two if you have a larger air fryer, and start the cooking process. Each air fryer is different, so it may take some trial and error to figure out exactly how long you need to cook your patties.
How To Cook Frozen Impossible Burger Patties in an Air Fryer
If you want to prepare an Impossible patty quickly, you don’t need to defrost it! That’s the beauty of cooking with an air fryer. Toss it into the basket, and you’re ready to go. They can be cooked straight from the freezer. But, there are a few tips to keep in mind to make the cooking process go more smoothly.
If you cook the patty at maximum heat, keep an eye on it. The outside is quite oily, and the entire patty is pretty thick, so the outside might start getting more burnt than you like.
My preferred way of cooking the patties is to cook them under maximum heat and check on them regularly. It’s not the most hands-off way of cooking them, but after a few times it seems to work the best.
Steps
- Step 1: Lightly oil both sides of the patties. Add salt and pepper, or any kind of seasoning and hot sauces you want to add.
- Step 2: Lightly oil your air fryer basket. Spray or use a brush.
- Step 3: Place the frozen patties in the air fryer. Cook at 380°F/193°C for 8 minutes.
- Step 4: Flip the burgers. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Step 5: Once fully cooked, add cheese on the top of the burger for another minute.
- Step 6: Take out, add preferred toppings, and enjoy.
NOTE: Time to cook patties may vary depending on the air fryer you have, and the thickness of the patties.
What To Expect When Cooking an Impossible Burger With an Air Fryer
While it might seem intimidating your first try, cooking an Impossible Burger in an air fryer is super easy.
Here are some tips on what to expect when using an air fryer for cooking an Impossible Burger for the first time:
Tip #1: Don’t be afraid to experiment!
You’re unlikely to get the cooking temperature and time exactly right on your first try. Consider the first burger, or even the first few, as experiments. After a few tries, you’re sure to land on a time/temperature combination that you’re happy with.
Tip #2: Try adding seasoning while cooking.
If you’ve never added seasoning to something cooking in an air fryer before, now is the time to try it! While these burgers have a great taste on their own, adding some garlic or seasoning salt when the burger is almost finished cooking is a great way to spice up your meal.
Tip #3: You can cook them frozen or thawed. But I recommend not thawing them first.
One of the best things about air fried Impossible Burgers, is that you can cook these delicious burgers frozen or thawed. No need to wait 30 minutes for the patties to thaw out; just toss them right into the air fryer and get your dinner cooking.
Tip #4: Cooking times will vary.
Cooking times will vary depending on what kind of air fryer you’re using, how thick the patties are, and if they’re thawed or frozen. Make note of cooking times the first few times you air fry them.
Tip #5: Use a mat or parchment sheet for easy clean up
You may want to use a mat in your air fryer to protect the insides from the extremely hot and sticky oil, which can be very hard to clean off afterwards. Make sure you use a mat type of parchment paper with holes in it! This allows the air to continue circulating under the burger, cooking it all around.
Seasoning And Cheese
While these burgers by themselves are super tasty, they are way better with toppings. To finish your burger, use some raw or cooked onions, tomatoes, and greens (kale and lettuce are always good options).
Another awesome feature of the air fryer is that you can still cook your burger with seasoning salts and cheese. Some of my favorite seasonings to add are paprika, regular garlic and garlic salt, onion powder, and chili flakes.
Pro Tip: Wait for the patty to be fully cooked, and then add the cheese to the top of the burger and let it heat for another minute before taking it out. The cheese will be perfectly melted.
If you’re a cheese fan, smoked gouda or pepper jack is super tasty with an Impossible Burger. But, if you want to stay on the plant-based theme, vegan cheese made by Daiya and Violife goes great with Impossible Burgers.
Sauces and Dips To Try
So you’ve got the patty cooked, now what will you put on it?
The best options include hot mustard, mayonnaise, spicy mayo, bbq sauce, and ranch dressing. You can’t go wrong with the classic ketchup and yellow mustard, though!
Buffalo sauce is also a great option to give your burger an added kick. Drizzle it on or use it as a dipping sauce.
PS. Air Fried Beyond Meat Burgers is very similar to cooking Impossible Burgers in the air fryer. Give it a try if you can get access to both and see which one you like better!
Cooking Impossible Burgers in an Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2-4 Impossible Burger Patties
Instructions
- Lightly oil both sides of the patties. Add salt and pepper, or any kind of seasoning and hot sauces you want to add.
- Lightly oil your air fryer basket. Spray or use a brush.
- Place the frozen patties in the air fryer. Cook at 380 °F for 8 minutes.
- Flip the burgers. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes.
- Once fully cooked, add cheese on the top of the burger for another minute.
- Take out, add preferred toppings, and enjoy.