# Burgers cooking times

How long to cook burgers: **4–5 min per side pan-fried, 5–6 min per side under the grill, 4–5 min per side on the barbecue and 10–12 min in an air fryer at 180°C**. Every way to cook it is below, with the temperature and how to tell it’s done.

Source: https://feastflow.co.uk/burgers-cooking-times (FeastFlow free cooking-time guides). Last checked 11 November 2026.

## How long to cook burgers

Times are for beef burgers about 2 cm thick (quarter-pounders, 113 g).

Burgers: cooking times by method:

| Method | Time | Heat | How |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Pan-fry](https://feastflow.co.uk/pan-frying-times) | 4–5 min per side | over a medium-high heat | In a little oil; turn once. Add cheese for the last minute, with a lid on. |
| [Grill](https://feastflow.co.uk/grilling-times) | 5–6 min per side | under a hot grill | – |
| [Barbecue](https://feastflow.co.uk/bbq-cooking-times) | 4–5 min per side | over hot direct heat | Don’t press them down: the juices drip out. |
| [Air fryer](https://feastflow.co.uk/air-fryer-cooking-times) | 10–12 min | 180°C (350°F) | Turn halfway. From frozen, 12–15 minutes. |
| [Oven](https://feastflow.co.uk/oven-cooking-times) | 15–20 min | 200°C (180°C fan), 400°F, gas 6 | On a rack over a tray; turn halfway. |

## Before you start

Press a dimple into the middle of homemade burgers so they don’t dome. Season just before cooking. Frozen burgers can cook from frozen; add a few minutes.

## How to tell it’s done

No pink in the middle and the juices run clear.

**Food safety:** Cook mince, burgers and sausages all the way through, to 71°C (160°F), with no pink left in the middle.

## Questions

### How long to pan-fry burgers?

4–5 min per side over a medium-high heat. In a little oil; turn once. Add cheese for the last minute, with a lid on.

### How long to grill burgers?

5–6 min per side under a hot grill.

### How long to barbecue burgers?

4–5 min per side over hot direct heat. Don’t press them down: the juices drip out.

### How long to cook burgers in an air fryer?

10–12 min at 180°C (350°F). Turn halfway. From frozen, 12–15 minutes.

### How long to cook burgers in the oven?

15–20 min at 200°C (180°C fan), 400°F, gas 6. On a rack over a tray; turn halfway.

---

Times are a guide for typical home portions: ovens, air fryers, microwaves and sizes vary. Check meat, poultry and fish with a thermometer. Safe temperatures follow USDA and UK Food Standards Agency guidance.

FeastFlow also plans a whole meal backwards from serving time, with every dish timed and oven temperatures that don’t clash: https://feastflow.co.uk/