Cody Casey
Top round London broil is a popular, versatile, and budget-friendly dish that can be prepared in several ways. One modern, convenient, and healthier method for cooking London broil is using an air fryer. This method offers quicker cooking times, less oil usage, and a mess-free and smoke-free way of cooking steak indoors. The air fryer's circulation of hot air prevents the beef from drying out, resulting in a tender and juicy steak with a delightful crust.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cut of Meat | Top round steak |
| Type of Meat | Beef |
| Marinade | Yes, for 8-24 hours |
| Cooking Time | 7-10 minutes per pound |
| Total Cooking Time | 14-16 minutes |
| Temperature | 400°F (200°C) |
| Oil | Olive oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, steak seasoning |
| Doneness | Medium-rare |
| Internal Temperature | 130°F |
| Resting Time | 10 minutes |
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C)
Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. For this recipe, you should preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This is a high temperature, but it is necessary to ensure that your steak gets a good sear. Air frying at a high temperature also means that the round steak takes on a beautiful exterior with a perfectly cooked centre.
While the air fryer is preheating, you should take your London Broil out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature. This is an important step as it helps the meat cook more evenly. It also helps to pat the meat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which will help achieve a better sear in the air fryer.
You should also brush the meat with a light coat of olive oil (or avocado oil or sunflower oil) to promote browning and prevent sticking to the air fryer basket. You can then season the London Broil generously with salt and black pepper, or your choice of steak seasoning. This basic seasoning enhances the natural beef flavour.
Preheating the air fryer to the correct temperature is key to ensuring your steak cooks evenly and gets a good sear.
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Prepare the meat
Preparing the meat for Air Fryer London Broil is a simple process, but it requires attention to detail to ensure a tender and juicy result. Here is a step-by-step guide to preparing the meat:
Choosing the Meat
Begin by selecting the right cut of beef. London Broil is typically made from a top round steak, which is a lean and economical choice. Ask your butcher for assistance if you are unsure.
Bringing to Room Temperature
Take the steak out of the refrigerator and let it rest for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature. This step is crucial, as it helps the meat cook more evenly.
Tenderizing the Meat
Use a meat mallet to lightly pound both sides of the steak. The sharp, textured side of the mallet will create punctures in the surface, making it easier for the marinade to penetrate and tenderize the meat.
Marinating (Optional)
While marinating is optional, it can significantly enhance the tenderness and flavor of the meat. If you choose to marinate, coat the steak with salt and a mixture containing acidic ingredients like vinegar and citrus juice. Leave the steak to marinate for a minimum of 8 hours and no more than 24 hours for the best results.
Seasoning
If you skip the marination step, or even if you don't, brush the meat with a light coat of olive oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil. This promotes browning and prevents sticking to the air fryer basket. Season generously with salt and black pepper to enhance the natural beef flavor. You can also use your favorite steak seasoning blend, such as McCormick's Montreal Steak Seasoning.
Preheating the Air Fryer
While the meat is resting and coming to room temperature, preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature, typically around 400°F (200°C). This ensures that your steak will cook evenly and efficiently.
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Cook for 8-10 minutes
After you've prepared your top round London broil and preheated your air fryer to 400°F (200°C), it's time to cook your steak. Place the meat in the air fryer basket, ensuring there is enough space around it for proper air circulation. Overcrowding can cause steam, which may hinder the searing process.
Now, it's time to cook your steak for 8-10 minutes. For a medium-rare steak, you'll want to cook it to an internal temperature of 130°F (54°C). This should take around 8-10 minutes on one side and then another 8-10 minutes on the other side. The total cooking time will depend on the weight and thickness of your steak, as well as how cold it is when it starts cooking. A 2-pound steak, for example, will take around 14 to 16 minutes to reach medium-rare doneness.
It's important to note that you should adjust the cooking time based on your desired level of doneness. If you prefer your steak medium, cook it to an internal temperature of 140°F to 145°F. For well-done steak, aim for an internal temperature of 160°F.
Remember, the key to a perfect London broil is ensuring that the meat reaches your desired internal temperature while maintaining a good sear on the outside.
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Flip and cook for another 8-10 minutes
Now, it's time to flip the steak. Remember, this is a crucial step to ensure that your London broil is cooked evenly on both sides and has that desirable crisp sear. After you've flipped the steak, let it cook for another 8-10 minutes. The timing will depend on your desired level of doneness and the thickness of the steak.
If you're aiming for a rare steak, cook it for 4-5 minutes after flipping and check that the internal temperature has reached 120°F. For a medium-rare steak, the internal temperature should be 130°F, which will take about 6 minutes. If you prefer your steak medium, cook it for 8 minutes, aiming for an internal temperature of 140°F. For those who like their steak medium-well, cook for 10 minutes, ensuring the temperature reaches 150°F. Finally, if you're a fan of well-done steak, you'll need to cook it for around 12 minutes, aiming for a final internal temperature of 160°F.
It's important to note that these cooking times may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model. Always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and adjust the timing accordingly.
While your steak is cooking, you might want to prepare some side dishes or toppings to serve with your London broil. French onion mushrooms are a popular and tasty option, but feel free to choose your favorites!
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Rest and serve
Once the steak is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing. The cooking time and temperature may vary slightly between different air fryer models, but the desired internal temperature for medium-rare doneness is 130-135°F (54-57°C). The temperature will continue to rise a bit as the steak rests.
The slices of a perfectly cooked London broil should be slightly pink around the outer edges with a tender and deeper pink to red center. If you want to add more flavor, you can use a topping like French onion mushrooms or a sauce like blue cheese butter or blue cheese horseradish.
It is important to let the steak rest for a few minutes before slicing it, as this allows the juices to redistribute and ensures that the steak stays juicy and tender. If you cut into the steak too soon, all the juices will run out, and the steak will be dry and less flavorful.
You can also let the steak rest for a little longer, about 10 minutes, to let it cool down slightly before serving. This is especially important if you are cooking for a crowd, as it will give you time to get everyone seated and served without the steak getting cold.
Finally, enjoy your delicious and juicy Air Fryer London Broil!
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Frequently asked questions
Lightly pounding a top round steak with the sharp, spikey side of a meat mallet will puncture the surface and make it easier for the marinade to begin the process of tenderizing the beef.
It takes about 7 to 8 minutes per pound or 12 to 15 minutes in total to cook to a medium-rare doneness.
The air fryer should be preheated to around 400°F (200°C).
You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or sunflower oil.
You can use your favourite steak seasoning. McCormicks Montreal Steak Seasoning is a popular choice.
