Tiffany Haney
Cooking beef in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve a juicy, tender roast with a perfectly cooked centre. The duration of cooking depends on the type of beef, the size of the cut, and the desired level of doneness. For a medium-rare steak, a 1-inch-thick cut should be cooked for 10 minutes, while a medium steak of the same thickness will take 12 minutes. For larger cuts, such as a roast, cooking times can range from 40 to 75 minutes, depending on the weight and desired doneness.
Cooking Beef in an Air Fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Beef type | Leaner sirloin, rib eye, skirt steak, steak bites, frozen roast beef, beef joint |
| Beef weight | 1.5 lb, 2-3 lb, 2 1/2 lb |
| Beef thickness | 1-inch thick |
| Seasoning | Olive oil, salt, pepper, dried rosemary, thyme, basil, onion granules, mustard powder, steak seasoning |
| Air fryer temperature | 320-400°F, 200-380°F, 350°F, 180°C, 220°C |
| Cooking time | 10-12 minutes for medium-rare steak, 40-75 minutes for roast beef |
| Resting time | 5-30 minutes |
| Calories | 221 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 0.5 g |
| Protein | 39.5 g |
| Fat | 7 g |
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What You'll Learn
Cooking times for rare, medium-rare, medium, and well-done beef
The cooking time for beef in an air fryer depends on the thickness of the cut and the desired level of doneness. It's recommended that steaks be at least 1 inch thick, as thinner steaks may cook too fast and not brown properly. For steaks that are 1 inch thick, the following cooking times are recommended:
Rare
Rare steaks should have an internal temperature between 125°F and 130°F. If your steak is 1 inch thick and you want it rare, you should cook it for less than 10 minutes.
Medium-Rare
For a medium-rare steak with an internal temperature between 130°F and 140°F, cook a 1-inch-thick steak in a preheated air fryer for 10 minutes, flipping it halfway through. If you're cooking a roast, you can achieve a medium-rare interior by cooking the beef for 30 minutes after flipping it halfway.
Medium
A medium steak should have an internal temperature between 140°F and 145°F. For a 1-inch-thick steak, cook it in the air fryer for 12 minutes, flipping halfway. For a roast, cook the beef for 40 minutes after flipping it halfway.
Well-Done
Well-done steaks should have an internal temperature of 160°F. To achieve this, cook your steak for longer than 12 minutes, flipping it halfway. For a roast, you can cook the beef for 50 minutes or more, checking the temperature every 5 minutes until it reaches your desired level of doneness.
It's important to note that cooking times may vary depending on the model of your air fryer, so it's always a good idea to use a meat thermometer to check the doneness of your steak or roast and adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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How to prevent beef from drying out in the air fryer
The key to preventing beef from drying out in the air fryer is to ensure that it retains moisture during the cooking process. Air fryers use hot air circulation to cook food, which can cause the moisture within the food to evaporate quickly, leading to dryness. Here are some tips to prevent this:
Choose the Right Cut of Beef
Select a good-quality roasting joint with a little marbling of fat. Cheaper cuts of beef may require longer cooking times, making them more prone to drying out in the air fryer.
Adjust the Temperature and Timing
Higher temperatures and longer cooking durations can contribute to dryness. Start with lower temperatures and shorter cooking times, and adjust as needed based on your air fryer model and the type of beef you're cooking. For a steak, a 1-inch thick cut cooked to medium-rare typically takes around 10 minutes in a preheated air fryer, flipping it halfway through. For a medium steak of the same thickness, increase the cooking time to 12 minutes, still flipping halfway.
Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheating the air fryer allows the food to start cooking immediately, reducing the overall cooking time and the chance of drying out. Most air fryers have a preheat function, so use it to your advantage.
Add Moisture
Adding a little extra oil or butter to the beef before cooking can help combat dryness. This may seem counterintuitive, as air fryers are typically dry-heat appliances, but that extra moisture will keep the meat basted and prevent it from losing flavour. You can also try marinating or brining the beef before air-frying to enhance its moisture retention.
Protect with a Barrier
Using a physical barrier, such as tinfoil or parchment paper, can help prevent moisture loss by reducing the direct exposure of the beef to the hot air. Wrapping the beef in foil will result in slightly longer cooking times, so be sure to account for this when planning your meal.
