Air Fryer Frozen Steak: How Long To Cook?

Cooking a frozen steak in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious meal. The air fryer's convection-style cooking keeps the steak tender and juicy, and the best part is that you don't have to wait for the steak to thaw! The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steak and your desired level of doneness. On average, it takes around 18 minutes to cook a frozen steak in an air fryer, but this can vary depending on the cut and your personal preferences.

How to season a frozen steak

Air frying a frozen steak is a quick and easy way to cook a delicious meal. While seasoning a frozen steak has its challenges, there are ways to ensure your steak is full of flavor.

Choosing your Seasoning

The seasonings you use are completely up to you. At the very least, it is recommended to use sea salt or kosher salt and black pepper. You can also use a combination of salt, pepper, rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano. Other options include Italian seasoning or a Montreal steak seasoning.

How Much Seasoning to Use

When seasoning a frozen steak, it is a good idea to be a little more generous than you usually would be. This is because the seasonings will not be able to penetrate the meat as they would with a thawed steak. It is suggested to use about 1.5 times the amount of seasoning you would normally use (except for salt).

Coating the Steak

Before applying the seasoning, it is important to coat the steak with oil so that the seasonings will stick. You can use any kind of oil you like, or even spritz the steak with cold water if you can't use oil.

Step-by-Step Guide

• Remove your steak from the freezer and take off the packaging.
• Spritz or brush the steak with oil or water.
• Apply your chosen seasoning liberally to the steak.
• Place the steak in the air fryer, following the manufacturer's instructions for cooking frozen meat.
• Cook until the steak reaches your desired internal temperature.
• Let the steak rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips

• Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your steak.
• Allow the steak to rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing to ensure the juices stay inside.
• If you are cooking multiple steaks, make sure they fit comfortably in the air fryer. You may need to cook them in batches.
• If your steaks are frozen together, you can air fry them together to thaw and then separate them before seasoning and cooking further.

How to cook a frozen steak

Ingredients and Equipment

You will need the following ingredients and equipment to cook a frozen steak in an air fryer:

• Steak (e.g. ribeye, sirloin, strip loin, flatiron)
• Oil (e.g. olive oil, vegetable oil)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Other seasonings (optional)
• Air fryer
• Meat thermometer (optional)

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare the Steak

• Remove the steak from its packaging.
• Brush or spritz both sides of the steak with oil.
• Generously season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings such as garlic powder, dried rosemary, or a steak rub. When seasoning a frozen steak, use at least 50% more seasoning than you normally would for a thawed steak.

Step 2: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 360-400°F (180-200°C) for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Cook the Steak

• Place the steak in the air fryer basket.
• Cook the steak for 18-20 minutes for medium-well, flipping it halfway through. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the steak, whether it has a bone, and your desired doneness. For a rare steak, cook for 12 minutes, and for a well-done steak, cook for closer to 20 minutes.
• Check the internal temperature of the steak with a meat thermometer. A rare steak should have an internal temperature of 120°F (50°C), medium-rare 130-139°F (54°C), medium 140°F (60°C), medium-well 150°F (65°C), and well-done 160°F (70°C).

Step 4: Rest the Steak

Remove the steak from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. Resting the steak allows the juices to redistribute and prevents excess juice loss.

Step 5: Serve the Steak

Serve the steak with your favorite side dish, vegetables, or salad. Enjoy!

Tips

• It is best to put food into a hot air fryer basket, so preheating is recommended.
• Letting the steak rest for a few minutes after cooking will result in a more tender and juicy steak.
• You can cook multiple steaks in the air fryer at the same time, as long as they are not crowded in the basket.
• If you like your steak well done, you may want to consider thawing it first, as cooking a frozen steak for a longer time may dry it out.

