Air Fryer Frozen Steak: Quick, Easy, Delicious

Cooking a frozen steak in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a delicious meal. It is a convenient method for those who are short on time or forget to defrost their meat. The air fryer's ability to cook frozen steak without prior thawing means you can go from craving steak to cutting into one in under 30 minutes.

To cook a frozen steak in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients: a frozen steak of your choice, olive oil or another cooking oil, and seasonings such as salt and pepper. Some recipes also suggest using steak rub, garlic powder, or dried rosemary for added flavour.

The cooking process begins with preheating your air fryer, usually between 360°F and 400°F, for about 5 minutes. While the air fryer is preheating, you can brush or spritz your frozen steak with oil and apply the desired amount of seasonings.

Once preheated, place the seasoned steak into the air fryer basket and cook for approximately 15-20 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness. It is recommended to use a meat thermometer to check if the steak is cooked to your preference.

After removing the steak from the air fryer, it is essential to let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing into it. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy and tender steak.

With this guide and your air fryer, you can now easily prepare a frozen steak that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in cooking a frozen steak. While some recipes suggest that you can skip this step, preheating will ensure your steak cooks evenly and efficiently. The ideal temperature for cooking a frozen steak is around 360–400°F/190°C, and you should preheat your air fryer for about 5 minutes.

Preheating your air fryer will ensure that your steak starts to cook as soon as it hits the cooking surface. This is especially important when cooking frozen meat, as you want to avoid the outer part of the meat overcooking before the inside is cooked to your desired temperature. By preheating your air fryer, you can also help to develop a nice crust on the steak, without overcooking the meat just underneath.

If you are cooking multiple steaks, make sure they fit comfortably next to each other in the air fryer. If not, you will need to cook them in batches. You can also air fry frozen steaks together to thaw them, and then separate them to cook further.

Some recipes suggest that you can skip preheating if you want to prevent grey bands from forming just under the crust of the steak. However, this is a matter of personal preference, and preheating your air fryer will generally result in a better cooking experience.

Brush the steak with olive oil

Brushing your steak with olive oil is an important step in the air-frying process. This is because it ensures that the steak stays tender and juicy, and helps the seasonings stick to the meat. You can use a basting brush to apply the olive oil, or simply rub it on with your hands. Make sure to coat both sides of the steak evenly.

When choosing your olive oil, opt for a high-quality extra virgin olive oil. This type of olive oil has a lower smoke point than other oils, which means it can withstand the high temperatures of the air fryer without burning. It also has a strong flavour that will complement the steak well.

If you don't have olive oil on hand, you can use another type of oil, such as avocado oil, peanut oil, or canola oil. However, keep in mind that the smoke point of these oils may be different, so adjust your air fryer temperature accordingly.

Once you've brushed the steak with olive oil, it's time to season it. For a simple yet classic flavour, stick to salt and pepper. You can use kosher salt or sea salt, and freshly cracked black pepper for the best results. Don't be shy with the seasonings, as the frozen steak will require more than you would usually use.

In addition to salt and pepper, you can also add other herbs and spices, such as garlic powder, rosemary, or a steak rub. Again, make sure to coat both sides of the steak evenly. After seasoning, you can place the steak in the air fryer and follow the cooking instructions.

Remember, the olive oil step is crucial to getting a juicy and flavourful steak, so don't skip it!

Season the steak

Seasoning a frozen steak is a little tricky because the seasonings don't have as much time to penetrate the meat. However, there are ways to ensure your steak is still full of flavour.

Firstly, coat the steak with oil. This will help the seasonings stick to the meat. You can use any kind of oil, but olive oil is a good option. If you can't use oil, spritz the steak with cold water.

Next, season generously with salt and pepper. You can also add other herbs and spices, such as rosemary, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, Italian seasoning, or a steak seasoning blend. It's a good idea to use about 50% more seasoning than you usually would with a thawed steak.

Finally, if you want to ensure an extra hit of flavour, sprinkle the steak with coarse sea salt after slicing.

Here's a suggested seasoning blend:

• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt or kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed rosemary
• 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Air fry the steak

Now that your steak is seasoned, it's time to air fry it! Place the steak in the air fryer basket and follow the instructions below for the perfect air-fried steak.

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature. Most recipes recommend preheating to between 360°F/180°C and 400°F/200°C for around 5 minutes. However, some recipes suggest that preheating is unnecessary and that you can simply place the steak in the air fryer and turn it on.

If you are cooking your steak from frozen, the cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the steak and your desired level of doneness. As a guide, rare steaks will take around 3-5 minutes on each side, medium-rare steaks around 5 minutes on each side, medium steaks around 5-7 minutes on each side, and medium-well to well-done steaks will take 8-10 minutes on each side. Remember to flip the steak halfway through the cooking time to ensure even cooking.

It's important to note that these timings are approximate and may vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of your steak. Therefore, it is recommended to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your steak to ensure it is cooked to your desired level of doneness. The internal temperature for a rare steak is 120°F/50°C, medium-rare is 130°F/54°C, medium is 140°F/60°C, medium-well is 150°F/65°C, and well-done is 160°F/70°C.

Once your steak has reached the desired internal temperature, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, tender steak.

Enjoy your perfectly cooked air-fried steak!

Let the steak rest

Allowing your steak to rest after cooking is an important step in the cooking process. Resting the steak will ensure that the juices are retained within the meat, rather than running out onto the plate when you cut into it. This will ensure your steak is tender and juicy.

The resting period should be for at least 5 minutes, but 10-15 minutes is ideal. Cover the steak to keep it warm and finish preparing any side dishes while you wait. If you have cooked multiple steaks, you can rest them all together, but ensure they are not stacked on top of each other.

If you have cooked your steak to medium-rare, it will be warm red in the centre. For a medium steak, the centre will be hot and pink. Well-done steaks will no longer be red in the middle and will be dry and firm in texture.

If you are cooking a thicker steak, you may need to adjust the resting time. A thicker steak will retain its heat for longer, so you can rest it for a shorter period of time.

Frequently asked questions