Cody Casey
Air fryers are a quick and easy way to cook a steak that is perfectly seared, tender, and juicy. The high heat seals in the juices, creating a crispy crust while keeping the inside tender. The best cuts of steak for the air fryer include New York strip, ribeye, t-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon. This guide will teach you how to cook a delicious steak in your air fryer, with tips on seasoning, temperature, and cooking time to ensure a perfect steak every time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steak type | Filet mignon |
| Steak thickness | At least 1 inch |
| Steak temperature before cooking | Room temperature for at least 20-30 minutes |
| Steak seasoning | Oil, salt, pepper, garlic, herb butter, sugar, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper |
| Air fryer temperature | 400°F |
| Air fryer preheat time | 5-10 minutes |
| Cooking time | 10-13 minutes |
| Flipping time | After 5-6 minutes |
| Resting time | 5 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of steak
Tender or Tougher Cuts
One of the key considerations when choosing a steak cut is tenderness. The most tender cuts of steak typically come from the rib and loin areas, including the tenderloin, short loin, and top sirloin. These cuts have lesser-worked muscles, resulting in more delicate and coveted steaks. Tenderloin, also known as filet mignon, is renowned for its exceptional tenderness and mild beef flavor. On the other hand, cuts from more well-worked muscles, such as the plate, flank, chuck, and round, tend to be tougher. These cuts can still be delicious when prepared with care, and they are often more budget-friendly.
Marbling and Fat Content
The amount and distribution of fat in a steak, known as marbling, play a significant role in its flavor and juiciness. Look for steaks with nice, thin lines of marbling rather than large chunks of fat. Well-marbled steaks, such as ribeye, are known for their superior flavor and juiciness. They can withstand higher cooking temperatures without drying out due to their higher fat content. On the other hand, cuts like the filet mignon have less marbling and are more prone to overcooking, benefiting from sauces or seasonings to enhance their flavor.
Personal Preference
Ultimately, the choice of steak cut comes down to individual preference. Consider whether you prefer a mild, tender steak or a more robust, beefy flavor with a firmer texture. Some popular options for air frying include New York strip, ribeye, T-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon. Each of these cuts offers a unique combination of flavor, tenderness, and texture. For example, T-bone steaks provide a two-in-one experience with two different types of meat on each side, pleasing a variety of palates.
Thickness
When choosing a steak cut for air frying, consider the thickness of the steak. Steaks that are at least 1-inch thick are recommended for air frying, as thinner cuts may cook too quickly without achieving a desirable sear. Steaks that are 1 ½-inches thick are also suitable and can be ideal for certain cuts, such as ribeye, to ensure they remain juicy during the cooking process.
In summary, selecting the right cut of steak for air frying involves considering tenderness, marbling, personal preference, and thickness. By choosing a cut that aligns with your taste preferences and the cooking characteristics of the steak, you can create a delicious and juicy air-fried steak that suits your individual tastes.
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Preparing the steak for cooking
Choosing the Right Steak:
Select a suitable cut of steak for air frying. Some recommended options include New York strip, ribeye, t-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon. Ensure your steak is at least 1 inch thick; thinner steaks may cook too quickly and unevenly.
Bringing Steak to Room Temperature:
Take the steak out of the refrigerator 20 to 30 minutes before cooking. This step is important as it helps the steak cook more evenly and ensures a less tough texture.
Drying and Seasoning the Steak:
Use paper towels or a clean cloth to pat the steak dry. Then, season both sides of the steak generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, ensuring even coverage. You can also add other seasonings like smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, or a steak rub for extra flavour. Additionally, a dry rub can enhance the colour of leaner steaks.
Preheating the Air Fryer:
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 to 10 minutes before adding the steaks. This step ensures that the outside of the steaks gets a nice brown colour, similar to searing.
Placing the Steak in the Air Fryer:
Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Use tongs to place the seasoned steak in the basket, ensuring a single layer with no overlap. Leave some space between multiple steaks for proper airflow and even cooking.
