Ella Walter
Cooking steak in an air fryer is an effective way to get a beautifully cooked, juicy steak with a perfect crust. It is also a quick and easy method, which does not require you to labour over a grill or deal with oil splatters. The key to getting a delicious outer crust on your steak is to preheat your air fryer, and to season generously with salt and black pepper. You can also add garlic powder, smoked paprika, or a little steak seasoning blend. A light drizzle of olive oil will help the seasoning stick. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steak and your desired doneness, but generally, it should take a little over 10 minutes to cook a steak in an air fryer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steak preparation | Take the steak out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Pat it dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. |
| Seasoning | Season generously with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, or steak seasoning blend. Drizzle with olive oil to help the seasoning stick. |
| Air fryer preparation | Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 3–5 minutes. |
| Steak placement | Place the steak in the basket, ensuring it is not overcrowded. Leave space between multiple steaks for air to circulate. |
| Cooking time | For a medium-rare steak, cook for 10–12 minutes. For a medium steak, cook for 12–14 minutes. Flip the steak halfway through the cooking time. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of the steak and your desired doneness. |
| Resting | Let the steak rest for at least 5 minutes after cooking to retain moisture. Tent with aluminum foil to keep it warm and allow the juices to redistribute. |
| Serving | Top the steak with butter, such as garlic herb butter, for added richness and flavor. Serve with sides like potatoes and vegetables. |
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What You'll Learn
Steak preparation: Pat dry, season, and let it rest at room temperature
Preparing your steak is a crucial step in achieving the perfect steak. Here is a detailed guide to help you prepare your steak for cooking in an air fryer:
Pat it dry:
Use a paper towel to blot any excess moisture from the surface of the steak. This step is important because moisture can prevent a good sear from forming on the steak.
Let it rest at room temperature:
Take your steak out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before cooking. Allowing the steak to come to room temperature ensures that it cooks evenly. If you put a cold steak straight into the air fryer, some parts may cook faster than others, resulting in an unevenly cooked steak.
Season generously:
Don't hold back on the seasoning. The air fryer cooks quickly, so the seasoning will need to stand up to the short cooking time. Classic options include salt and black pepper, but if you want to enhance the flavour, consider adding garlic powder, smoked paprika, or a steak seasoning blend. A light drizzle of olive oil will also help the seasoning stick and promote a tasty crust.
Preheat your air fryer:
Preheating your air fryer is essential to achieving a delicious outer crust on your steak. Set your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and let it heat up for about 3–5 minutes. This ensures that when the steak is placed in the basket, it starts cooking immediately, locking in flavour and juiciness.
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Preheat the air fryer: Set to 400°F (204°C) for 3–5 minutes
Preheating your air fryer is essential to achieving that mouth-watering, flavoursome outer crust on your steak. It's simple to do: set your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and let it heat up for approximately 3–5 minutes. This step is crucial as it ensures that when you place your seasoned steak into the basket, it begins cooking straight away, sealing in all the flavours and juices.
While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your steak. First, take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and let it rest at room temperature. This step is important because it ensures your steak will cook evenly. Next, pat your steak dry with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture, which can interfere with achieving a good sear.
Now it's time to season your steak. Be generous—the air fryer cooks quickly, so you need to make sure the seasoning can stand up to the short cooking time. Classic options include salt and black pepper, but if you want to add more flavour, you can include garlic powder, smoked paprika, or a steak seasoning blend. A light drizzle of olive oil will help the seasoning stick and promote a tasty crust.
Once your steak is seasoned and your air fryer preheated, you're ready to start cooking. Place your steak in the basket, ensuring there's space for air to circulate if you're cooking more than one steak. Now, you can follow your preferred cooking instructions, flipping your steak halfway through for an even cook and a nice crust.
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Place steak in the basket: Avoid overcrowding
Now that your steak is seasoned and your air fryer is hot, it's time to place the steak in the basket. Be sure to avoid overcrowding the basket. If you're cooking more than one steak, be sure to leave space between them so that air can circulate properly. This is important for ensuring even cooking and a nice crust on your steak.
When placing your steak in the basket, it's important to consider the thickness of your steak. Thicker steaks will take longer to cook, so you may need to adjust your cooking time accordingly. As a general rule of thumb, a thicker steak cooked to medium-rare in an air fryer will take around 10 minutes, while a medium steak will take around 12-14 minutes.
