Salmon burgers make for a super quick, healthy and delicious meal. Not only are they packed with protein and omega-3s, but they are also budget-friendly and easy to whip up any night of the week. While you can certainly buy premade frozen salmon burgers at your local grocery store, learning how to cook them properly is key to achieving the best results.
When it comes to cooking frozen salmon burgers, the air fryer is hands down one of the best appliances for the job. Air frying locks in moisture while delivering a crispy, golden brown exterior in a fraction of the time of other cooking methods.
In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through everything you need to know to cook flawless frozen salmon burgers in your air fryer, with tips for cooking times, temperatures, doneness and more. Let’s get started!
Benefits of Cooking Salmon Burgers in an Air Fryer
There are several major benefits to cooking frozen salmon burgers in an air fryer rather than oven baking them or pan frying:
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Super Fast Cooking Time – Salmon burgers can go from frozen to hot and crispy in just 10-15 minutes in an air fryer Much faster than thawing and oven baking
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Crispy Exterior – The circulating hot air makes the outside crispy and gives the patties a satisfying crunch.
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Moist Interior – The quick cook time prevents the inside from drying out, keeping the salmon flaky and juicy.
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Hands-Off Cooking – Simply place the patties in the basket and let the air fryer do the work. Minimal monitoring needed
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Healthy – Salmon is a great source of protein, healthy fats and nutrients. Air frying avoids adding a lot of extra oil or fat.
How to Cook Frozen Salmon Burgers Step-By-Step
Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked air fryer salmon burgers every time:
Step 1: Preheat Air Fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for around 3-5 minutes before cooking.
Step 2: Prepare Salmon Burgers
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Remove frozen salmon burgers from packaging
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Lightly brush both sides with oil or spray with cooking spray if desired. This helps promote browning.
Step 3: Arrange in Air Fryer Basket
- Place salmon burgers in a single layer in the preheated air fryer basket without overcrowding.
Step 4: Air Fry for 10-15 Minutes
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Air fry at 400°F for 5-7 minutes.
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Flip burgers carefully.
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Cook 5-8 minutes more until desired doneness.
Step 5: Check Internal Temperature
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Salmon burgers should reach an internal temp of 145°F.
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If needed, cook 1-2 minutes more to reach safe temperature.
And that’s it! Let’s look at some ideal cook times and temperatures.
Best Cooking Times and Temperatures
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Air Fryer Temperature – 400°F is ideal for achieving a crispy exterior while cooking burgers through.
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Cook Time – Thinner salmon cakes take 8-10 minutes while thicker burgers need 12-15 minutes.
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Doneness Temperature – Salmon burgers should reach an internal temperature of 145°F as measured by a food thermometer.
Be sure to adjust cook times based on the size and thickness of your patties, as well as your air fryer model. Checking temperature ensures safely cooked salmon.
Handy Tips for Perfect Results
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Don’t overcrowd – Leave space between patties for air circulation. Work in batches if needed.
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Use oil/spray lightly – Avoids sticking but too much can make soggy.
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Flip halfway – Ensures even browning on both sides.
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Use thermometer – Removes guesswork and confirms doneness.
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Let rest 1-2 minutes – Allows juices to redistribute after cooking.
Serving Suggestions
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving air fried salmon burgers:
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On buns with traditional burger toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion
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Wrapped in lettuce leaves for a lighter option
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On top of a fresh salad or veggie bowl
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With sides like oven fries, rice, roasted veggies
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With condiments like tartar sauce, mustard, mayo or spicy aioli
Get creative with toppings and sides to take your salmon burgers to the next level!
Storage and Reheating
Properly storing and reheating leftover salmon burgers ensures they stay safe and delicious:
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Storage: Refrigerate cooked burgers in airtight container for up to 3 days.
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Reheating: Place burgers in air fryer at 300°F for 4-5 minutes until hot. Can also use microwave.
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Freezing: Let cool completely then freeze cooked burgers for 2-3 months. Reheat frozen burgers in air fryer or microwave.
With this comprehensive guide, you now have everything you need to cook juicy, tender and crispy salmon burgers right from the freezer using your air fryer. Dinnertime just got a whole lot easier. Enjoy!
How to Grill Salmon Burgers
Grilling salmon burgers is the quintessential way to enjoy the flavor of summer. This method for preparing grilled salmon burgers can be adapted for cooking indoors on a cast-iron grill pan. The only potential downside of cooking indoors is a lack of the charring that’s achievable over the flame of a grill.
Pro tip: If grilling thawed salmon burger patties, we recommend you cook over indirect heat. If grilling frozen salmon patties, we recommend grilling directly over the flame.
- Prepare a hot grill (medium-high heat). Make sure the grates are clean and lightly oiled.
- Place thawed or frozen salmon burger patty on grill and let cook, undisturbed, on either direct or indirect heat for 2 to 5 minutes (see note above). Flip and cook for an additional 2 to 5 minutes or until cooked through.
- Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy.
How to Pan-Fry Salmon Burgers
Pan-frying salmon burgers is a simple cooking method that requires a bit less prep than grilling. While you won’t get the charring or grill marks that are iconic on a salmon burger patty, pan-frying will give the salmon patties a subtle golden sheen on the exterior.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add just enough oil to cover the bottom of the pan.
- When oil is sizzling hot, arrange thawed or frozen patties in a single layer. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 4 to 5 minutes.
- Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy.
Air Fryer Frozen Salmon Burgers
FAQ
How do you cook frozen salmon burgers in the air fryer?
Air fry the salmon burgers for 12 to 13 minutes, flipping halfway through. You can check for doneness around 10 minutes, depending on the size of your patties.
How to cook a frozen salmon burger?
From Frozen
Place burgers on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake burgers in oven for 26-28 minutes, flipping halfway. Grill/BBQ: Preheat grill with burners set to medium heat. Cook burgers for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway.
How do you cook frozen burgers in an air fryer?
Can you cook frozen salmon burgers in an air fryer?
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly grease your baking sheet with your preferred high-temp cooking fat. Bake frozen salmon burgers for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cooking frozen salmon burgers in the air fryer is nearly identical to cooking it in an oven. The only difference is that you can cook the burgers in less time.
Can salmon burgers be frozen?
Cooked salmon burgers can be frozen for 2-3 months. Let cool completely before freezing in an airtight bag or container. Reheat frozen burgers in the air fryer or microwave. Cooking frozen salmon burgers in the air fryer is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get delicious, healthy burgers on the dinner table.
Are air fryer salmon burgers healthy?
Air fryer salmon burgers are a healthy way to change up your regular burger night. Made with frozen wild-caught Alaskan salmon, they’re a Whole Lotta Yum!
Are air fryer salmon patties good?
Air Fryer Salmon Patties are so good! Growing up with a fisherman as a father, I have a deep appreciation for wild-caught Alaskan salmon. These air fryer salmon patties are high quality, flavorful and delicious. Definitely don’t just go for any old salmon burger, the key here is starting with a quality frozen burger.
How long do you cook frozen salmon burgers?
The cooking time for frozen salmon burgers can vary depending on the size and thickness of the patties. Generally, it is recommended to cook them for about 4-5 minutes per side on medium heat or until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). Can I put frozen salmon in my air fryer?
Can You reheat frozen salmon burgers?
To reheat from frozen, just place the frozen air fried salmon burgers on a sheet pan and bake in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes or until warm. Can You Use Any Brand of Frozen Salmon Burgers? Yes, any brand of salmon burgers will cook perfectly in the air fryer. Do You Have To Defrost The Burgers?