Air-Fried London Broil: A Tasty, Healthy Treat

London broil is a cooking method for a lean, thick cut of beef, typically top round steak or flank steak. It involves marinating and quickly cooking the meat at high heat. While traditionally prepared by grilling or broiling, London broil can also be cooked in an air fryer, resulting in a tender, juicy, and flavorful steak with a crispy exterior.

To make London broil in an air fryer, start by marinating the steak for at least an hour or preferably overnight. You can use a blend of soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs as your marinade. After marinating, pat the steak dry, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper or your favorite steak seasoning. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and place the steak in the air fryer basket, ensuring proper air circulation. Cook for about 12-15 minutes per pound of meat, aiming for an internal temperature of 135°F (57°C) for medium-rare or 145°F (63°C) for medium. Once it reaches your desired level of doneness, remove the steak from the air fryer and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Marinating the meat

Place the London Broil in a resealable bag and pour in your chosen marinade. Massage the marinade into the meat, ensuring it is evenly coated. It is recommended to let the meat marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour, but preferably eight hours or overnight, to maximise flavour.

If you're short on time, you can skip the marinade and simply rub your chosen seasonings onto the meat before placing it in the air fryer. However, marinating the meat will result in a more tender and flavourful steak.

• A blend of red wine vinegar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, fresh chopped parsley, fresh chopped oregano, and ground black pepper.
• Balsamic vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, less sodium soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried crushed rosemary, and dried thyme.

Preheating the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process, and it's no different when making a London broil. Here are some detailed instructions and tips for preheating your air fryer to ensure a perfect London broil:

Step-by-Step Guide to Preheating:

• Turn on the Air Fryer: Before you begin, ensure that your air fryer is plugged in and ready to use. Check if there are any specific instructions or recommendations in the manual that you should follow.
• Use the Preheat Button: Many modern air fryers come with a preheat button. Simply press this button, set the desired cooking temperature, and wait for the air fryer to reach that temperature.
• Manual Preheating: If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat button, you can manually preheat it. Set the temperature to 400 °F (204 °C) or the cooking temperature specified in your London broil recipe. Let the air fryer heat up for 3 to 5 minutes.
• Consider the Food You're Cooking: The decision to preheat or not can depend on the type of food you're cooking. Preheating is ideal for foods you want to be crispy, such as fried chicken, french fries, or even bacon. It's also suitable for thinly cut meats, reheating precooked or frozen foods, and baking.
• Avoid Preheating for Thick Cuts of Meat: On the other hand, if you're cooking thick cuts of meat, it's best not to preheat your air fryer. Placing the meat in the air fryer before turning it on can help it cook more evenly, preventing the outside from burning while the inside is still raw.

Tips for Preheating:

• Follow the Manual: Always refer to your air fryer's instruction manual for specific guidelines and precautions. Some models may advise against preheating, so it's crucial to read the instructions carefully.
• Keep the Basket In: Ensure that the air fryer basket is inside the unit while preheating. This ensures that all parts of the air fryer are heated evenly.
• Don't Use Parchment Paper: Never preheat your air fryer with parchment paper alone, as it may burn without food weighing it down.
• Preheat Time: Preheating an air fryer typically takes around 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the model.

By following these instructions and tips, you'll be able to preheat your air fryer effectively and cook your London broil to perfection. Remember to adjust the preheating temperature and time based on your specific air fryer model and the recipe you're following.

Seasoning the London broil

Seasoning a London broil is a crucial step in ensuring that the meat is tender and flavourful. Here are some tips and suggestions for seasoning your London broil before air frying:

Marinade:

While some recipes suggest that a marinade is not necessary, most recommend marinating the meat for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours for the best results. A good marinade will help to tenderise the meat and infuse it with flavour. Here is a simple marinade recipe:

• 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp fresh chopped oregano
• 1/2 tbsp fresh thyme
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

Combine the above ingredients with olive oil and pour over the steak in a casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or up to 24 hours.

Dry Rub:

If you prefer a dry rub, you can simply rub the steak with olive oil and then sprinkle with your chosen seasonings. Here are some suggested seasonings:

• Montreal steak seasoning
• Salt and pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Red pepper flakes
• Smoked paprika
• Turbinado sugar
• Ancho chilli powder
• Dry mustard
• Italian seasoning
• Granulated garlic powder

Tips:

• Wrapping the steak in plastic wrap after applying the olive oil and dry rub can help to pack in more flavour.
• If you have the time, let the steak come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before placing it in the air fryer.

Cooking the meat

London broil is a cooking method, not a specific cut of meat. It typically refers to a top round steak or flank steak. This cut of meat is lean and can be tough, so it's important to get the cooking method right.

To cook London broil in an air fryer, start by marinating the meat. This is an essential step to infuse the meat with flavour and tenderise it. Choose a marinade with ingredients like soy sauce, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs. Place the meat in a resealable bag, pour in the marinade, and massage it into the meat. Leave it to marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour, or preferably overnight.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. While the air fryer is warming up, remove the meat from the marinade and pat it dry with paper towels. Drizzle olive oil over the steak, ensuring it is well coated, and season with salt and pepper or your favourite steak seasoning.

Now it's time to cook the London broil. Place the seasoned steak in the air fryer basket, making sure there is enough space around it for hot air to circulate. The cooking time will depend on the weight and thickness of the meat, as well as your desired level of doneness. As a general guideline, cook the steak for about 12-15 minutes per pound of meat. For medium-rare, aim for an internal temperature of 135°F (57°C), and for medium, aim for 145°F (63°C). Remember that the steak will continue to cook as it rests.

Once the steak has reached your desired level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for about 10 minutes. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a juicy and flavourful steak. After resting, thinly slice the London broil against the grain and serve it with your favourite sides.

London broil cooked in an air fryer will be tender, flavourful, and hassle-free. It's a convenient and efficient way to cook this dish, resulting in a juicy steak with a crispy exterior.

Resting and serving

Once your London broil has reached your desired level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for about 10 minutes. This is an essential step as it allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a juicy and flavorful steak.

After resting, cut the London broil into thin slices. If you want to get fancy, you can cut the steak at an angle. It is important to cut the meat against the grain.

London broil pairs well with a variety of sides, such as roasted vegetables, mashed potatoes, a fresh salad, soft buttery rolls, sautéed mushrooms, or rice pilaf. You can also serve it with a dipping sauce like a decadent cowboy butter sauce, ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing.

If you have any leftovers, wrap the steak in aluminium foil or plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Frequently asked questions