How to cook a frozen steak rare

Ingredients:

• Frozen steak (any cut of your choice)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Olive oil
• Butter (optional)

Method:

Take out your frozen steak and remove it from its packaging. Spritz or brush the steak with olive oil. Season generously with salt and pepper on both sides. You can also add any other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder, dried rosemary, or steak rub.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C. Place the steak in the air fryer and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side for a rare steak. For a rare steak, the internal temperature should be 120°F/50°C.

Once the steak is done to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. This will ensure that the juices redistribute and the steak stays juicy.

If desired, you can add butter or compound butter to the steak 2 minutes before removing it from the air fryer.

Tips:

• It is important to use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak to ensure it is cooked to your desired doneness.
• Letting the steak rest after cooking is crucial to prevent excess juice loss and ensure a juicy, tender steak.
• You can cook any type of steak in the air fryer, including ribeye, sirloin, T-bone, and filet.
• The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the steak, so adjust accordingly. Thinner steaks will require less time, while thicker steaks will need longer.
• If you are cooking multiple steaks, ensure they are not overcrowded in the air fryer to ensure even cooking.

Enjoy your perfectly cooked, juicy, rare steak!

How to cook a frozen steak medium-rare

Ingredients:

• Frozen steak (e.g. ribeye, sirloin, strip loin, flatiron)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Oil (vegetable or olive)
• Butter (optional)

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Meat thermometer (optional)
• Tongs

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes.
• Remove the steak from its packaging.
• Brush or spray both sides of the steak with oil.
• Season generously with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings such as garlic powder, dried rosemary, or a steak rub.
• Place the steak in the air fryer.
• Cook for 5-7 minutes.
• Flip the steak using tongs. Be careful not to puncture the steak with a fork, as this will cause it to lose its natural juices.
• Cook for another 5-7 minutes.
• Check the internal temperature of the steak with a meat thermometer. For medium-rare, it should read 120°F-125°F.
• Turn off the air fryer and let the steak rest for 5 minutes.
• (Optional) Top the steak with butter or compound butter before serving.

Tips:

• The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steak. A thinner steak will take less time, while a thicker steak will take longer.
• If you like your steak rare, cook for a shorter time. For a well-done steak, cook for a longer period.
• It is important to let the steak rest for a few minutes before cutting into it to prevent excess juice loss.
• Make sure to season the steak generously, as the seasonings will not penetrate as much as they would with a thawed steak.

How to cook a frozen steak medium-well

Ingredients and Equipment:

• Frozen steak (e.g. ribeye, sirloin, strip loin, flatiron)
• Olive oil or oil of your choice
• Salt and pepper
• Other seasonings of your choice (e.g. garlic powder, dried rosemary, steak rub)
• Meat thermometer
• Air fryer

Step-by-Step Guide:

• Remove the steak from its packaging.
• Brush or spritz both sides of the steak with oil.
• Generously season both sides of the steak with salt and pepper, and any other desired seasonings. Use at least 50% more seasoning than you normally would for a thawed steak, as the flavours won't penetrate as much.
• Preheat your air fryer to 360-400°F.
• Once the air fryer is preheated, place the steak inside.
• For a medium-well steak, cook for around 18 minutes in total, flipping the steak halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steak and how well done you like it, so use a meat thermometer to check that it's cooked to your preference.
• When the steak is done, turn off the air fryer and let the steak rest inside for 5 minutes. This will allow the steak to finish cooking and help retain its juices.
• Remove the steak from the air fryer and let it rest for another few minutes before slicing and serving.

Tips:

• It's best to use a meat thermometer to check that your steak is cooked to your desired level of doneness. For a medium-well steak, the internal temperature should be around 150°F.
• If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can estimate the cooking time based on the thickness of your steak. A thinner steak (around 0.5-0.75 inches thick) will take around 10-12 minutes for medium-well, while a thicker steak (1-1.5 inches) will take around 12-15 minutes.
• Always let your steak rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing, to prevent excess juice loss.
• If you like a crispy exterior, you can quickly sear the outside of the frozen steak with a propane torch before seasoning and air frying.

Frequently asked questions