Now that your steak is prepared and in the air fryer, you can proceed to cook it to your desired level of doneness, following the cooking times and temperatures provided in the next steps.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for your steak filet will depend on your desired level of doneness. For a 1-inch steak, cook for 10 minutes at 400°F \(200°C\) for medium-rare, flipping the steak halfway through. If you prefer your steak medium, cook for 12 minutes, again flipping halfway. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of your steak.
For thicker or thinner steaks, adjust the cooking time accordingly. For a steak cooked rare, the thickest part of the steak should register 125°F, while 130 to 135°F is the range for medium-rare, and 140°F for medium. Well-done steaks will be 160°F.
It is recommended to heat your air fryer for at least 10 minutes before adding the steaks. Preheating ensures that the outside of the steaks gets browned nicely. If you skip this step, the steaks may end up grey and overcooked by the time the exterior browns.
It is also a good idea to let your steak come to room temperature before cooking. Take the steak out of the fridge for 20-25 minutes before cooking. This will help the steak cook evenly and ensure it is less tough.
Once your steak is cooked, let it rest for a few minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibres to relax, ensuring your steak is consistently moist and more flavoursome throughout. Remove the steak from the heat when it is about 5° below your preferred temperature, as the internal temperature will continue to rise as the steak rests.
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Resting the steak
During the resting period, the steak's internal temperature will continue to rise. Therefore, it is important to remove the steak from the heat source a few degrees below your desired temperature. For example, if you are aiming for a medium-rare steak, you should remove it from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 130-135°F. The steak's temperature will then increase to 135-140°F as it rests.
The resting time also depends on the thickness of the steak. For a 1-inch steak, 5 minutes of resting time is sufficient. For thicker or thinner steaks, adjust the resting time accordingly. If you are cooking thicker steaks, you may need to increase the resting time to ensure that the juices have time to redistribute.
Before cooking, it is also important to let the steak come to room temperature. Remove it from the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking. This will help the steak cook more evenly and ensure that it is less tough.
Finally, when slicing the steak, cut against the grain for the most tender bite. This will ensure that you are not cutting through the muscle fibres, making the steak easier to chew and digest.
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Serving suggestions
Let the steak rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute and the fibres to relax, ensuring your steak is moist and flavoursome throughout.
You can serve your steak with a side of compound butter, or smothered in garlic butter. For the garlic butter, mix together unsalted butter, garlic, fresh rosemary, thyme, and parsley.
Serve your steak with a side of jacket potatoes, sweet potato fries, or chips. Alternatively, go for a seasonal green salad or roasted vegetables, like green beans or asparagus.
For a comforting meal, cover your steak in a creamy sauce, like alfredo, cheese, or gravy. You could also add a pinch of sugar to balance the salty flavours and give it a caramelized crust.
For a steakhouse feel, pair your steak with compound butter and sides.
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Frequently asked questions
To cook a filet mignon in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes. Pat the steak dry with paper towels and season both sides with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Place the steak in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring no overlap. For a 1-inch steak, air fry at 400°F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway, for medium-rare. For a medium steak, increase the cooking time to 12 minutes.
It takes approximately 10-12 minutes to cook a steak in an air fryer, flipping the steak halfway through the cooking time. The cooking time may vary depending on the desired doneness and the thickness of the steak.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. The internal temperature of the steak will depend on your desired doneness. For rare, the steak should register 125°F, 130-135°F for medium-rare, and 140°F for medium.
To get a crispy crust, place an oven-safe bowl directly underneath the air fryer inlay to help the steak develop a crust as it cooks. Additionally, ensure you pat the steak dry before seasoning and preheat the air fryer before adding the steak.
Some side dish options to serve with your air-fried steak include jacket potatoes, sweet potato fries, roasted vegetables, or a seasonal green salad.
