Tiffany Haney
Cooking steak in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve a juicy, tender, and flavourful steak with a crispy exterior. The air fryer is a convenient method for cooking steak, as it requires minimal preparation and very little clean-up. This introduction will cover the steps to cook two steaks in an air fryer, including pre-cooking preparation, seasoning, cooking time and temperature, and serving suggestions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steak type | Porterhouse, ribeye, sirloin, New York strip, t-bone, top sirloin, filet mignon |
| Steak thickness | 1 inch |
| Steak weight | 8-10 oz or 1 lb |
| Steak temperature | 135°F for medium-rare, 145°F for medium, 160°F for well-done |
| Oil | Olive oil, butter, or any other neutral oil |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic herb butter, steak seasoning |
| Cooking time | 10-12 minutes for medium-rare, 12-15 minutes for medium, 11-13 minutes for medium-rare (depending on the source) |
| Resting time | 5-10 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right steak cut
Firstly, it is recommended to choose steaks with a thickness of at least one inch. Thinner steaks may cook too quickly, resulting in overcooking or a lack of browning. Steaks like porterhouse, sirloin, ribeye, and filet mignon are ideal choices, offering a balance of flavour, tenderness, and thickness.
Porterhouse and T-bone steaks, derived from the short loin, provide a hearty flavour and a balance of tenderness. Sirloin, divided into top sirloin and bottom sirloin, offers varying degrees of tenderness and leanness. Top sirloin is more tender, while bottom sirloin is larger and leaner but slightly tougher. Ribeye, with its marbling of fat, guarantees a juicy and flavourful outcome as the fat renders during cooking. Filet mignon, known for its melt-in-your-mouth tenderness, is a prime choice for special occasions.
Other suitable cuts for the air fryer include New York strip, tri-tip, flank steak, and top round. These cuts may benefit from marinating or seasoning to enhance their flavour and tenderness. Leaner or tougher cuts, in particular, should be marinated to prevent drying out.
When selecting a steak, it is also important to consider the desired doneness. Cuts like flank steak are best enjoyed rare, medium-rare, or medium, as they can become chewy when overcooked. On the other hand, ribeye can accommodate a wider range of doneness levels due to its higher fat content, which keeps it juicy and tender even when cooked to a rarer centre.
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Air fryer temperature
Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). This is the ideal temperature for cooking steaks in an air fryer. It is important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even cooking and to achieve the desired temperature for the steaks.
Once the air fryer is preheated, you can place the steaks in the basket. The cooking time will depend on the desired doneness and the thickness of the steaks. For a 1-inch thick steak, cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the steak halfway through. For a medium-rare steak, aim for a lower internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. For a medium steak, cook until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you prefer your steaks well-done, you may need to increase the cooking time to 12 to 15 minutes, ensuring the steak reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. It is recommended to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steaks and remove them from the air fryer when they are 5 degrees Fahrenheit below your desired doneness, as the temperature will continue to rise as the steaks rest.
Finally, let the steaks rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy and tender steak. The steak will continue to cook slightly during this resting period, so it is important to take it into account when checking the doneness of the steak.
By following these temperature guidelines and adjusting the cooking time based on the thickness of your steaks, you can ensure that your air-fried steaks are cooked to your desired doneness while maintaining food safety.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for your steaks will depend on the thickness of your steaks and how well done you would like them. As a general rule, thicker steaks will require longer cooking times than thinner steaks. For example, a 1-inch steak cooked to medium-rare will take 10 minutes in the air fryer, while a 1-inch steak cooked to medium will take 12 minutes.
If your steaks are thicker than 1 inch, you should add an additional 1 to 3 minutes of cooking time. If your steaks are thinner than 1 inch, you should start checking on them after 4 minutes to ensure they don't overcook. It's important to note that cooking times may vary slightly depending on the model of your air fryer, so it's always a good idea to keep an eye on your steaks while they're cooking.
To check the doneness of your steaks, you can use a meat probe or a meat thermometer. For a medium-rare steak, the internal temperature should be around 130°F to 135°F. For a medium steak, the internal temperature should be around 140°F. If you're cooking your steaks to a specific temperature, it's recommended to remove them from the air fryer when they're about 5°F below your desired temperature, as the steaks will continue to cook while resting.
When your steaks are done cooking, it's important to let them rest before slicing and serving. This helps the juices redistribute and ensures a juicy and tender steak. The recommended resting time is around 5 to 10 minutes.
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Seasoning
Firstly, ensure your steaks are at room temperature before you begin seasoning. This is a critical step for properly cooking your steaks. Take the steaks out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking to allow them to reach room temperature.
Next, pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. This step is important to ensure even browning of the steaks. After patting them dry, brush both sides of the steaks with olive oil or another neutral oil, such as butter. You can also rub the steaks with Italian seasoning or a dry rub if you want to enhance the colour and flavour.
Now it's time to season! Sprinkle both sides of the steaks generously with salt and pepper, or use your favourite steak seasoning blend. You can use kosher salt or regular table salt, depending on your preference. Freshly ground black pepper will add a nice bite to the steaks. Don't be afraid to be generous with the seasoning, as this will create a delicious crust on the steaks.
If you want to take your seasoning to the next level, you can try making a compound butter or herb butter to serve with the steaks. To make herb butter, mix softened butter with chopped fresh herbs such as thyme, tarragon, parsley, rosemary, garlic, or chives. You can also add ingredients like shallots, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Roll the mixture into a log using plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving. A pat of herb butter on top of your cooked steaks will take them to the next level!
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Resting and serving
Once your steaks are cooked to your liking, it's important to let them rest. Remove the steaks from the air fryer and place them on a plate, loosely tented with foil, so they don't continue cooking. Let them rest for at least 5 minutes, but preferably 10 minutes, before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring your steak stays juicy and tender.
While the steak is resting, you can prepare the herb butter. In a small bowl, mash together butter, shallot, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and herbs. You can also make garlic herb butter by mixing softened butter with minced garlic, parsley, chives, salt, and pepper. Roll the mixture into a log using plastic wrap, then slice it into pats to place on top of the steak.
To check if your steak is done, use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature. For a rare steak, the internal temperature should be 125°F, for medium-rare 130-135°F, and for medium 140°F. If you prefer your steak well-done, aim for an internal temperature of 160°F.
When serving, place the steak on a plate and top with a pat of herb or garlic butter. Enjoy your juicy, tender air fryer steak!
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Frequently asked questions
First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Then, rub or brush both sides of the steaks with olive oil or butter and season with salt and pepper, or a seasoning of your choice. Place the steaks in the air fryer basket and cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. For medium-rare, cook for 10 minutes, flipping at 5 minutes. For medium, cook for 12 minutes, flipping at 6 minutes. For well-done, cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway. Once cooked, let the steaks rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
The steaks should be at least 1 inch thick. Thinner steaks will cook too quickly and won't brown properly.
You can use any type of steak, but some of the best options are ribeye, porterhouse, sirloin, New York strip, T-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon.
You can serve the steaks with simple vegetable side dishes such as salad, potatoes, asparagus, green beans, or French fries.
