Tillie Doyle
Oxtail is a tough cut of meat that is traditionally braised or stewed over a long period to break down the meat fibres. However, some people are curious about whether it is possible to cook oxtail in an air fryer. The answer is yes, it is possible to cook oxtail in an air fryer, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, air fryers circulate hot air around the food, which can dry out the meat if not done properly. To combat this, it is recommended to marinate the oxtail overnight and add beef broth during cooking to keep the meat moist and tender.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Possibility of cooking oxtail in an air fryer | Yes |
| Need for pressure cooking or baking | No |
| Marination | Required, preferably overnight |
| Trimming of excess fat | Required, but leave some for flavor |
| Temperature | 325°F for 90 minutes or 400°F for 15-20 minutes |
| Broth | Beef broth to be added every 25-30 minutes |
| Internal temperature | 160°F |
| Garnish | Chopped chives |
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What You'll Learn
Maringating oxtail overnight
Yes, you can cook oxtail in an air fryer. However, it is important to note that oxtails are typically braised or stewed over a long period to break down the meat fibres, with the stock or liquid helping to keep the meat moist. Since air fryers circulate hot air around the food, the meat can dry out quickly.
To mitigate this, you can brown the meat first and then add some stock and cover it with a lid or foil. Alternatively, you can use a small heatproof dish that fits inside your air fryer and add stock to it, ensuring the oxtail is not submerged.
Now, for marinating oxtail overnight:
Firstly, clean the oxtail and trim the excess fat, leaving some fat on for flavour. Then, prepare the marinade. While there are various marinade recipes available, a common list of ingredients includes brown sugar, salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, parsley, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, tomato, oregano, tomato paste, red chilli pepper, onion, green bell pepper, green onion, Cajun seasoning, and beef broth. Combine these ingredients in a food processor or blender and pulse until well incorporated.
Place the oxtail and marinade in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. The next day, transfer the oxtail and marinade to a baking dish that fits your air fryer. For an air fryer that is at least 7QT, an 8-inch ramekin baking dish is recommended. Add an additional 1/4 cup of beef broth to the dish and cook at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes, stirring every 25-30 minutes to prevent the liquid from drying out.
For larger oxtails, extend the cooking time and add 1/2 cup of beef broth for every 25-30 minutes of cooking. The oxtails are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use a kitchen thermometer to check the temperature.
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Trimming excess fat
While it is possible to cook oxtail in an air fryer, the meat typically requires a long cooking time to break down the meat fibres. Oxtails are usually braised or stewed, with the stock or liquid helping to keep the meat moist. As such, air frying oxtails can cause the meat to dry out.
To prevent this, one method is to trim the excess fat from the oxtails before cooking. This can be done by cleaning the oxtails and removing the fat with a knife. It is recommended to leave some fat on the meat for flavour.
Another way to remove excess fat is to chill the cooked oxtails overnight, allowing the fat to solidify on the surface. The solidified fat can then be carefully removed without taking too much of the gelatinous broth. This method is useful if your oxtail stew is too oily, as it helps to salvage the dish.
Additionally, when cooking oxtails in an air fryer, it is important to add liquid to the dish to prevent drying out. This can be done by adding stock or beef broth to the oxtails during the cooking process.
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Braising and air frying
Oxtails are usually braised or stewed over a long period to break down the meat fibres. Braising involves searing the oxtail first to lock in the flavours, then cooking it slowly in a broth until it is tender. Since oxtails are a very tough cut of meat, they need to be cooked slowly and submerged in liquid to prevent them from drying out.
Air fryers are not typically designed to hold sufficient liquid to submerge an oxtail, so a few adjustments need to be made to the traditional braising method. One option is to brown the meat first and then add some stock, covering the air fryer basket with foil. However, this method may not produce the same tender results as traditional braising.
