Emilie Meyer
Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance due to their convenience and versatility. They work by circulating hot air around food, creating a crispy exterior similar to deep-fried dishes without the need for excessive oil. When it comes to cooking meat in an air fryer, there are several factors to consider, such as the type and cut of meat, the desired doneness, and the size of the air fryer basket. Different meats, such as chicken, beef, pork, and lamb, will have varying cooking times and temperatures to achieve the desired level of doneness, whether it's rare, medium-rare, or well-done. Additionally, preparing and seasoning the meat properly, as well as flipping it halfway through the cooking process, are crucial steps to ensure even cooking and browning.
Air Fryer Cooking Times for Meat
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pre-cooking | Take meat out of the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking to let it come to room temperature. |
| Preparation | Brush with oil, season with salt and pepper, and add any other seasonings. |
| Cooking time and temperature | Cooking times and temperatures vary depending on the type and cut of meat, and the desired level of doneness. For example, a medium-rare steak should be cooked at 400°F for 10 minutes, while a rare beef joint should be cooked at 425ºf for 15 minutes and then at 210ºf for 45 minutes. |
| Cooking tips | Flipping the meat halfway through cooking helps to ensure even cooking and prevents overcooking or burning. Using a liner in the air fryer basket is optional but can help to catch any drippings. |
| Post-cooking | Let the meat rest for a few minutes after cooking to allow the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibers to relax, enhancing the flavor and texture. |
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What You'll Learn
Cooking times for steak
The cooking time for steak in an air fryer depends on the desired level of doneness, the thickness of the steak, and the wattage of the air fryer. For a 1-inch-thick steak, cook for 10 minutes at 400°F for a medium-rare steak, flipping the steak halfway through. For a more well-done steak, cook for 12 minutes at the same temperature, again flipping halfway. If you prefer your steak rare, reduce the cooking time to 6-8 minutes. You can also check the doneness of your steak by using a meat probe or an instant-read thermometer. The thickest part of the steak should register 125°F for rare, 130 to 135°F for medium-rare, and 140°F for medium.
It is important to preheat your air fryer for at least 10 minutes before adding the steaks. This ensures that the outside of the steaks gets browned nicely, similar to searing. You can also rub a little oil on the steaks to help them brown better. Additionally, make sure your steaks are at least 1 inch thick, as thinner steaks may cook too fast without browning properly.
For larger cuts of beef, such as a 1.25 kg beef topside roasting joint, you can roast at 220ºC/425ºF for 15 minutes, and then turn down the temperature to 100ºC/210ºF and cook for an additional 45 minutes for a rare joint.
Different types of steak, such as ribeye or New York strip, may also have slightly different cooking times due to variations in size and bone-in versus boneless cuts. Adjust the cooking time accordingly and always use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature of your steak to ensure it is cooked to your desired level of doneness.
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Cooking times for chicken
When cooking chicken in an air fryer, the temperature and cooking time will depend on the type and size of the chicken cut.
Chicken Breasts
Chicken breasts are lean and benefit from high-temperature baking for a shorter period of time. The ideal temperature for air frying chicken breasts is 375°F (190°C). The total cook time will depend on the size of the chicken breasts. Smaller breasts (about 6 ounces each) will need only around 8 minutes total, while larger ones may need 14 or more minutes. It is recommended to remove the chicken from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 155-160°F (68-71°C) and let it rest for 5-10 minutes, as the residual heat will bring it to the safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
Chicken Thighs
Chicken thighs can be cooked in the air fryer with the skin on or off. For skin-on thighs, preheat the air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and cook for 20 minutes. For skin-off thighs, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (180°C) and cook for 15-20 minutes. It is important to flip the thighs halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking and browning.
Whole Chicken
To cook a whole chicken in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 360°F (180°C). Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with Italian seasoning, poultry seasoning, paprika, and salt. Place the chicken breast-side down in the air fryer basket and cook for 45 minutes. Carefully flip the chicken and cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh reads an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), which should take about 20 minutes.
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Cooking times for beef
Air Fryer Steak
For a 1-inch steak, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Brush the steak with oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Place the steak in the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway, for a medium-rare steak. For a medium steak, cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway. Adjust the cooking time accordingly for thicker or thinner steaks. After cooking, let the steak rest for a few minutes to allow the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibres to relax.
