Name: Air-Fryer Juicy Well-Done Cheeseburgers
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: ½ slice hearty white sandwich bread , crust removed, torn into ¼-inch pieces; 1 tablespoon milk; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; 12 ounces 85 percent lean ground beef; Salt and pepper; 2 slices American cheese (2 ounces); 2 hamburger buns , toasted if desired

Why This Recipe Works

Typical burger recipes require hovering over a hot pan or grill, waiting for the right moment to flip the patties to avoid turning out a dry hockey puck. But not this one—and not only because the air fryer's timer tells you when they need flipping. The real key was using a panade of mashed bread and milk, which kept the patties moist and juicy even when cooked to well-done. How? The bread's starches swell when mixed with liquid, forming a gel that holds juices in and prevents meat proteins from toughening when cooked. Giving the burgers a slight dimple in the middle before cooking also prevented them from puffing up in the hot air.

Before You Begin

Serve with your favorite burger toppings.

Instructions

Mash bread, milk, garlic powder, and onion powder into paste in medium bowl using fork. Break up ground beef into small pieces over bread mixture in bowl and lightly knead with hands until well combined. Divide mixture into 2 lightly packed balls, then gently flatten each into 1-inch-thick patty. Press center of each patty with fingertips to create ¼-inch-deep depression. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange patties in air-fryer basket, spaced evenly apart. Place basket in air fryer and set temperature to 350 degrees. Cook until burgers are lightly browned and register 140 to 145 degrees (for medium-well) or 150 to 155 degrees (for well-done), 18 to 21 minutes, flipping and rotating burgers halfway through cooking.

Top each burger with 1 slice cheese. Return basket to air fryer and cook until cheese is melted, about 30 seconds. Serve burgers on buns.