To achieve the desired tenderness, it is recommended to marinate the oxtails overnight before air frying. This helps to compensate for the lack of pressure cooking or baking. The oxtails should be cleaned and the excess fat trimmed, although some fat can be left on for flavour. The marinade should be made by combining salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, parsley, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, tomato, oregano, tomato paste, red chilli pepper, brown sugar, onion, green bell pepper, green onion, Cajun seasoning, and beef broth in a food processor or blender. The oxtails are then combined with the marinade in an airtight container and refrigerated overnight.
After marinating, the oxtails are placed in the air fryer. For larger oxtails, the cooking time should be extended, and the air fryer basket should be checked every 25-30 minutes to ensure that the meat does not dry out. It is also important to add more beef broth as needed to prevent the meat from burning or becoming rubbery. The oxtails are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit, which can be checked with a kitchen thermometer.
Finally, for a crispy exterior, the tender oxtails can be placed in the air fryer basket and cooked for an additional 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, being sure to flip them halfway through. The oxtails can then be drizzled with melted butter before serving.
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Using a heatproof dish
Oxtails are traditionally braised or stewed over a long period to break down meat fibres, with the stock or liquid helping to keep the meat moist. As air fryers circulate hot air around the food, they are not designed to hold a sufficient quantity of liquid to submerge an oxtail.
One way to cook oxtails in an air fryer is to use a heatproof dish, such as a small Pyrex or a ramekin baking dish, that fits inside your air fryer. First, brown the meat uncovered, then add some stock and cover with a lid or foil. You will need at least a cup or two of stock, and you can always top up the level during cooking if required.
To prepare the oxtails, clean the meat and trim the excess fat, leaving some fat on for flavour. Then, combine salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, parsley, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, tomato, oregano, tomato paste, red chilli pepper, brown sugar, onion, green bell pepper, green onion, Cajun seasoning, and beef broth in a food processor or blender. Pulse until well incorporated.
Place the oxtail and all of the marinade in an airtight container and refrigerate overnight. Transfer the oxtail and marinade to the heatproof dish and add an additional 1/4 cup of beef broth. For larger oxtails, you will need to extend the cooking time and add more broth to prevent the meat from drying out. The oxtails are ready when they reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Adding stock
While it is possible to cook oxtail in an air fryer, the standard design of air fryers means that they cannot hold a sufficient amount of liquid to submerge the oxtail, which is necessary to prevent the meat from drying out. Oxtails are typically braised or stewed over a long period, with the stock or liquid helping to keep the meat moist.
To add stock when cooking oxtail in an air fryer, one suggestion is to use a small heatproof dish that fits inside the appliance. First, brown the meat uncovered, then add some stock and cover with a lid or foil. You will need at least a cup or two of stock, and you can top up the level during cooking if needed. This method closely resembles the traditional way of cooking oxtail.
Another option is to braise the oxtail in beef bone broth first, until it is tender, and then finish it off in the air fryer to add a crispy texture. This method combines slow braising with the quick crisp of the air fryer, resulting in a dish with a deep, savoury flavour and a satisfying texture.
Additionally, when cooking oxtail in an air fryer, it is important to monitor the liquid level and add more stock or broth if necessary. For larger oxtails, the cooking time should be extended, and the air fryer should be opened every 25-30 minutes to stir and add more liquid. This ensures that the oxtail does not dry out, burn, or become rubbery.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can cook oxtail in an air fryer. However, oxtails are typically braised or stewed over a long period to break down meat fibres, and air frying may dry out the meat.
First, clean the oxtail and trim the excess fat. Then, leave the oxtail to marinate overnight in a mixture of salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, parsley, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, olive oil, tomato, oregano, tomato paste, red chilli pepper, brown sugar, onion, green bell pepper, green onion, Cajun seasoning, and beef broth. Finally, transfer the oxtail and marinade to a heatproof dish and cook in the air fryer at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 90 minutes, or until the oxtail reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Oxtails are typically braised or stewed over a long period to break down meat fibres, with the stock or liquid helping to keep the meat moist. However, you can also cook oxtail in an air fryer if you are looking for a crispy exterior.
