Air-Frying Steaks: The Nuwave Way

Cooking steak in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a tasty meal. Air fryers can be used to cook steak to perfection, with a crispy crust on the outside and a tender, juicy inside. The NuWave Oven is an infrared oven that uses three different systems simultaneously: infrared, conduction, and convection. This allows for the steak to be fully cooked without burning the outside. You can cook steak in a NuWave Brio Air Fryer Oven, a Gourmea Air Fryer, or a Power Air Fryer, among others.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Preheating your air fryer is a good idea if you want to achieve a crispy and crunchy texture on your steak. It's also beneficial if you're looking to reduce the cooking time. Most air fryers, including the Nuwave, preheat to 400°F in around three to five minutes.

To preheat your air fryer to 400°F, start by setting the temperature to 400°F. If your air fryer has a preheat button, press it. If not, you can manually preheat it by following the same process as preheating an oven: set the temperature, leave the basket in, and press start or preheat. Let the air fryer warm up for the desired amount of time—around three to five minutes—before placing your food in the basket.

If you're cooking a thin cut of meat, like a shaved steak, preheating your air fryer is a great way to get a perfect sear. The high temperature will crisp up the edges while the inside cooks, giving your steak that desirable brown crust.

However, if you're cooking a thick slab of meat, placing it in the air fryer before turning it on is recommended. This will help the meat cook evenly, preventing it from burning on the outside before the inside is done.

Remember, preheating is not always necessary. It depends on the specific recipe and your personal preference. Some foods, like delicate shrimp or garlic and tomatoes, may dry out or burn if cooked in a preheated air fryer. In those cases, it's better to cook them slowly without preheating.

Season the steak with salt, pepper, and garlic

Yes, you can cook steaks in the Nuwave air fryer. To make a delicious steak in your Nuwave air fryer, you'll want to start by seasoning the meat. Seasoning a steak is a crucial step in enhancing its natural flavors and making it more tender.

Seasoning the steak with salt, pepper, and garlic is a simple yet effective way to amplify the flavors. Here's a step-by-step guide:

• Start with a generous amount of salt: Sprinkle salt on both sides of the steak. Kosher salt is recommended for its prime absorption qualities, but sea salt or regular table salt can also be used. Ensure there's an even coating, like a "skin-tight t-shirt" made of salt and pepper.
• Let it rest: Allow the steak to rest at room temperature for about 30-45 minutes after salting. This process, known as dry brining, draws out moisture, creating a brine that gets reabsorbed during cooking, tenderizing the meat.
• Add pepper and garlic: Just before cooking, season the steak with freshly ground black pepper and garlic powder or fresh garlic. You can also add other spices like minced onion, rosemary, or thyme at this stage.
• Press the seasoning: Instead of rubbing the seasoning, press it gently into the meat with your palm. This helps distribute the seasoning evenly and prevents clumping, ensuring a consistent flavor in every bite.
• Sear and cook: Once the steak is well-seasoned, you can sear it in a heated skillet before placing it in the Nuwave air fryer. Set the air fryer to 390-400°F, and cook the steak for 10-15 minutes, depending on your desired doneness.
• Let it rest again: After air frying, let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This prevents overcooking and ensures the juices redistribute, resulting in a juicy and tender steak.

Remember, when seasoning a steak, it's easy to go overboard. A less-is-more approach is generally recommended, as too much seasoning can overpower the natural flavors of the meat. Additionally, the type of steak and your personal preference for seasoning intensity should be considered. Thicker cuts of steak (1.5-2 inches) can handle more generous seasoning.

Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through

Cooking steak in a NuWave air fryer is a fast and convenient approach that delivers healthy and tasty results. It's a simple process that only requires a few steps. Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. While you're waiting for it to heat up, rub your steaks with olive oil on each side and season them with salt and pepper or your choice of spices. You can also add some Italian seasoning for a classic taste.

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to cook your steaks. Place them into the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap so that the air can circulate evenly. Set the timer for 10-12 minutes, depending on your desired doneness, and flip the steaks halfway through. For a medium-rare steak, 10 minutes is sufficient, while a medium steak will take 12 minutes. If you prefer your steak well-done, you might need to cook it for up to 15 minutes.

While cooking, the NuWave air fryer uses infrared, conduction, and convection to ensure your steak is cooked perfectly. The infrared penetrates the food, the conduction cooks it like a conventional oven, and the convection circulates hot air to create a crispy crust. This combination ensures that your steak is juicy and tender on the inside with a delicious seared exterior.

Once the timer goes off, remove the steaks from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a perfect cook. You can serve your steaks with a side of garlic butter or your favourite sides. Enjoy your perfectly cooked, juicy air-fried steaks!

Let the steak rest for 5-10 minutes before serving

Allowing your steak to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving is an essential step in the cooking process. This step is necessary to ensure your steak is juicy and tender. During cooking, the heat causes the muscle fibres in the steak to contract, squeezing the juices towards the centre of the steak. If you cut into a steak straight from the grill, the juices will spill out onto your plate. However, if you wait a few minutes before slicing, the steak will have cooled down, the muscle fibres will relax, and the juices will redistribute throughout the meat.

The amount of resting time depends on the size and thickness of your steak. A good rule of thumb is to rest your steak for 5 minutes for every inch of thickness or 10 minutes for every pound. For thinner cuts of meat, 5-7 minutes should be enough, whereas thicker cuts should rest for 10-20 minutes. If you are in a rush, 5-7 minutes should be the minimum resting time, but ideally, you should let the steak rest for at least 10 minutes.

While the steak is resting, you can prepare a sauce, make a salad, or get your sides ready. You can also use this time to set the table or relax with a refreshing beverage. It is best to rest your steak in a warm area, but there is no need to cover it. Covering the steak with foil can trap heat a little too well, resulting in overcooked meat. However, if you are resting the steak for a longer period, you can loosely tent it with foil to retain warmth.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature

Yes, you can cook steaks in the Nuwave air fryer. To ensure your steak is cooked to your desired doneness, it is important to use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature. Here is a guide on how to do it:

First, ensure you have the right thermometer for the job. You want to use a thermometer designed for meat, not for other foods like candy. The easiest type to use is the Instant-Read Thermometer, which can give you a quick reading when inserted into the food after it has been removed from the heat source. Most digital thermometers can accurately read when inserted about half an inch into the food.

When checking the internal temperature of your steak, aim for the centre of the steak but keep in mind that you do not have to hit the exact centre. The centre of the steak is the coolest point, but because meat is not a homogeneous sphere, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact centre. Instead, you can slowly retract the thermometer through the meat to find the minimum temperature point. This is the temperature reading you should go by.

To check the temperature, pick up the steak with tongs and slide the probe into the side of the steak until the tip reaches the middle. Give the thermometer about 5 seconds to settle on a temperature. If you are aiming for a final internal temperature of 125°F, you should remove the steak from the heat when it reaches 120°F. Then, place the steak on a plate and cover it with aluminium foil for 5 minutes to let everything come to a uniform temperature.

It is important to note that the temperature of your steak will continue to rise even after it has been removed from the heat. This is known as "carryover cooking". To avoid overcooking your steak, it is recommended to remove it from the heat about 10 degrees before it reaches your desired temperature. This will allow the juices to redistribute and ensure your steak is cooked to perfection.

Frequently asked questions