Air Fryer Steak: Perfect Temperature For Tender Meat

Cooking steak in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to achieve a juicy and tender result. The key to success is preheating your air fryer to 400°F before adding your steaks, which ensures a nice brown crust forms on the outside without overcooking the inside. Depending on your desired level of doneness, you can cook your steaks for 11 to 13 minutes for medium-rare, or 12 minutes for medium.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F

Heat the air fryer for at least 10 minutes before adding the steaks. Once preheated, place the steaks in the air fryer and cook for 11 to 13 minutes for medium-rare, flipping halfway through. This will give the steaks a perfectly golden brown colour on all sides and help them cook evenly. For a medium-cooked steak, cook for 12 minutes.

Cook for 11-13 minutes for medium-rare

To cook a medium-rare steak in an air fryer, preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Once preheated, place your steaks in the air fryer and cook for 11 to 13 minutes, flipping halfway through. This will give you a perfectly golden brown colour on all sides and help the steaks cook evenly.

If you don't have a meat thermometer, this cooking time guide will get you the best results. However, it's important to remember that the cooking time will depend on the thickness of your steak and your desired level of doneness. For an 8-ounce ribeye, for example, 12 minutes in the air fryer will give you a medium-rare steak.

Make sure to heat your air fryer for at least 10 minutes before adding the steaks. Preheating ensures that the outside of the steaks gets nice and brown, similar to searing. If you skip this step, your steaks may end up grey and overcooked by the time the outside browns.

Flip halfway through

When cooking steak in an air fryer, it is important to flip the steak halfway through the cooking process. This will ensure that the steak cooks evenly and achieves a perfectly golden brown colour on all sides.

To cook a steak in an air fryer, preheat the appliance to 400°F. Once preheated, place the steaks in the air fryer and cook for 11 to 13 minutes for a medium-rare steak, or 12 minutes for a medium steak. Flipping the steak halfway through will help to ensure even cooking and browning.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the steak and your desired level of doneness. For a thicker steak, you may need to increase the cooking time by a few minutes. Additionally, if you prefer your steak more well-done, you may need to cook it for a longer period of time.

By flipping the steak halfway through the cooking process, you can help to prevent overcooking and ensure that the steak is cooked evenly on both sides. This will result in a juicy and tender steak with a delicious golden brown crust.

Rest for 5 minutes after cooking

To cook steak in an air fryer, it is recommended that you preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once preheated, place the steaks in the air fryer and cook for 11 to 13 minutes for a medium-rare steak, or 12 minutes for a medium steak, flipping halfway through.

After cooking, it is important to let the steak rest for 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring that your steak is juicy and tender. Resting the steak also gives it time to finish cooking, as the internal temperature will continue to rise slightly even after it has been removed from the air fryer. This is known as carry-over cooking, and it is an important factor to consider when cooking steak to your desired doneness.

During the resting period, the steak will continue to cook slightly, so it is important to take it out of the air fryer just before it reaches your desired level of doneness. For example, if you are aiming for a medium-rare steak, you should remove it from the air fryer when it reaches an internal temperature of around 130°F, as it will continue to cook and reach the ideal medium-rare temperature of 135°F during the resting period.

Resting the steak also gives you time to prepare any sides or sauces that you may be serving with it. This could include a simple salad or roasted vegetables, or a more indulgent side like garlic herb butter or a creamy peppercorn sauce. Taking a few minutes to rest the steak ensures that all components of your meal are ready at the same time, creating a well-rounded and delicious dining experience.

Finally, resting the steak gives you a chance to slice it properly. Using a sharp knife, slice the steak against the grain, which means cutting across the muscle fibres rather than parallel to them. This ensures that the steak is tender and easy to chew, making for a more enjoyable dining experience.

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature

To cook steak in an air fryer, it is recommended that you preheat the fryer to 400°F. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak and your preference for how well-done you like your steak. For example, an 8-ounce ribeye steak will take 12 minutes to cook at this temperature, and you should flip the steak halfway through.

However, rather than relying on cooking times, it is always best to cook meat to an internal temperature. This is especially important when cooking steak, as it can quickly become overcooked. The best way to check the internal temperature of your steak is to use a meat thermometer.

To use a meat thermometer, simply insert the probe into the thickest part of the steak. Make sure that the probe is not touching any bone, as this will give an inaccurate reading. The internal temperature of your steak will depend on how well-done you like your steak. For a medium-rare steak, you are aiming for an internal temperature of 130-135°F.

If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also check the doneness of your steak by pressing the thickest part of the steak with your finger. A rare steak will feel soft, a medium steak will have some resistance, and a well-done steak will be firm. However, this method is not as accurate as using a meat thermometer.

Frequently asked questions