Air Fryer Roast Beef
You can easily make succulent roast beef with a seared finish in your air fryer. Start by bringing your beef to room temperature, which will help it cook more evenly. Preheat your air fryer to 220°C. Rub the beef with oil and your desired seasonings. Place the beef in the air fryer basket and roast at 220°C for 10-15 minutes to create a crust. Then, reduce the temperature to 170-180°C and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes, depending on your desired doneness. For medium-rare, cook for 30 minutes, and for medium-well, extend the cooking time to 40 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to monitor the internal temperature and remember that the temperature will continue to rise slightly as the beef rests.
Air Fryer Beef Joint
For a delicious beef joint, preheat your air fryer to 220°C. Combine thyme, onion granules, mustard powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl. Rub the beef joint with oil and the spice mixture. Place the beef in the air fryer basket and cook for 10 minutes. Then, lower the temperature to 170°C and cook for an additional 30-40 minutes, depending on your desired doneness. For a medium-rare joint, cook for 30 minutes, and for a medium-well joint, cook for 40 minutes. After cooking, let the beef rest for up to 30 minutes before carving and serving.
Air Fryer Bacon
Cooking bacon in an air fryer gives it a crispy texture with less fat. To make bacon patties, flavour ground pork with toasted spices, salt, and pepper. Form the mixture into patties and refrigerate for an hour. Preheat your air fryer to the maximum temperature. Brush the patties with olive oil and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway. Serve in toasted English muffins with cheese and a fried egg for a hearty breakfast.
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Cooking times for pork
When cooking pork in an air fryer, the cut of meat and its thickness will determine the cooking time. For example, a pork tenderloin will take around 20 minutes to cook, whereas pork chops will take 12–15 minutes.
For pork chops, it's best to use thick, centre-cut, bone-in chops. The ideal thickness is between 1.5 and 2 inches. This cut of pork provides a beautiful char on all sides. Thin pork chops will cook too quickly and won't get the same char.
To cook pork chops in an air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Then, cook the chops for 12 minutes, flipping them over after 6 minutes. Check the internal temperature with a food thermometer—you're aiming for 140°F, which will increase to 145°F with carryover cooking. If your pork chops are very thick, they may need a few extra minutes.
For a pork tenderloin, a simple seasoning rub of brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, ground mustard, salt, and pepper can be used. The outside of the tenderloin will crisp up, and the brown sugar will caramelize.
When cooking any meat in an air fryer, remember to preheat the appliance. Also, remember to flip your meat halfway through the cooking time to ensure it cooks evenly.
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Resting meat after air frying
When cooking meat in an air fryer, it is important to let the meat rest after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibres to relax, resulting in a moist and flavoursome steak. It is recommended to let the steak rest for a few minutes, or up to 10 minutes, after cooking.
The ideal resting time for meat depends on the type of meat and the desired doneness. For example, a steak cooked to a medium-rare doneness may require less resting time than a well-done steak. Additionally, the thickness of the meat can also impact the resting time. A thicker cut of meat, such as a 1-inch thick steak, will likely need a longer resting time compared to a thinner cut.
It is also important to note that the cooking time and temperature can affect the resting time. If the meat is cooked for a longer period or at a higher temperature, it may need a slightly longer resting time to reach the desired doneness. On the other hand, if the meat is cooked for a shorter period or at a lower temperature, a shorter resting time may be sufficient.
To ensure the meat is cooked to the desired doneness, it is recommended to use a meat thermometer. This allows you to accurately determine the doneness of the meat and adjust the resting time accordingly. Additionally, letting the meat come to room temperature before cooking can help ensure even cooking and improve the tenderness of the meat.
By following these tips and allowing the meat to rest after air frying, you can achieve a juicy, tender, and flavourful cooking result.
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Frequently asked questions
For a 1-inch-thick steak, cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, for a medium-rare steak. Adjust the cooking time accordingly for thicker or thinner steaks.
For a whole chicken, cook at 190ºc/375ºf for 45-50 minutes. For chicken thighs, cook at 200ºc/400ºf for 20 minutes.
For a 1.25kg beef topside roasting joint, cook at 220ºc/425ºf for 15 minutes, then turn down to 100ºc/210ºf and cook for another 45 minutes for a rare joint. For a medium-rare roast beef, cook at 350°F / 180°C for 30 minutes after searing at a high temperature for 10-15 minutes.
Cook bacon patties made from pork mince for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway.
