Air-Fried Fillet Steak: A Quick, Juicy Delight

Cooking the perfect fillet steak in an air fryer is an easy way to achieve a juicy, tender, and delicious steak without the need for an oven or grill. With minimal preparation and cooking time, this method is a great way to cook a melt-in-your-mouth steak to your desired doneness. The key to success is in the seasoning, temperature, and timing, and you can enjoy a restaurant-quality steak in under 20 minutes.

Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Fillet Steak in an Air Fryer

Choosing the right cut of steak

Thickness

The thickness of the steak will impact how evenly it cooks in the air fryer. Steaks that are at least 1 inch thick are recommended for optimal cooking. Thinner steaks may overcook, while thicker ones may take longer to cook through.

Marbling

Marbling refers to the fat content within the meat. Steaks with good marbling, such as ribeye, tend to stay juicier and more flavourful after air frying. Look for steaks with white flecks of fat dispersed throughout the meat.

Cut

Some popular cuts that are well-suited for air frying include:

• Filet mignon: Known for its tenderness, rich flavour, and melt-in-your-mouth texture. It is cut from the smaller end of the tenderloin.
• Ribeye: The marbling in this cut ensures a juicy result, and the fat renders during cooking, creating a flavourful exterior.
• Sirloin: A versatile choice that offers a good balance of flavour and price. Top sirloin is more tender, while bottom sirloin is larger, leaner, and slightly tougher.
• New York strip
• T-bone
• Porterhouse
• Cube steak: This cut benefits from marination due to its toughness.

Temperature

It is important to let your steak come to room temperature before cooking, typically for around 30 minutes. This helps the steak cook more evenly and ensures a less tough texture.

Preparing the steak for cooking

Firstly, it is important to allow your steak to come to room temperature before cooking. Remove the steak from the refrigerator about 20 to 30 minutes ahead of cooking. This step helps to ensure your steak cooks evenly and improves its texture. While the steak is sitting at room temperature, you can begin preheating your air fryer to 400°F or 200°C.

Once your steak has adjusted to room temperature, it is time to pat it dry using a paper towel or a clean cloth. This step helps the oil and seasonings adhere better to the steak. After patting the steak dry, brush or drizzle a generous amount of olive oil, avocado oil, or another neutral oil on both sides of the steak. Alternatively, you can use butter for a crispier exterior.

The next step is seasoning. Season your steak generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or minced rosemary to enhance the flavor. If you want a more aromatic steak, you can try fresh herbs like thyme, sage, or parsley. Additionally, a pinch of sugar can help balance the salty flavors and create a caramelized crust.

If you want to take your steak to the next level, you can make a compound butter. Soften some butter to room temperature and mix it with ingredients like rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, minced parsley, or salt. You can spread this flavored butter on your steak before or after cooking, adding a delicious boost of flavor.

Finally, when your steak and air fryer are ready, place the steak in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave some space between multiple steaks to ensure even cooking. You can now proceed to cook your fillet steak to your desired doneness.

Cooking the steak

Firstly, remove your steaks from the fridge and allow them to come to room temperature for 20-30 minutes before cooking. This will ensure your steak is less tough and will help it cook evenly.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 400 °F. If you are using an oven model, you can transfer the seasoned fillets to the racks of the air fryer at this stage. For basket models, you will add the steaks after seasoning.

Now, season your steaks. Pat the steaks dry with a paper towel, then drizzle or brush olive oil onto the steaks, coating both sides. Season generously with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with minced rosemary, or another herb of your choice, to coat. You can also add other seasonings, such as garlic powder and onion powder, or a steak rub.

Once preheated, place the seasoned steaks in the air fryer basket, leaving space between them to allow for even cooking. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak and how well-done you like your steak. As a general rule, thicker steaks will require a longer cooking time. For a 1-inch steak, cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. For a 2-2.5 inch steak, it will take around 15 minutes for a medium-rare finish.

To check if your steak is cooked to your liking, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For a rare steak, the internal temperature should be 120-130 °F, for medium-rare, 130-135 °F, for medium, 140 °F, for medium-well, 150 °F, and for well-done, 160 °F.

Once your steak has reached the desired internal temperature, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and the steak to become more tender. Simply transfer it to a plate and cover it loosely with foil. Let it rest for about 5 minutes, then serve.

You can also add a slice of garlic herb butter on top of your steak before serving. To make this, combine butter, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl and mix well.

Resting the steak

The amount of time you should let the steak rest depends on the thickness of the steak and how well-done you like it. A thinner steak cooked to a lower internal temperature will need less time to rest than a thicker steak cooked to a higher internal temperature. As a general rule, let the steak rest for about 5 minutes. If you have cooked your steak to medium-rare, it should rest for 3-5 minutes. For a thicker steak cooked to well-done, you may want to let it rest for up to 10 minutes.

While the steak is resting, you can prepare any sides or sauces that you will be serving with it. Some great sides to serve with your air-fried fillet steak include roasted vegetables, such as carrots, broccoli, or asparagus, mashed potatoes, or a salad. You can also serve your steak with a slice of garlic herb butter, or top it with blue cheese crumbles for a creamy, funky finish.

Serving suggestions

Once you've cooked your fillet steak in an air fryer, there are endless ways to serve it. Here are some suggestions:

• With a baked potato and vegetables: This is a classic combination that will complement the steak's flavour and texture. You can bake a potato in your air fryer, achieving a crisp skin with a fluffy centre. Try sweet potatoes or potatoes au gratin for a variation. Serve with roasted vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, asparagus, or a side of thyme-roasted radishes and onions.
• With a salad: Slice the steak thinly and serve it over a bed of mixed greens for a refreshing salad. You can also add watermelon, cucumber, or broccoli to your salad for a healthy and tasty option.
• With mashed potatoes: For a hearty and comforting meal, serve your steak with mashed potatoes. You can also make loaded mashed potatoes with butter, cheese, or gravy.
• With fries: For a classic steakhouse-style meal, serve your steak with fries or crispy roasted potatoes. You can also make sweet potato fries in your air fryer and toss them in smoked paprika, Cajun seasoning, or BBQ seasoning.
• With a baguette: For a tasty steak crostini, serve your steak on top of a baguette slice with melted cheese. You can also try it with Texas Toast.
• With a compound butter: Top your steak with a pat of herb butter, such as garlic butter or garlic herb butter, for added flavour and juiciness. You can make your own compound butter by combining butter with rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, or salt.
• With a sauce: Drizzle your steak with a balsamic glaze or cover it with a creamy sauce like alfredo or cheese sauce. You can also try it with gravy or your favourite steak sauce.
• With a side of bread: Serve your steak with a side of garlic bread or air fryer bread, such as Texas Toast.

Frequently asked questions