Marianne Martinez
Cooking ribeye steak in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to enjoy a juicy and tender steak with minimal fuss. The air fryer cooks the steak evenly, resulting in a beautiful exterior with a juicy and tender interior. This method is perfect for a date night or a quick weeknight meal, and you can even cook frozen steaks without thawing them first! The key to a perfect steak is ensuring it reaches room temperature before cooking and using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak and your desired level of doneness.
How to cook a rib steak in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steak type | Ribeye |
| Steak temperature | Room temperature |
| Steak thickness | 1 1/2" |
| Steak weight | 16 oz |
| Marinade | Soy sauce, olive oil, vegetable oil, Worcestershire sauce, garlic salt, black pepper, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, brown sugar |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic powder |
| Air fryer temperature | 400°F |
| Air fryer preheat time | 3-5 minutes |
| Cooking time | 5-8 minutes per side |
| Resting time | 5 minutes |
| Garnish | Butter, chives, parsley |
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What You'll Learn
Selecting the right steak
First, look for a bright red ribeye steak with a generous amount of marbling. Marbling refers to the flecks of fat distributed throughout the meat, and it is essential for adding flavour and juiciness to your steak. A well-marbled ribeye will have a big eye, which is the large piece of white fat in the centre. This type of marbling is characteristic of high-quality ribeye steaks.
When shopping for ribeye, try to find Black Angus ribeye steak. Black Angus cattle are known for producing meat with superior marbling and flavour. Look for steaks that are about 16 ounces each and 1 1/2 inches thick. This thickness will ensure that your steak cooks evenly in the air fryer and results in a juicy, medium-rare centre.
If you prefer your steak with a crusty sear, opt for thicker steaks. Thicker cuts will allow you to achieve that desirable sear while still maintaining a tender and juicy centre. However, keep in mind that thicker steaks may require a longer cooking time, so adjust your cooking time accordingly.
You can also choose between bone-in or boneless ribeye steaks. Boneless ribeyes are more common and convenient, but some people prefer bone-in steaks for the added flavour that cooking the bone imparts to the meat.
Lastly, consider the seasoning or marinade you plan to use and choose a steak that will complement those flavours. For example, if you want to keep things simple with just salt, pepper, and garlic powder, a steak with good marbling will provide plenty of flavour on its own. However, if you're using a more complex marinade like soy sauce, olive oil, and garlic, you may want to opt for a slightly larger steak to stand up to those robust flavours.
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Preparing the steak
Take the steak out of the refrigerator 15-30 minutes before cooking and let it come to room temperature. This step is important as it helps the steak cook more evenly and quickly. Pat the steak dry with a paper towel and lightly coat both sides with olive oil. Alternatively, you can marinate the steak in the morning before you leave for work and then cook it at night. To marinate, combine the steak with soy sauce, olive oil, and seasoning in a large resealable bag.
When you are ready to cook, season the steak generously on both sides with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, or a small amount of brown sugar. If you want to keep it simple, just season with salt and pepper.
Some recipes recommend spraying the air fryer basket with avocado oil before adding the steak, while others suggest adding about 1 tablespoon of water to the bottom of the air fryer pan to prevent smoking.
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Air fryer settings
To cook a rib steak in an air fryer, you will need to preheat your air fryer. Most recipes recommend preheating to 400°F (200°C) for at least 3–5 minutes. However, one source suggests preheating to 390°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
The cooking time will depend on the level of doneness you prefer and the thickness of your steak. For a medium-rare steak, cook for 5–8 minutes on each side, flipping the steak halfway through. For a thicker steak, you may need to increase the cooking time by 1–2 minutes on each side. If you prefer your steak cooked to a different level of doneness, use a meat thermometer to gauge the cooking time.
Once the steak is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender steak. For every inch of thickness, let the meat rest for about 5 minutes.
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Cooking the steak
First, take the steak out of the fridge 15–30 minutes before cooking to let it reach room temperature. This will help the steak cook more evenly and quickly. While you wait, you can prepare the steak by patting it dry with a paper towel and lightly coating both sides with olive oil. You can also add a marinade at this stage, which will enhance the flavour of the steak. A simple marinade could include soy sauce, olive oil, and seasoning. Leave the steak to marinate for at least two hours.
When you are ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for at least 3–5 minutes. Spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil, vegetable oil, or another oil spray, and place the steaks inside, ensuring they are in a single layer with space around them for the air to circulate. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the steaks one at a time.
Cook the steaks for around 6 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 5–7 minutes for a medium-rare steak. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steaks and your desired level of doneness, so use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. For a medium-rare steak, the internal temperature should be around 130–135°F.
Once the steaks have reached your desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and let them rest, loosely covered with foil, for at least 5 minutes. This will allow the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavourful steak. Finally, serve your steaks with a pat of butter or compound butter and fresh herbs such as parsley or chives. Enjoy!
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Resting and serving the steak
Once your steak is cooked to your liking, remove it from the air fryer. For best results, let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more flavorful and tender steak. A general rule of thumb is to let the meat rest for about 5 minutes for every inch of thickness.
If you want to get a nice sear on the outside of the meat, you can use the broil setting on your air fryer for the last few minutes of cooking. This will give the steak a nice crust.
Before serving, sprinkle the steak with sea salt flakes. You can also add a pat of butter to the top of the steak while it rests. If you want to get fancy, make an herb butter to put on top. You can also serve the steak with fresh parsley or chives.
Remember, the steak will continue to cook for a few minutes after you remove it from the air fryer, so it's important to take it out slightly below your desired cook point. By letting it rest for a few minutes, you minimize the risk of the steak drying out or overcooking.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking time depends on the thickness of the steak and the air fryer model. For a medium-rare steak, cook for 5-8 minutes on each side, flipping the steak halfway through. For a medium steak, cook for 8-10 minutes on each side.
For best results, take the steak out of the fridge 15-30 minutes before cooking and let it reach room temperature. Pat the steak dry and lightly coat both sides with olive oil. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for at least 5 minutes. Season the steak with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Wrap the steak in foil and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
Thicker steaks are ideal for air frying because they allow more time for the outside to get crispy without overcooking the inside. Look for black angus ribeye steak if possible, as it will have the best marbling and flavor.
