Air Fryer Minute Steak: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious

Yes, you can cook a minute steak in an air fryer. It's a quick, easy, and convenient way to cook a tasty steak. The air fryer is also versatile, allowing you to cook your steak to your desired level of doneness, from rare to well done.

How to cook minute steak in an air fryer

Minute steak is a great, budget-friendly option for a tasty steak meal. It's super simple to make, quick, and packed full of flavour. Plus, it's healthier than the usual pan-fried steak, with less oil and mess.

Ingredients:

• Minute steak (or any steak of your choice)
• Salt and black pepper
• Oil of your choice (around 5ml) or spray oil/non-stick cooking spray
• (Optional) Your favourite steak seasoning or a simple dry rub of salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 180-200°C (355-400°F) for 2 minutes. This will help you achieve a nice sear on your steak.
• Pat your steaks dry with a kitchen towel and bring them to room temperature before cooking. This will enhance the flavour and help the steaks cook more evenly.
• Use a pastry brush or your hands to coat the steaks in oil, ensuring an even coverage.
• Season the steaks with salt and cracked black pepper, or your chosen seasoning/dry rub.
• Place the steaks in the air fryer basket and cook for 4-6 minutes for a medium-rare steak. For a medium steak, cook for 6-8 minutes. You may not need to flip the steaks, as they are thin and will cook through quickly.
• Remove the steaks from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute and the fibres to relax, resulting in a moist and flavoursome steak.
• Serve with your choice of sides and sauces.

Tips:

• To avoid overcooking, stick to the temperature and timing guidelines provided. Cooking for longer at a lower temperature can result in a tough or chewy steak.
• Minute steaks are usually very thin (around 1/4 inch thick). Thinner steaks cook faster but may not get a chance to brown, so a higher temperature is ideal.
• Resting your steak after cooking allows it to relax and lets the juices distribute evenly. Any leftover juices can be added to sauces or marinades.
• If you want to be sure your steak is cooked to your desired level of doneness, use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature.

Side Dish Suggestions:

• Air fryer chips or potato wedges
• Air fryer green beans, roasted tomatoes, frozen French fries, or onion rings
• Microwave or pressure cooker rice
• Salad or roasted vegetables

Steak seasoning

Seasoning a steak before air frying is an important step in the cooking process. It not only adds flavour but can also enhance the texture and colour of the meat. Here are some tips and tricks for seasoning your steak before air frying:

Choose Your Oil

The first step in seasoning your steak is to choose an oil that will complement the meat. You can use a mild-flavoured oil like olive oil, or go for something like avocado oil or butter. Brush the oil onto the steak or use your hands to rub it in, making sure to get an even coating.

Salt and Pepper

Salt and pepper are classic steak seasonings and can be used generously. You can also add some cracked black pepper for an extra kick. If you're using a steak seasoning blend, look for one that contains salt and pepper as base ingredients, such as Montreal steak seasoning.

Fresh and Dried Herbs

Fresh herbs like rosemary, thyme, and parsley can add subtle flavour and colour to your steak. You can also use dried herbs like oregano or parsley. Alternatively, you can serve your steak with a compound butter, such as garlic herb butter, to add a decadent touch.

Spices

If you want to give your steak a smoky flavour, try adding spices like smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper. A pinch of sugar can also help to balance the salty flavours and create a gorgeous caramelised crust.

Steak Sauce

Don't forget to choose a delicious sauce to serve with your steak! Peppercorn sauce, chimichurri, Diane sauce, beef gravy, and tomato ketchup are just a few options. You can also make a flavoured butter, such as garlic butter, to keep your steak juicy and enhance its flavour.

Steak doneness levels

• Rare: Internal temperature between 125°F and 130°F.
• Medium-rare: Internal temperature between 130°F and 140°F.
• Medium: Internal temperature between 140°F and 150°F.
• Medium-well: Internal temperature of 150°F.
• Well-done: Internal temperature of 160°F.

