Air Fryer Frozen Steak: Is It Possible?

You can cook frozen steak in an air fryer and it will be just as juicy and tasty as a fresh steak. The air fryer can be a surprisingly simple way to prepare a mouthwatering steak. Some experts recommend cooking steak from frozen as thawing can produce tougher meat. You can cook a frozen steak in an air fryer in under 30 minutes.

How to season a frozen steak

Yes, you can cook a frozen steak in an air fryer and it will taste just as good as fresh. It's the best way to cook a steak straight from frozen. You can't marinate a frozen steak, and the seasonings don't have as much time to penetrate, so it requires more seasoning than you may be used to.

Remove the steak from its packaging

Take the steak out of the freezer and remove the packaging.

Slightly thaw the steak

Place the steak in the air fryer and slightly thaw it for about 4 minutes. This is an optional step, but it will help the seasoning stick to the steak.

Season the steak

Spritz or brush the steak with olive oil or oil of your choice on one side. You can also spritz with cold water if you don't want to use oil. Apply half of your desired seasoning blend. Some seasoning suggestions include salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, Italian seasoning, or Montreal steak seasoning.

Place the steak in the air fryer

Place the steak, seasoned side down, in the air fryer basket or on the rack. Spritz or brush the other side of the steak with oil or water and liberally apply the rest of the seasoning blend.

Cook the steak

Turn on the air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F/200°C. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steak and your desired level of doneness. As a guide, a 1" steak will take about 20 minutes for medium-rare. Flip the steak halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.

Rest the steak

When the cooking time is up, turn off the air fryer and let the steak rest inside for 5 minutes. This allows the steak to finish cooking using residual heat and helps it reach the perfect temperature.

Check the internal temperature

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak. For medium-rare, you're aiming for 125°F, while 136°F is medium, and 154°F is well-done.

Slice and serve

If the steak is within a few degrees of your desired temperature, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a cutting board. Let it rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Enjoy your juicy, tender, and delicious air-fried frozen steak!

How long to cook a frozen steak for

Yes, you can cook a frozen steak in an air fryer. The cooking time will depend on the level of doneness you want to achieve, the thickness of the steak, and the temperature of the air fryer.

For a rare steak, cook for around 10 minutes. For a medium-rare steak, cook for 12-14 minutes. If you prefer your steak medium, cook for 16 minutes. A medium-well steak will take 20 minutes, and a well-done steak will take 22 minutes. These cooking times are for a 1-inch thick steak cooked at 400°F/200°C.

If you are cooking a thinner steak, reduce the cooking time. For example, a 1/2-inch thick steak will only need 3-5 minutes for rare and 5-7 minutes for medium-rare. On the other hand, if you are cooking a thicker steak, you may need to increase the cooking time.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on your specific air fryer, so it is always a good idea to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your steak. Aim for an internal temperature of 120-130°F for rare, 130-135°F for medium-rare, 135-145°F for medium, 145-155°F for medium-well, and 155-165°F for well-done.

Additionally, it is recommended to preheat your air fryer before adding the steak. This will help you achieve a good sear on the steak. Also, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket and avoid flipping the steak during cooking to ensure proper searing.

The best cuts of steak for air frying from frozen

Air frying a frozen steak is a quick and easy way to cook a delicious, juicy steak. It is also a surprisingly simple way to prepare a mouthwatering fresh steak. Some experts recommend cooking steak from frozen, as thawing can produce tougher meat.

• Ribeye
• Sirloin
• Filet
• Strip loin
• Flatiron

The extra fat and marbling in ribeye add flavour to the steak and result in a juicier piece of meat. Sirloin and filet are leaner cuts, so you won't have the benefit of the fat that renders and bastes the meat as it cooks. Tougher cuts like round steak are less suited to the dry cooking environment of an air fryer.

The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak and how well you like it cooked. Thicker steaks will require longer cooking times, and rare to medium-rare will require less time than medium-well to well-done.

How to defrost a frozen steak in an air fryer

What You'll Need:

• Frozen steak
• Air fryer
• Olive oil or vegetable oil
• Meat thermometer (optional)
• Aluminium foil
• Sea salt (optional)

Step 1: Prepare the Steak

Take your steak out of the freezer and remove any packaging. Spritz or brush the steak with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. You can also add any other herbs and spices you like—just remember that you'll need to use about 50% more seasoning than you normally would.

Step 2: Air Fry the Steak

Place the steak in the air fryer and set the temperature to 400°F/200°C. For a 1" thick steak, air fry for 10 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through to ensure even cooking. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your steak and your desired level of doneness. A meat thermometer can be helpful to check if your steak is done.

Step 3: Rest the Steak

Once the steak is cooked to your desired level of doneness, turn off the air fryer and let the steak rest inside for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, tender steak.

Step 4: Serve the Steak

Transfer the steak to a cutting board and slice it against the grain. You can sprinkle it with some flaky sea salt before serving to add a little extra flavour. Enjoy your perfectly cooked steak!

How to cook multiple steaks in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook multiple steaks in an air fryer! Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Preparation

Before you start, make sure your steaks are at least 1 inch thick. Thinner steaks may cook too fast and won't get a chance to brown. If your steaks are frozen, you don't need to defrost them, but cooking from frozen may result in a tougher meat texture.

If your steaks are frozen together, it is best to separate them before cooking. If they are in one bag, they will be difficult to cook correctly from frozen.

If your steaks are not frozen, let them get to room temperature 30 minutes before cooking for the best results.

Pat your steaks dry with paper towels to remove moisture, which will help them brown rather than steam.

Spritz or brush the steaks with olive oil or oil of your choice on one side, then apply half of your chosen seasoning. Place the steaks in the air fryer basket, seasoning-side down. Spritz or brush the other side of the steaks with oil and season liberally.

Cooking

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C.

Place the steaks in the air fryer and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steaks and your desired level of doneness. For thicker steaks, you may need to increase the cooking time.

Resting

After cooking, remove the steaks from the air fryer and let them rest on a plate for at least 5 minutes. This allows the steaks to finish cooking and ensures the juices are distributed evenly.

Serving

You can serve your steaks with simple vegetable side dishes such as salads, potatoes, asparagus, green beans, or French fries. Enjoy!

Frequently asked questions