Flip or Shake the Beef
Evenly cooking the beef will help prevent any one side from drying out. Flip or shake the beef during the cooking process, depending on the recipe. For steaks, flipping halfway through the cooking time is generally recommended.
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Beef preparation and seasoning
To prepare your beef for cooking in an air fryer, first take it out of the fridge and pat it dry. Leave it to come to room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Check that the joint fits into your air fryer—if it's too big, you can always slice it in half.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C/380°F for 10 minutes. If you're cooking a frozen roast, you can skip this step. You can also preheat at a higher temperature than your cooking temperature to speed up the cooking process.
Brush the beef with olive oil or another type of oil. You can also use a dry rub, which will help the beef brown. You can then season the beef. A simple combination of salt and pepper will work, but you can also add herbs like thyme, rosemary, or basil, or onion granules and mustard powder. You can also marinate the beef before cooking to enhance its flavour and juiciness, especially if you're using a lower grade of beef.
Place the beef in the air fryer basket. If you're cooking a frozen roast, turn the temperature to 330°F. For a fresh joint, reduce the temperature to 350°F/180°C/320°F and cook for 30 minutes. For a 1-inch steak, cook for 10 minutes for medium-rare, flipping halfway, or 12 minutes for medium. For a larger roast, adjust the cooking time accordingly.
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Beef temperature and when to flip it
When cooking beef in an air fryer, it's important to consider the type of beef and your desired level of doneness. For a good sear and an even cook, you should flip your beef halfway through the cooking process. The timing of this will depend on the thickness of your beef and the desired level of doneness.
For a 1-inch-thick steak, cook for 10 minutes and flip halfway at the 5-minute mark for a medium-rare steak. If you prefer your steak medium, cook for 12 minutes and flip halfway at the 6-minute mark. Adjust the cooking time accordingly for thicker or thinner steaks.
For a beef joint, the cooking time will depend on the size of the joint and your desired level of doneness. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F /200°C for 10 minutes. Brush the beef with olive oil and season to taste. Place the beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. Then, reduce the temperature to 350°F / 180°C and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness. For a medium-rare joint, cook for 30 minutes, and for medium-well done, cook for 40 minutes.
To ensure your beef is cooked to your desired level of doneness, it's recommended to use a meat probe or an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the beef. The temperature will continue to rise slightly as the beef rests, so factor this into your cooking time. For a medium-rare steak, aim for an internal temperature of 125°F-130°F. For a well-done steak, the internal temperature should reach 160°F.
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Reheating beef in the air fryer
Reheating beef in an air fryer is a quick and convenient way to get a juicy steak that's crispy on the outside and warm on the inside. It's important to note that, for food safety reasons, meat can only be reheated once. So, if you have a lot of steak to reheat, do it in batches.
First, remove your leftover steak from the refrigerator and pat it dry. It's best to get it out around 20 to 30 minutes before reheating so that it can come to room temperature. This helps the steak cook evenly.
Next, place the steak in the air fryer basket. If you're cooking more than one, make sure they're not touching. A light spray or brush of olive oil will help the steak reheat quickly and stay juicy, but it's optional. You can also add steak seasoning if you like.
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F/190°C for 2-3 minutes. Place the basket in the fryer and cook in 2-3 minute intervals. After each interval, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer, flip the steak, and continue reheating until the steak reaches at least 110°F/43°C in the centre of the thickest part. Thinner steaks will reheat faster, so cook similar-sized pieces of meat together.
You can also reheat sliced steak or steak bites in the air fryer, but the reheating time will be shorter.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes around 40-45 minutes to cook beef in an air fryer.
It takes around 10 minutes to cook a 1-inch steak in an air fryer for medium-rare. For a medium steak, cook for 12 minutes.
Cooking the beef at a high temperature will create a crust on the exterior. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F /200°C for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350°F / 180°C.
Take the beef out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Pat the beef dry and rub with oil, salt, and pepper.
Choose a tender cut of beef with a bit of marbling, such as a top sirloin roast, prime rib roast, or top-round roast.
