Air Fryer Frozen Steak: Quick, Easy, Delicious

Forget to defrost your steak? No problem! You can still enjoy a juicy, tasty, and quick steak by using an air fryer. In fact, some experts recommend cooking steak from frozen as it can result in more tender meat. Here's how to do it.

Choosing the right steak

Thickness:

Start with steaks that are at least one inch thick. Thinner steaks cook too quickly and may not get a chance to brown properly. The ideal thickness for air fryer steaks is around 1-inch, as mentioned in several sources. This ensures that the steak cooks evenly and allows for a nice sear on the outside while keeping the inside juicy.

Type of Steak:

Different types of steaks can be used for air frying, and the best option may depend on your personal preference. Some recommended cuts include:

• Ribeye
• Sirloin
• Porterhouse
• New York Strip
• T-bone
• Top Sirloin
• Filet Mignon

These cuts tend to require less attention during cooking and are suitable for the air fryer method.

Freshness:

While it is possible to cook frozen steaks in an air fryer, fresh or thawed steaks are generally preferred. This is because seasonings have more time to penetrate the meat, and the steak can be brought to room temperature, which ensures more even cooking. However, if you are short on time or forgot to thaw your steak, air frying from frozen is a viable option. Just remember that frozen steaks may require slightly different seasoning and cooking time adjustments.

Marbling and Fat Content:

When choosing a steak, consider the marbling and fat content. Cuts like ribeye, which have more marbling and fat, tend to result in juicier and more flavorful steaks. Leaner cuts, such as sirloin, may be used, but they lack the benefit of the fat rendering and basting the meat during cooking.

Personal Preference:

Ultimately, the right steak for your air fryer also depends on your taste preferences. If you have a favorite cut of steak that you usually cook on the grill or in a pan, it is worth trying in the air fryer as well. Experiment with different cuts to find the one that suits your taste and cooking style.

Pre-heating the air fryer

If your air fryer does not go up to 450°F, set it to the highest setting. The cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your steak and how well-done you want it to be. For a steak that is about 1-inch thick, you can pre-heat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes. If you are cooking thicker steaks, you may need to decrease the temperature slightly to prevent the outside from burning before the inside is cooked.

The pre-heating time may also depend on the model of your air fryer. Some models may take longer to heat up, so adjust the timing accordingly. It is also important to note that the cooking time will be slightly less if you pre-heat the air fryer compared to starting with a cold air fryer.

By pre-heating the air fryer, you can start the searing process on the meat and develop a nice crust. However, some people choose to start with a cold air fryer to prevent the formation of grey bands just under the crust, which occur when the outer part of the meat overcooks before the inside reaches the desired temperature.

In summary, pre-heating the air fryer is a crucial step in cooking a frozen steak, and the temperature and timing will depend on your preferences, the thickness of the steak, and the model of your air fryer.

Oil and seasoning

The first step to oiling and seasoning your steak is to remove the steak from its packaging. Then, brush or spritz both sides of the steak with oil. You can use any type of oil you like, such as olive oil, avocado oil, or vegetable oil.

Next, it's time to season your steak. At a minimum, you should use salt and pepper. For other herbs, spices, or rubs, plan to use about 50% more than you would with a thawed steak. This is because the seasonings won't have as much time to penetrate the meat, so you need to use more to get a nicely flavoured steak. After slicing the cooked steak, sprinkle it with coarse sea salt to ensure you get a hit of salt in every bite.

Some suggested seasonings include:

• Garlic powder
• Dried rosemary
• Onion powder
• Oregano
• Italian seasoning
• Montreal steak seasoning

If you don't have any oil, you can spritz the steak with cold water before applying the seasonings. However, avoid using butter on the outside of the steak as it may burn during cooking.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for your frozen steak in an air fryer will depend on several factors, including the thickness of the steak, the cut of meat, and your desired level of doneness.

Firstly, it is recommended that you preheat your air fryer. Preheat to a temperature of around 360-450°F. Some sources suggest 400°F as the optimal temperature for a good crust and browning.

For a 1-inch-thick steak, cook for around 20 minutes, flipping the steak after 10 minutes to ensure even cooking. If you are cooking a thinner steak, of around 0.5 inches, 15 minutes should be enough, flipping halfway through. For a thicker steak, of 1.5 inches or more, you will need to increase the cooking time to around 25 minutes, and you may need to lower the temperature to 350-375°F to prevent the outside from burning.

The level of doneness you desire will also impact the cooking time. For a rare steak, cook for 3-5 minutes each side, and remove immediately. For medium-rare, cook for 5-6 minutes each side and let the steak sit for 2 minutes in the residual heat of the air fryer. For medium, cook for about 7 minutes each side and let the steak sit for 5 minutes. For medium-well to well-done, cook for 8-10 minutes each side and let the steak rest for 5 minutes.

It is important to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your steak to ensure it is cooked to your liking. Rare steak should be 120-125°F, medium-rare 130°F, medium 140°F, medium-well 150°F, and well-done 160°F.

Resting the steak

It is recommended that you let the steak rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing into it. Ideally, you should let it rest for 10 to 15 minutes if you can. This will ensure that the steak is juicy and tender. If you are in a hurry, even resting the steak for 2 minutes is better than not resting it at all.

While the steak is resting, you can finish preparing any side dishes and set the table. You can also use this time to make a compound butter to put on top of the steak, if desired. Simply mix softened butter with your choice of herbs and spices, roll it into a log shape, and chill it in the fridge until you're ready to serve it.

Once the steak has rested, transfer it to a cutting board and slice it against the grain. This will ensure that the steak is tender and easy to chew. Finally, sprinkle the steak with coarse sea salt to enhance the flavour and give it a nice crust.

Frequently asked questions