Tillie Doyle
Cooking steak in an air fryer is a popular food trend that produces a flavoursome, juicy, and tender steak with minimal effort. The air fryer is just as effective as an oven, barbecue, or pan, but it is faster, uses less oil, and is hassle-free. It is also an easy clean-up. The key to a good air-fried steak is choosing the right cut of steak, seasoning, and cooking it at the right temperature for the right amount of time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steak type | Porterhouse, sirloin, New York strip, ribeye, t-bone, top sirloin, filet mignon |
| Steak thickness | 1-inch |
| Steak weight | 0.5-1 pound (250-450g) |
| Steak temperature | Bring to room temperature before cooking |
| Air fryer temperature | 200°C |
| Air fryer preheating | Not necessary, but some recipes recommend it |
| Cooking time | 10-18 minutes depending on desired doneness |
| Resting time | 5-10 minutes |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, olive oil, butter, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of steak
The two cuts of steak that require the least amount of babysitting are porterhouse and sirloin. Both of these cuts should be around 1-inch thick and half a pound in weight, with no bones. New York strip, ribeye, t-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon are also excellent options for the air fryer.
If you're looking for a thicker steak, be prepared to adjust the cooking time accordingly. As a reference, a 1-inch steak typically cooks in 10-12 minutes, and you should flip it halfway through. A thicker steak will require more time in the air fryer, so plan to increase the cooking time for a thicker cut.
It's also important to bring your steak to room temperature before cooking. Remove it from the fridge about 30 minutes to one hour before cooking, and if needed, pat it dry before seasoning. This step helps ensure even cooking and allows you to achieve the desired doneness more easily.
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Preparing the steak
Next, you can add your choice of seasoning. Pat the steak dry and then rub in olive oil, and a selection of spices and herbs. You can use salt and pepper, and spices like smoked paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, or cayenne pepper. You could also add a pinch of sugar to balance the salty flavours and create a caramelised crust. If you want to add extra moisture, you can marinate the steak in a dressing.
Once you are happy with your seasoning, it's time to cook the steak. Preheat your air fryer to 200 degrees Celsius. Some recipes suggest that preheating is not necessary, but this temperature seems to be the most popular for cooking steak.
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Air fryer settings
The air fryer settings you use will depend on the type of steak you are cooking, and how well done you like it.
Firstly, you should note that some recipes recommend preheating your air fryer, while others do not. If you do choose to preheat, set your air fryer to 200°C for 5 minutes.
Once your air fryer is preheated, or if you are choosing not to preheat, set the temperature to 200°C and cook for 10 minutes for a medium-rare steak. You should flip the steak after 4 or 5 minutes for an even cook. If you prefer your steak to be more well done, increase the cooking time by 1 minute for medium, 2 minutes for medium-well, and 3 minutes for a well-done steak.
If you are cooking a thicker steak, you will need to increase the cooking time. For example, a 1-inch steak will take 10-12 minutes to cook. You can also check the internal temperature of your steak with a meat thermometer to ensure it is cooked to your liking. A rare steak should have an internal temperature of between 125°F and 130°F.
If you are cooking multiple steaks, make sure you do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave some space between the steaks to allow for even cooking. It is also recommended that you bring your steak to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for your steak will depend on the thickness of your steak and how well done you like it. As a rule of thumb, thicker steaks will require longer cooking times. Using a 1-inch steak as a base, it will require 10-12 minutes in the air fryer. If your steak is thicker than this, you will need to increase the cooking time accordingly.
For a 1-inch steak, cook for 4 minutes on each side for a total of 8 minutes for a medium-rare finish. For a medium steak, add 1 minute to each side, so 10 minutes in total. For medium-well, add 2 minutes to each side, so 12 minutes in total. For a well-done steak, add 3 minutes to each side, so 14 minutes in total.
If you want to be precise about the doneness of your steak, use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature. Rare steaks should have an internal temperature between 125°F and 130°F.
It is important to let your steak come to room temperature before cooking it. This will ensure the steak cooks evenly. Leave it out of the fridge for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
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Serving suggestions
Before serving your steak, it's important to 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 flavoursome throughout. As a general rule, you should let your steak rest for the same amount of time that you cooked it for. For example, if your steak was cooked for 7 minutes, let it rest for 7 minutes before serving.
When it comes to serving your air fryer steak, there are a few simple sides that can really elevate your dish. A classic option is to serve your steak with a baked potato, either smashed, mashed, or as a jacket potato with a fluffy centre and crisp skin. If you're looking for something a little more indulgent, why not try making some sweet potato fries? Toss them in sweet smoked paprika, Cajun, or BBQ seasoning for a real flavour punch.
If you're after something a little lighter, a seasonal green salad or roasted vegetables, such as asparagus or green beans, can be a great accompaniment to your steak.
Don't forget to finish your steak with a pinch of salt and black pepper, and if you're feeling fancy, add a pat of garlic butter on top.
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Frequently asked questions
Cooking steak in an air fryer is a very popular food trend and a simple way to cook your meat. It is just as effective as an oven, barbecue or pan, but it is faster, uses less oil and leaves the meat juicy.
First, take your steak out of the fridge and its wrapper 1 hour before cooking to let it come to room temperature. Then, preheat your air fryer to 200°C for 5 minutes. While the air fryer heats up, coat your steak with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, and spices such as smoked paprika and cumin. Place the steak in the heated air fryer and cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for another 4 minutes for a medium-rare steak. Once cooked, wrap the steak in aluminium foil with a dollop of butter and let it rest for 5 minutes.
The cooking time depends on the thickness and desired doneness of the steak. As a guide, a 1-inch steak should be cooked for 10-12 minutes for medium-rare. For a medium steak, add 1 minute to each side, and for medium-well, add 2 minutes to each side. You can also use a meat thermometer to check if the steak is done – rare steaks should have an internal temperature between 125°F and 130°F.
