Air-Fryer Meat: A Beginner's Guide To Crispy Perfection

Air fryers are a great way to cook meat, whether you're making steak bites, bacon, or even a whole chicken. They work by circulating hot air rapidly with an internal fan, simulating deep frying without the oil. This means you can get crispy, golden results without the mess and health implications of using lots of oil.

When cooking meat in an air fryer, it's important to make sure it's fully defrosted, seasoned, and monitored. You should also lightly brush the meat with oil to prevent it from sticking and help the seasoning adhere. Most proteins will also need to be flipped halfway through cooking to ensure even cooking, but this isn't necessary for delicate fish fillets.

There are lots of different meat recipes you can try in an air fryer, and it's a great way to cook a tasty, quick, and easy dinner.

Choosing the right cut of meat

Type of Steak

The type of steak you choose will depend on your taste preferences and budget. Ribeye, sirloin, and tri-tip cuts are excellent choices for air frying due to their good marbling and flavour. These cuts tend to be more expensive but offer superior texture and taste. If you're looking for a more budget-friendly option, chuck shoulder steaks (also known as London Broil steaks) are a great alternative. They may be slightly firmer, but they can still deliver a delicious air-fried steak experience.

Thickness of Steak

When air frying, consider the thickness of your steak. Thicker cuts, such as a thick-cut ribeye, will require a longer cooking time to achieve your desired doneness. If you're aiming for a medium-rare steak, a thinner cut of meat will cook faster and may be a better option.

Doneness Preference

The desired doneness of your steak is another critical factor in choosing the right cut. For medium-rare, which is a popular choice for steak lovers, aim for an internal temperature of 135°F. If you prefer your steak medium, go for 145°F. Rare steaks are cooked to an internal temperature of 125°F. Using a meat thermometer is the best way to ensure your steak is cooked to your liking.

Marbling and Fat Content

The amount of fat and marbling in the steak can impact the overall taste and texture. A good amount of fat and marbling will contribute to a juicy and flavourful steak. Cuts like ribeye and sirloin are known for their marbling, resulting in a tender and tasty bite. However, if you prefer a leaner option, you can choose a cut with less fat, keeping in mind that it may require a slightly different cooking approach.

Personal Taste and Familiarity

Ultimately, choosing the right cut of meat comes down to your personal taste. You may already have a favourite cut of steak that you're familiar with. Using your preferred cut for air frying can be a great way to ensure you enjoy the flavour, texture, and toughness (or tenderness) that you're accustomed to. It's all about creating a dining experience that suits your palate.

Remember, air frying is a versatile cooking method, and you can always experiment with different cuts to find the ones that suit your taste and budget. By considering factors like steak type, thickness, doneness preference, and fat content, you'll be well on your way to air-frying perfection!

Marinating and seasoning

Next, you'll want to prepare your marinade. A good marinade will have a balance of oil, salt, pepper, and your choice of herbs and spices. You can use a homemade mix of spices or a store-bought spice mix. Some popular store-bought options include McCormick Grill Mates Smoky Montreal Steak Seasoning, Kinder’s Organic Buttery Steakhouse Seasoning, and Yellowstone Cattleman Steak Seasoning.

If you're making your own spice blend, some spices and herbs you may want to consider include black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, chives, parsley, thyme, and rosemary. You can also add oil and salt to your marinade, but if you're pre-marinating your meat, it's best to add the salt right before cooking.

Once you've prepared your marinade, toss your meat until it's evenly coated. You can do this in a bowl or a ziplock bag for easier cleanup. Massage the spices into the meat to ensure even coverage.

After your meat has been marinated, it's important to let it rest for a few minutes before cooking. This allows the flavours to truly absorb into the meat.

When you're ready to cook, lightly brush each serving of meat with about 1 teaspoon of oil. This will help the seasoning adhere to the meat and promote a crispy, golden-brown exterior.

Now you're ready to place your meat in the air fryer! Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will impact the cooking time and the overall crispiness of your meat.

And that's it! With these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating juicy, flavourful meat in your air fryer.

Preheating the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your meat will cook evenly and efficiently, and helps to create a delicious sear on the outside while keeping the centre juicy and tender.

Different air fryers will have different preheating requirements, so it's important to refer to your specific model's instructions. However, a general guide is to preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F. For example, one recipe recommends preheating at 400°F/205°C for 4 minutes, while another suggests 5 minutes at 400°F.

Preheating your air fryer will also depend on the type of meat you are cooking. For instance, if you are cooking a whole chicken, you may not need to preheat your air fryer, as it will take longer to cook. However, for meats such as steak, preheating is essential to ensure a good sear.

Additionally, if you are cooking multiple batches of food, you may not need to preheat your air fryer before the first batch, as the air fryer will already be hot from the previous batch.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for meat in an air fryer will depend on the type of meat, the thickness of the cut, and the desired level of doneness.

For steak, a temperature of 400°F is often recommended. For a medium-rare ribeye, cook for around 10 minutes, and for a medium ribeye, cook for 12-14 minutes. For a medium-rare steak, pull your steak out of the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of 130°F, as it will rest up to 135°F. For a medium steak, cook to an internal temperature of 145°F.

For bacon, a high temperature is recommended, and the cooking time will depend on how crispy you like it. For perfect results, cook for 10-12 minutes.

For a whole chicken, it is recommended to cook breast-side down for most of the cooking time, flipping it over for the last 10 minutes.

For chicken wings, a higher temperature will help achieve the desired crispiness.

For pork chops, a temperature of 375°F or 400°F is recommended.

For ground beef, it is recommended to cook it as you normally would on the stove rather than in the air fryer.

Serving suggestions

There are many ways to serve meat cooked in an air fryer. Here are some ideas:

Steak

Air fryer steak bites can be served with some air-fried vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, or green beans. You can also serve them with grilled cauliflower steaks or roasted cauliflower for a low-carb option. If you're looking for a richer meal, pair your steak with a potato side, such as melting potatoes or creamy mashed potatoes, and a veggie like garlic-Parmesan roasted carrots, a garlic-herb wedge salad, or cacio e pepe Brussels sprouts.

Chicken

For chicken, you can try keto-friendly, low-carb options like pecan-crusted chicken tenders or Turkish chicken kebab shish tavuk. For something more indulgent, air fryer Nashville chicken is a cayenne-pepper-spiced option.

Pork

Air fryer ham is a great option, reducing cooking time from hours to just thirty minutes. You can also try air fryer pork chops, crispy pork belly, or bacon-wrapped hot dogs.

Lamb

For lamb, try air fryer lamb burgers with spices and mint, an air-fried rack of lamb, or Sichuan cumin lamb sirloins.

Beef

In addition to steak, you can cook roast beef or beef kabobs in an air fryer.

Other Meats

You can also cook bacon, bone marrow, and meatloaf in an air fryer.

Frequently asked questions