Air-Fried Roast Beef: A Tasty, Quick Treat

Yes, you can cook roast beef in an air fryer! It's a quick and easy way to get a tender, juicy roast beef with a beautifully caramelized crust. The best cuts of beef for air frying include topside, rump roast, sirloin roast, or boneless ribeye.

To cook roast beef in an air fryer, first, take the beef out of the fridge and coat it with oil, salt, and pepper. Let it sit for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature. Preheat your air fryer to around 380-400°F. Place the beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-15 minutes at this high temperature to sear the outside and create a lovely crust.

Then, lower the temperature to around 300-350°F and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes, or until the beef is cooked to your desired level of doneness. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the beef—rare beef should be 120-125°F, medium-rare 125-135°F, medium-well 135-150°F, and well-done 160°F.

Once the beef has reached your desired temperature, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 15-20 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to reabsorb into the meat, keeping it succulent.

Choosing the right cut of beef

Tenderness

As air frying involves cooking at high temperatures, it is best to opt for naturally tender cuts of beef that can withstand quick cooking without drying out. Tougher, connective tissue-heavy cuts like chuck roast or brisket are not ideal as they require slow cooking to break down the connective tissues and become tender.

Cooking Time

The cooking time for your roast beef will depend on the cut of beef you choose. Tougher cuts with a lot of connective tissue, such as bottom round or rump roast, may take longer to cook and are better suited for slow roasting. On the other hand, leaner cuts like eye of round can cook more quickly and are important not to overcook to maintain tenderness.

Size

You'll want to choose a roast that fits comfortably in your air fryer basket with a little space around it for air circulation. A roast that is too large may not fit properly and could impact cooking time and results. Aim for a roast weighing around 2-3 pounds, which is usually a good size for most air fryers.

Marbling

For juicy and flavourful roast beef, choose a cut with a bit of marbling, which is the amount of intramuscular fat in the meat. A good amount of marbling will help keep the beef moist and add flavour during the cooking process.

Recommended Cuts

Some recommended cuts of beef for air frying include:

• Top sirloin roast: Naturally tender, very flavourful, and cooks beautifully to medium or medium-rare.
• Eye of round roast: Leaner choice that is economical and cooks evenly but be careful not to overcook.
• Top round roast: Also known as top rump, this cut has great beefy flavour but tends to be tougher, so cook rare to medium-rare and slice thin against the grain.
• Sirloin roast: Tender and suitable for special occasions.
• Boneless ribeye (scotch fillet): Tender and great for special occasions.

Marinating the beef

Choosing the Right Beef Cut:

Select a good-quality roasting joint with a little marbling of fat. Avoid cheaper cuts that require long cooking times, as they are more suitable for slow cooking methods. Some recommended cuts for air frying include topside (top-round roast), rump roast, sirloin roast, or boneless ribeye (scotch fillet).

Preparing the Marinade:

For a delicious homemade marinade, whisk together the following ingredients:

• Minced garlic
• Beef broth
• Brown sugar
• Hoisin sauce

You can also add some heat with spices or chillies if you prefer a spicier flavour profile.

• Remove any twine from the roast and slice it into 3-4 pieces. The thickness of the slices will depend on your preferred level of doneness, with thicker slices resulting in rarer meat.
• Place the beef slices into a gallon-sized storage bag.
• Pour the marinade into the bag, ensuring that all the meat is coated.
• Lay the bag flat in the refrigerator and allow the meat to marinate for 24 hours.

Cooking the Marinated Beef:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Place 2 slices of marinated beef into the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap.
• Cook for 10 minutes, then flip the slices over and cook for an additional 5 minutes for a medium-well centre. Adjust the cooking time if you prefer your beef rarer or more well-done.
• Remove the beef from the air fryer and allow it to rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes before slicing. This resting period helps maintain the juiciness of the meat.

Preparing the air fryer

Before you start, make sure your air fryer is clean and dry. You can line the air fryer basket with a liner, although this is optional. Some recipes suggest using aluminium foil to catch the juices and create a gravy, but this is not necessary.

You will need to preheat your air fryer. Most recipes suggest preheating to between 380 and 400°F for about 5 to 10 minutes. If your air fryer does not have a preheat function, set it to air fry for 3 to 4 minutes.

While the air fryer is preheating, pat the beef joint dry with paper towels and allow it to come to room temperature. Check that the joint fits into your air fryer—you may need to slice a larger joint in half.

Brush or rub the beef with oil. Olive oil is a popular choice, but you can use any cooking oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable or avocado oil.

Apply a rub or seasoning to the beef. You can use salt and pepper, or a mix of herbs and spices such as rosemary, thyme, dried garlic, dried mustard powder, or dried rosemary. You can also use a commercial steak seasoning.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time and temperature for roasting beef in an air fryer depend on the size of the beef, the desired level of doneness, and the type of air fryer being used. Here is a general guide:

• Rare: Cook for 13 minutes per pound or 15 minutes per 500g. Aim for an internal temperature of 120°F-125°F/49°C-52°C.
• Medium-rare: Cook for 18 minutes per pound or 20 minutes per 500g. Aim for an internal temperature of 125°F/52°C to 135°F/57°C.
• Medium: Cook for 23 minutes per pound or 25 minutes per 500g. Aim for an internal temperature of 130°F/55°C.
• Medium-well: Cook initially for 18-23 minutes per pound or 20-25 minutes per 500g, then check the internal temperature and cook in 5-minute intervals until the desired level of doneness is reached. Aim for an internal temperature of 135°F/57°C to 140°F/60°C.
• Well-done: Cook for 23-28 minutes per pound or 25-30 minutes per 500g. Aim for an internal temperature of 160°F/71°C.

It is important to note that these are general guidelines, and the exact cooking times may vary depending on the shape and thickness of the beef joint, as well as the specific model of the air fryer being used. It is always recommended to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the beef and adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Additionally, for a good sear and a juicy interior, it is recommended to preheat the air fryer to a high temperature of around 400°F/200°C for the first 10-15 minutes to create a crust, and then reduce the temperature to around 350°F/180°C for the remaining cooking time.

Resting and serving the beef

After resting, use a sharp chef's knife or carving knife to cut thin slices against the grain. This will ensure the beef is tender.

The beef can be served with a variety of side dishes, such as:

• Roast potatoes
• Yorkshire pudding
• Gravy
• Steamed vegetables
• Mashed potatoes
• Green beans
• Brussels sprouts
• Salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, blue cheese, and red onion

Frequently asked questions