It is important to note that the cooking time for a steak in an air fryer will depend on the thickness of the steak and the desired doneness level. For example, a 1-inch steak cooked in an air fryer at 400°F will take about 10 to 14 minutes for a rare steak, 10 to 12 minutes for a medium-rare steak, and so on.

Additionally, it is recommended to preheat the air fryer to 400°F before placing the steak inside. This helps to create a nice sear on the outside of the steak, locking in the juices. It is also important to flip the steak halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking on both sides.

When cooking steak in an air fryer, it is best to cook based on internal temperature rather than time since equipment varies. However, a general rule of thumb is that thicker steaks take longer to cook and result in a more delicious steak because the outside gets brown and crisp while the inside is cooked to the desired doneness.

Steak side dishes

There are a variety of side dishes that you can make in an air fryer to accompany your minute steak. Here are some ideas:

Vegetables

• Green beans
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Carrots
• Brussels sprouts
• Roasted sweet peppers and onions
• Roasted okra
• Kale chips
• Eggplant/aubergine
• Radishes
• Corn on the cob
• Zucchini/courgette chips
• Roasted cauliflower
• Roasted tomatoes
• Roasted pineapple

Potatoes

• Baked potatoes
• Potato wedges
• Sweet potato fries
• Fingerling potatoes
• Mashed potato cakes
• Tater tots
• Hash browns
• Potato skins
• Potato chips
• French fries
• Hasselback potatoes
• Truffle polenta fries
• Breakfast potatoes
• Frozen potato smiles

Other

• Onion rings
• Cheeseburger onion rings
• Texas toast
• Stuffing balls
• Pizza puffs
• Mushroom roll-ups
• Samosas
• Latkes
• Plantains

Steak marinade

Yes, you can cook minute steak in an air fryer. Here are some tips and tricks for making the most of your air fryer and cooking a delicious steak.

A good steak marinade will enhance the flavour of your meat and keep it juicy. Here are some tips and recipes for making a great steak marinade:

• A simple marinade of oil, salt and pepper is a great way to season your steak and ensure a juicy, flavoursome finish. You can use olive oil, butter or a neutral oil, and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• If you have more time, you can marinate your steak for 2-24 hours in the fridge. A good marinade recipe is 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/3 cup coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce), 1 garlic clove (minced), and 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary. Always marinate in the refrigerator and turn the steak once or twice so that all sides are coated evenly.
• You can also add a pinch of sugar to balance the salty flavours and help create a caramelized crust.
• Try a marinade of liquid smoke, soy sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, chilli powder, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt and pepper.
• For a simple soy sauce marinade, mix 1/2 cup of low-sodium soy sauce with 1/3 cup of vegetable oil, 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 2 teaspoons of Italian seasoning and 1 teaspoon of ground black pepper.
• If you like a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes, smoked paprika or cayenne pepper to your marinade.
• Fresh herbs like rosemary, parsley, thyme or oregano will add a lovely flavour to your steak.

Cooking Your Steak:

• Pat your steaks dry with kitchen paper before you start.
• Bring your steak to room temperature before cooking. This will help it cook more evenly and enhance the flavour.
• Preheat your air fryer to 180C-200C (355F-400F) for 2 minutes to get a good sear on your steak.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave space between the steaks so that they cook evenly.
• You don't need to flip minute steaks, as they are so thin, but thicker cuts should be flipped to ensure an even cook.
• For a medium-rare steak, cook for 6 minutes, then turn and cook for another 2 minutes. For medium, add another 2 minutes, and 2 more minutes for well-done.
• Always let your steak rest for a few minutes after cooking. This will allow the juices to be evenly distributed and ensure your steak is moist and flavoursome.

Sides and Sauces:

• Air fryer chips, potato wedges, green beans, roasted tomatoes, onion rings or garlic butter are great side dishes to serve with steak.
• Peppercorn sauce, chimichurri, Diane sauce, beef gravy, tomato salsa, or a garlic and herb dip are all great sauce options.

Frequently asked questions