It's also important to note that the cooking time will depend on your desired doneness. For a rare steak, aim for an internal temperature of 125°F, 135°F for medium-rare, and 145°F for medium. To achieve your desired doneness, use a meat thermometer to check the temperature of your steak, inserting it into the thickest part for the most accurate reading.
Additionally, don't forget to flip your steak halfway through the cooking process to ensure even cooking on both sides. By following these instructions, you'll be well on your way to cooking a delicious steak in your Emerald air fryer!
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Cooking time: 10–14 minutes for medium-rare to medium
Cooking a steak in an air fryer is a surprisingly effective way to get a beautifully cooked, juicy steak with a perfect crust. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking a medium-rare to medium steak in an air fryer in 10–14 minutes:
Preparation
Before you start cooking, take your steak out of the fridge and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes. This ensures that your steak cooks evenly. Pat the steak dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture, which is essential for rendering a good sear. Season generously with salt and black pepper, or add garlic powder, smoked paprika, or steak seasoning for more flavour. You can also add a light drizzle of olive oil to help the seasoning stick and promote a flavorful crust.
Cooking
Set your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and let it preheat for about 3–5 minutes. This ensures that when your steak hits the basket, it starts cooking immediately, locking in flavour and juiciness. Place the steak in the basket, ensuring there is space for air to circulate properly if you are cooking more than one steak. Cook on one side for about 6 minutes, then flip. The air fryer circulates heat well, but flipping ensures even cooking and a nice crust.
Medium-Rare Steak
For a medium-rare steak, cook the steak for another 4–5 minutes, for a total cooking time of 10–11 minutes. A good way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer. The temperature for a medium-rare steak should read 130°F when removed from the air fryer, as it will continue to cook and rest up to 135°F while tented with foil.
Medium Steak
For a medium steak, cook the steak for another 5–6 minutes, for a total cooking time of 12–14 minutes. As with the medium-rare steak, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness. The temperature for a medium steak should read 145°F.
Resting
After cooking, let the steak rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. During cooking, the heat forces the juices toward the centre, and if you slice too soon, the steak will dry out. Tent the steak with a piece of aluminium foil while resting to keep it warm and allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat.
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Resting the steak: Tent with foil and let it rest for 5–10 minutes
Now that your steak is cooked, it's time to let it rest. Tent the steak with a piece of aluminium foil and let it sit for 5–10 minutes. This is a crucial step as it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring your steak is juicy and flavourful. It also gives the steak time to cool slightly before serving, making it easier to handle and eat.
During cooking, the heat forces the juices towards the centre of the steak. If you slice into it too soon, all that moisture will spill out, leaving your steak drier than it should be. Tenting the steak with foil helps to trap the heat and keep the steak warm while it rests, promoting even distribution of juices.
The resting time also gives you the perfect opportunity to prepare any sides or sauces to accompany your steak. For example, you could melt some butter and add garlic and herbs to make a delicious topping for your steak.
Additionally, if you're aiming for a specific steak temperature, it's important to note that the steak will continue to cook slightly after you remove it from the air fryer. So, if you're aiming for medium-rare, you should take your steak out of the air fryer when it reaches 130°F, as it will continue to cook up to 135°F while resting, resulting in a perfectly pink and juicy steak.
Finally, once your steak has rested, it's time to eat! Enjoy your perfectly cooked, juicy steak with a delicious crust, made right in your air fryer.
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Frequently asked questions
First, take your steak out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking and pat it dry with a paper towel. Season generously with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, or a steak seasoning blend. Drizzle with olive oil and place in the basket of the air fryer, setting it to 400°F (204°C) for 10-14 minutes, depending on how well-done you like your steak. For a medium-rare steak, remove it from the air fryer when it reads 130°F and let it rest for 5-10 minutes.
Ribeye, filet mignon, New York strip, and sirloin all work well in the air fryer.
The best way to tell is to use a meat thermometer. For a medium-rare steak, remove it from the air fryer when it reaches 130°F; it will continue cooking and rest up to 135°F.
Let your steak rest for at least 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Tent it with aluminum foil to keep it warm.
You can serve steak with a side of potatoes (mashed or roasted) and a vegetable like garlic-Parmesan roasted carrots, a garlic-herb wedge salad, or cacio e pepe Brussels sprouts.
