Ella Walter
Cooking steak in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a delicious meal. With minimal preparation, simple ingredients, and no mess, you can achieve a perfectly cooked steak with a crispy exterior and a juicy, tender interior. Air fryers are a convenient alternative to grilling, pan-frying, or oven-baking, and can produce equally tasty results.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Steak type | Porterhouse, ribeye, sirloin, New York strip, t-bone, top sirloin, filet mignon |
| Steak thickness | 1 inch |
| Steak weight | 1/2 pound |
| Steak temperature | Room temperature |
| Oil | Olive oil, butter, or any other neutral oil |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic butter |
| Air fryer temperature | 400°F |
| Air fryer preheat time | 10 minutes |
| Cooking time | 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway |
| Resting time | 5-10 minutes |
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Steak preparation
Preparing a steak in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to cook a delicious meal with minimal mess. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect air-fried steak.
Choosing the Steak
The best cuts of steak for the air fryer include porterhouse, sirloin, New York strip, ribeye, t-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon. Steaks that are at least 1-inch thick are recommended, as thinner steaks may cook too fast and not achieve the desired browning.
Seasoning
Before seasoning, pat the steaks dry with a paper towel. This will ensure even browning. You can then season the steaks with salt and pepper, and a little oil, or a dry rub. A simple dry rub can be made with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. You can also add a pinch of sugar to balance the salty flavours and promote caramelization.
Air Fryer Preparation
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for at least 10 minutes before adding the steaks. This will ensure the outside of the steaks gets nicely browned.
Cooking
Place the steaks in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not overcrowded, as this will affect the airflow and even cooking. For a 1-inch steak, cook at 400°F for 10 minutes, turning halfway, for a medium-rare steak. Increase the cooking time to 12 minutes for a medium steak, still turning halfway. Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness of your steak and your desired level of doneness.
Resting
Once the desired cooking time has been reached, remove the steaks from the air fryer and let them rest on a plate, loosely tented with foil, for at least 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibres to relax, resulting in a moist and flavoursome steak.
Serving
Air-fried steaks can be served with a variety of sides, such as baked or mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a seasonal green salad. Top your steak with garlic butter or your favourite sauce for an extra indulgent touch.
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Air fryer settings
The ideal air fryer settings for cooking steak include the correct temperature, cooking time, and spacing.
Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This will take around 10 minutes, but some recipes suggest heating for only 2 minutes or 5 minutes. The preheating time ensures the outside of the steak browns nicely, so it is important not to skip this step.
Next, place your seasoned steaks in the air fryer basket. Make sure you do not overcrowd the basket, as the steaks need enough airflow to cook evenly. If needed, cook the steaks in batches.
For 1-inch-thick steaks, cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of your steak and your desired level of doneness. For a rare steak, cook for a shorter time; for a well-done steak, cook for longer.
After removing your steak from the air fryer, let it rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibres to relax, resulting in a moist and flavoursome steak.
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Cooking time
The cooking time for your steak in an air fryer will depend on the thickness of the steak and the level of doneness you want to achieve. It's important to note that different air fryer models may also produce slightly different results.
Firstly, it's recommended to let your steak come to room temperature before cooking. This will ensure your steak cooks evenly and helps it to be less tough. Take your steak out of the fridge for 20-25 minutes before cooking.
For a 1-inch thick steak, cooked to medium-rare, you should cook the steak in a preheated air fryer for 10 minutes, flipping it halfway through. If you want your steak cooked to medium, you should cook it for 12 minutes, flipping halfway. For a well-done steak, you will need to cook it for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
If you are cooking thicker steaks, you will need to increase the cooking time accordingly. You can check the internal temperature of your steak with a meat thermometer. For a rare steak, the internal temperature should be between 125°F and 130°F. For medium-rare, the temperature should be 130°F to 135°F, and for a medium steak, it should be 140°F.
It's important not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this will prevent even airflow and cooking. If needed, cook the steaks in batches.
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Steak doneness
Rare
Rare steaks are the least cooked, with an internal temperature between 125°F and 130°F. To achieve a rare steak in an air fryer, cook for a shorter amount of time, depending on the thickness of your steak. For a 1-inch steak, cooking for around 8-9 minutes, flipping halfway, should yield a rare steak.
Medium-Rare
Medium-rare steaks have a pink centre and an internal temperature of 135°F. For a 1-inch steak, cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway at the 5-minute mark. Adjust the cooking time accordingly if your steak is thicker or thinner than 1 inch.
Medium
Medium steaks are cooked slightly more, with an internal temperature of 145°F. For a 1-inch steak, cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway at the 6-minute mark. As with the other levels of doneness, adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of your steak.
Well-Done
Well-done steaks are cooked all the way through, with an internal temperature of 160°F. For a well-done steak in an air fryer, cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway. Keep in mind that thinner steaks may cook faster and can become chewy, so it is important to monitor the steak's progress and adjust the cooking time as needed.
To ensure your desired level of doneness, it is recommended to use a meat probe or a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak. Remove the steak from the air fryer about 5°F before it reaches your target temperature, as the steak will continue to cook while resting.
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Serving suggestions
There are many ways to serve your steak once it's cooked in the air fryer.
Firstly, it's important to let the steak rest for a few minutes after cooking. This allows the juices to redistribute and the muscle fibres to relax, ensuring your steak is moist and flavoursome throughout. You can loosely tent it with foil to prevent it from continuing to cook.
Once your steak is ready to serve, you can top it with garlic butter. To make this, mix together softened unsalted butter, garlic, rosemary, thyme, and parsley. You can also add chives, salt, and pepper to taste. Another option is to top your steak with your favourite sauce.
You can serve your steak with baked potatoes, smashed potatoes, or mashed potatoes, and a vegetable side, such as roasted green beans or asparagus. You could also serve it with chips, a seasonal green salad, or roasted vegetables.
If you have any leftover steak, you can save it for tacos, fajitas, salads, or sandwiches.
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Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the thickness of the steak and the level of doneness you prefer. For a 1-inch steak, cook for 10-12 minutes for medium-rare, and 12-15 minutes for medium.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for at least 10 minutes before adding the steaks. Brush or spray the steak with olive oil or another neutral oil and season with salt and pepper. You can also add a dry rub for leaner steaks to help with the overall colour.
Some good options for air fryer steaks include porterhouse, sirloin, New York strip, ribeye, t-bone, top sirloin, and filet mignon.
