Air-Fried Roast Beef: A Quick, Easy, And Delicious Treat

Yes, you can make roast beef in an air fryer! It's a quick and easy way to cook roast beef, with most recipes taking under an hour. The air fryer's high temperature creates a tasty crust on the outside of the beef, while the meat stays tender and juicy on the inside.

Choosing the right cut of beef

Marbling and Fat Content:

Look for a cut of beef with a nice marbling of fat. This helps to keep the meat moist and juicy, adding to the overall flavour. A good amount of marbling indicates a tender cut that is suitable for the quick cooking time in an air fryer.

Leaner Cuts:

If you prefer a leaner cut of beef, go for options like top round roast, eye of round roast, or sirloin tip roast. These cuts are leaner and healthier but may require a longer cooking time to break down the connective tissues. They are perfect for thin slices of roast beef and are often used for sandwiches.

Tender and Flavourful Cuts:

For a tender and flavourful roast, consider cuts like prime rib roast, ribeye roast, or sirloin roast. These cuts are well-marbled and full of flavour. They tend to be more expensive but will deliver a juicy and tender roast.

Cheaper Alternatives:

If you're on a budget, try cuts like rump roast, chuck roast, or beef bolar blade. These cuts may require slower cooking methods and lower temperatures to break down the connective tissues and achieve optimal tenderness.

Size of the Cut:

Remember to choose a cut of beef that fits your air fryer. Larger cuts may need to be sliced in half to fit properly.

Preparation and Cooking Tips:

• Always bring your beef to room temperature before cooking.
• Pat the beef dry and rub it with oil before seasoning.
• Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and ensure your roast is cooked to your desired level of doneness.
• Let the roast beef rest for at least 10-30 minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute and keep the meat tender.

With these tips in mind, you can choose the perfect cut of beef for your air fryer roast beef and enjoy a delicious, tender, and juicy meal.

How to prepare the beef

Preparing roast beef in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to get a tasty, tender roast without drying out the meat. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Choosing the Beef

First, choose a good-quality joint of beef. Look for a joint with a little marbling of fat. Avoid cheaper cuts that require long cooking times, as these are more suitable for slow cookers or crockpots. Instead, opt for a tender cut with good marbling, such as a top sirloin roast, prime rib roast, rump roast, or top-round roast. If you are serving a large group, you may need to slice the joint in half to ensure it fits in your air fryer.

Preparing the Beef

Take the beef out of the fridge 30 minutes to an hour before cooking to allow it to come to room temperature. Pat the beef dry with paper towels, then rub or brush the surface with oil. You can use any type of cooking oil with a high smoke point, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.

Next, season the beef. You can use just salt and pepper, or create a herb mixture with salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and garlic powder. Sprinkle or press the seasoning mix over the beef, ensuring that all sides are well coated.

Cooking the Beef

Preheat your air fryer to a high temperature, around 400°F/200°C. Place the beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 5-15 minutes to create a seared crust on the outside of the meat. Then, reduce the temperature to around 350°F/180°C and cook for a further 30-40 minutes, depending on how well done you like your beef.

To check if the beef is cooked to your liking, use a meat thermometer to gauge the internal temperature. Rare beef should be 125°F, medium-rare 135°F, medium-well 150°F, and well done 160°F. Remove the beef from the air fryer when it reaches around 5 degrees lower than your desired temperature, as the temperature will continue to rise while the meat rests.

Resting the Beef

Once the beef is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and cover it loosely with foil. Let the beef rest for 10-30 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring your roast beef is tender and juicy.

Cooking times and temperatures

The cooking time for roast beef in an air fryer will depend on the size of your beef joint and your desired level of doneness. As a rule of thumb, estimate the cooking time as follows:

• Rare: 13 minutes per pound / 15 minutes per 500g
• Medium: 18 minutes per pound / 20 minutes per 500g
• Well-done: 23 minutes per pound / 25 minutes per 500g

For a medium-rare roast, aim for an internal temperature of 125°F / 52°C, and for a medium roast, aim for 130°F / 55°C. Check the temperature towards the end of the cooking time, and remember that the temperature of the meat will continue to rise while it rests, so pull it out a few degrees early.

• One source recommends cooking a 2-3lb roast beef in the air fryer for 40-42 minutes, flipping it about 15 minutes into cooking.
• Another source provides a more detailed guide based on the desired level of doneness:
• Rare: 120-125°F (48-52°C)
• Medium rare: 130°F (54°C) (rest from 123°F / 51°C)
• Medium: 140°F (60°C) (rest from 134°F / 57°C)
• Medium-well: 150°F (65°C) (rest from 143°F / 62°C)
• Well done: 155°F (68°C) (rest from 149°F / 65°C)
• One recipe for a 1.5lb round roast recommends air frying for 40 minutes at 320°F / 160°C for medium to medium-rare.
• Another recipe for a 2.5lb roast recommends preheating the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C and then cooking the roast for 10-15 minutes at this temperature to create a crust, followed by cooking for 30 minutes at 350°F / 180°C.
• A final recipe recommends preheating the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C and then cooking the roast for 5 minutes at this temperature, followed by cooking for 30-40 minutes at 360°F / 180°C.

Remember that cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model, so it's always a good idea to check the temperature of your roast beef with a meat thermometer and adjust the cooking time as needed. Also, note that the roast beef will continue to cook and increase in temperature while it rests, so remove it from the air fryer a few degrees before it reaches your desired temperature.

Resting the beef

Resting the roast beef is a crucial step in the cooking process. This allows the meat's muscle fibres to relax and gives the juices time to redistribute throughout the meat. If you cut the roast beef immediately after cooking, the juices will run out, resulting in dry meat.

When cooking red meat, it is recommended to let it rest for a minimum of 5 minutes for a small steak, and up to 30 minutes for a large roast. The resting time depends on the size of the joint and the cooking method. For air-fried roast beef, it is best to let the meat rest for at least 10-15 minutes, or 20-30 minutes if you are aiming for a more relaxed approach. This will ensure the meat is juicy and tender when served.

During the cooking process, the muscle fibres of the meat firm up and release water. This moisture migrates towards the meat's surface, and if you cut into the meat right after cooking, it will pool out. Allowing the meat to rest gives the moisture a chance to reabsorb into the meat, preserving its juiciness.

While the roast beef is resting, you can use the air fryer to cook side dishes like roast potatoes, roasted vegetables, or pigs in blankets.

What to serve with roast beef

There are many side dishes that can accompany roast beef, here are some suggestions:

• Yorkshire puddings
• Roast potatoes
• Roasted carrots
• Roasted asparagus
• Mashed potatoes
• Green beans
• Roasted vegetables
• Bread
• Salad
• Horseradish sauce
• Gravy
• Glazed carrots
• Creamed spinach
• Mashed potatoes with garlic and olive oil
• Roasted okra
• Honey-squash dinner rolls
• Lemon-butter brussels sprouts
• Mac and cheese
• Collard greens with bacon
• Roasted beets with goat cheese and walnuts
• Maple-glazed carrots
• Butternut squash with onions and pecans
• Air fryer green beans
• Instant pot garlic mashed potatoes
• Roasted carrots and asparagus
• Classic green bean casserole
• Greek potatoes
• Creamy sprouts with bacon

Frequently asked questions