Step 1

Gently shape the ground beef into four 1-inch-thick patties. Editor's Tip: When shaping the patties, lightly wet your hands with cold water to keep the beef from sticking to your hands. Be careful not to overwork the meat. You want the patties to have an even thickness, but you don’t have to squash or press the meat together. It will hold its shape on its own.

Step 2

Press a divot in the center of each patty. Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Editor's Tip: The divot helps prevent the patties from shrinking as they air-fry.

Step 3

Preheat the air fryer to 350°. Sprinkle the patties with salt and pepper. Then, arrange the burgers in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook until a thermometer reads 160°, three to five minutes on each side. Serve air-fryer hamburgers on buns with toppings as desired. Editor’s Tip: The burgers won't cook properly if they overlap, so cook them in batches if they don't all fit in the basket at once.