Tiffany Haney
Tri-tip is a triangular cut of beef from the bottom sirloin, and it can be cooked in an air fryer in under 30 minutes. The cooking time depends on how well you like your beef cooked, how thick the cut of meat is, and how hot your air fryer gets. It's recommended to use the temperature of the tri-tip as a guide, rather than relying on the time, as different air fryers heat to different temperatures. To get the perfect, crunchy crust, it's important to let the meat come to room temperature before cooking and to pat it dry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Preparation time | A few minutes |
| Marinade ingredients | Soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper |
| Meat preparation | Bring to room temperature, pat dry, rub with oil, season, and let stand |
| Air fryer temperature | 400°F |
| Cooking time | 10-12 minutes per pound; 14-18 minutes total; 140°F for medium-rare |
| Resting time | 10 minutes |
| Serving suggestions | Mashed potatoes, salad, Idaho spud |
| Nutrition information | Calories: 388-523kcal; Carbohydrates: 4-10g; Protein: 39-49g; Fat: 24-31g; Saturated Fat: 1-2g; Polyunsaturated Fat: 6-9g; Cholesterol: 122-151mg; Sodium: 595-609mg; Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 7g |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures even cooking and helps to achieve a nice, crispy crust on your steak. So, to cook your 2 lb tri-tip, start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F. This is a good base temperature for cooking steak, as it allows you to cook the meat quickly, helping to create a crunchy exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender.
Different air fryers will take different amounts of time to preheat, so it's important to keep an eye on your appliance. While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your meat. It's a good idea to let your tri-tip come to room temperature before cooking. This will help the meat retain moisture and absorb any rub or seasoning more effectively. Simply leave the meat on the counter for 20-30 minutes while you prepare the rest of your meal and get your air fryer ready.
You should also pat your steak dry before cooking. Meat with excess moisture will not crisp properly and may boil instead of broiling, resulting in a chewy, grey steak. So, make sure to remove any excess water with a paper towel before adding your seasoning.
Once your air fryer has preheated to 400°F, you can add your steak and begin cooking. Depending on your desired level of doneness, you will need to adjust the cooking time. For a 2 lb tri-tip, you will likely need to cook the steak for around 20-24 minutes at 400°F.
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Marinade the tri-tip
Marinating your tri-tip is a great way to add extra flavour to your roast. It's best to marinate your tri-tip for at least a few hours, but if you can, season the tri-tip and refrigerate it in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag for up to 24 hours before cooking. This will allow the beef to soak up all the flavours and enhance the taste.
There are several ways to marinate your tri-tip. A simple, traditional Santa Maria-style tri-tip seasoning includes equal parts salt, pepper, and garlic powder. You can also add a pinch of onion powder and paprika for extra flavour. If you want to get more creative, you can combine soy sauce, lemon juice, olive oil, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper in a large plastic zipper bag. Then, add the roast to the bag, squeeze out any air, and seal the bag shut.
Another option is to rub oil all over both sides of the meat before applying the seasoning. This will help the seasonings stick to the meat. You can also use olive oil spray to achieve the same effect. If you don't have a spray, simply apply a thin layer of oil to the tri-tip.
After marinating, let the tri-tip stand at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes before placing it in the air fryer. This will allow the meat to retain moisture and absorb the rub more effectively.
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Cook for 10-12 minutes per pound
When cooking a 2-pound tri-tip in an air fryer, the cooking time per pound varies between 10 and 12 minutes. This means that for a 2-lb tri-tip, you should air fry for a total time of 20 to 24 minutes.
However, it's important to note that the exact cooking time may vary slightly depending on your desired doneness and the specific model of your air fryer. Therefore, it's always a good idea to use a
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Rest for 10 minutes
Resting the tri-tip for 10 minutes after air frying is a crucial step in ensuring your steak is juicy and tender. During this time, the juices redistribute throughout the meat, so it's important not to skip this step. Tent the roast with aluminium foil to retain heat while it rests.
The desired internal temperature of your tri-tip will depend on how well done you like your steak. For a medium-rare steak, you want the internal temperature to reach 130°F, 140°F for medium, and 150°F for medium-well. An instant-read thermometer can help you determine when your steak is done.
Before cooking, it is also important to let the tri-tip come to room temperature. This will allow the meat to retain moisture as it cooks and absorb the rub more effectively. This should take around 20-30 minutes.
After resting, slice the tri-tip against the grain for the best texture and serve immediately.
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Serve with potatoes
To cook a 2 lb tri-tip in an air fryer, you should first marinate the meat for a minimum of 1 hour but ideally overnight. When you're ready to cook, let the meat sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then, preheat your air fryer to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the tri-tip for 8 minutes per pound (so 16 minutes for 2 lbs) for a medium-rare steak. If you prefer your steak more well done, cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. The internal temperature of the steak should reach 130 degrees Fahrenheit for medium-rare, 140 degrees for medium, and 150 degrees for medium-well.
Once the steak is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for about 10 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a juicier and more tender steak. After resting, slice the steak against the grain for the best texture and serve immediately.
Now, for the potatoes! You can serve the air fryer tri-tip with classic sides like French fries or mashed potatoes. To make mashed potatoes, you'll need 3 lbs of russet potatoes, 1 stick (8 oz) of butter, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder (or 1/2 teaspoon if using fresh garlic), 1/2 cup of heavy cream (or half and half), and 1 teaspoon of coarse ground black pepper. Peel and cut the potatoes into chunks, then place them in a large pot and cover with cold water. Boil the potatoes over high heat until they are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain the water, leaving about 1/4 of it in the pot with the potatoes. Add the butter, garlic powder, heavy cream, and black pepper, and mash everything together. Serve the mashed potatoes as a side dish alongside the air fryer tri-tip.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 20-24 minutes to cook a 2 lb tri-tip in an air fryer. The general rule of thumb is 10-12 minutes per pound.
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
The tri-tip is cooked when it reaches your desired internal temperature. For medium-rare, this is 130 degrees Fahrenheit, for medium it is 140 degrees, and for medium-well, it is 150 degrees.
