Can you cook steak in an air fryer? Yes, you can absolutely cook steak in an air fryer. In fact, you can cook almost anything in an air fryer! Steak is a fun, summery meal that gets the whole family (or your squad) together.
It’s an excellent opportunity to catch up with the people you care about and make memories over the food that brings people together more than anything else – grilling! Exceptional fare can indeed be prepared faster with an air fryer as opposed to a bigger cooking facility.
The air fryer is a relatively new kitchen appliance, gaining popularity among home cooks. Thanks to its ability to replicate the crispy texture and flavor of deep-fried foods, but without all the oil. The air fryer uses a lot less fat, and one’s food would taste good even without applying any oil.
Since it works in the same way as a standard deep fryer cooks, you can actually cook steak in the fryer.
However, the tenderness and crispness of the steak will depend on the type of steak you are using and the temperature setting at which you are working.
Air fryers use convection heat to crisp up your favorite fried foods—including steak—in a fraction of the time, it takes an oven to do the same thing. You’ll get that crunchy exterior without losing any moisture or flavor on the inside!
How to Cook Steak in an Air Fryer?
When you think of an air fryer, you probably think it’s a kitchen gadget that is only good for cooking foods such as fries, chicken wings, and other types of breaded food. Air fryers also cook a steak! They don’t cook it in the classic sense where you grill the meat outdoors and use charcoal or propane to heat the food. But they do cook steaks in their way. How much meat you’re trying to cook can depend on the type of air fryer you get. If you’re only making two or three steaks at a time, buying an air fryer that advertises explicitly that it can cook that amount could be your best option. If you only want to make single servings at a time and don’t mind waiting longer, consider getting a bigger air fryer with a bigger chamber.
Here’s How to Cook Steak in an Air Fryer:
We understand why you’d want to cook a steak in an air fryer. It’s so much easier than using an oven, it’s quicker than the stovetop, and it’s much more fun than that newfangled sous vide thing.
Here’s what you’re going to need:
- Steak (duh)
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic powder
- Olive oil
- Air Fryer
First off, pat your steak dry with a paper towel and season it with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Make sure you get plenty of seasoning on the sides of the steak as well! Then drizzle it lightly with some olive oil.
Preheat air fryer to 400F. If you don’t set the temperature high enough, your steak won’t brown properly. Place your steak in the air fryer basket and set a timer for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes, flip the steak over and set a timer for another 6 minutes.
The second side will brown more quickly than the first side! While this step is crucial for getting a nice crust on your steak, be very careful not to overcook it at this point. Try testing it with a meat thermometer if you’re unsure how long you need to cook.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Steak in an Air fryer?
Well, the answer is a little bit complicated. It depends on two main factors: the thickness of your steak and how you like your steak done.
Let’s start with the thickness of the steak. A thicker steak will take longer to cook than a thinner one (this should be pretty obvious).
So if you have a bunch of steaks that are different thicknesses, and you want them all done simultaneously, you will need to put the thick ones in first. Then put the thin ones in after they’ve been cooking for a while.
If you’re cooking just one big slab of meat, go ahead and throw it on!
Sometimes when I’m cooking lots of steaks or slabs of meat at once, I’ll also cut them up into smaller pieces, so they’re all about the same size.
Then I can throw them all in at once and let them cook evenly without worrying too much about which ones need more time than others. And now for the second factor: how well done do you like your steak? This is really up to personal taste; some people like their steaks cooked medium-rare while others prefer theirs medium or well-done—the choice is yours!
You can cook a steak in your air fryer, but you should note that it works best with thinner cuts of meat.
You will achieve the most success with cuts of meat about one inch thick. If you have a thick cut of meat and you want to cook it in your air fryer, you will need to sear your meat in a skillet before you do so.
It is also better to cook tender cuts of meat such as rib-eye or filet mignon.
Here is a Quick Guide:
- For filet mignon, cook for 6-8 minutes at 400 degrees. Add an additional 2 minutes per inch of thickness.
- For sirloin steak, cook for 9-10 minutes at 400 degrees. Add an additional minute per half-inch of thickness.
- For rib-eye steak, cook for 5-6 minutes at 400 degrees, depending on how well-done you want it. Add an additional minute per half-inch of thickness.
What Can You Not Cook in an Air Fryer?
The air fryer is a revolutionary kitchen appliance that has completely changed how we cook.
Air fryers allow you to whip up your favorite foods with little or no oil and are a great way to cut back on fat without sacrificing flavor.
But what can you not cook in an air fryer? Some foods don’t work well with this cooking method, and others should never be cooked in one due to safety concerns.
Here Are Some of the Most Common Foods People Ask About When it Comes to Cooking in an Air Fryer:
- You should not cook french fries, tater tots, or any other type of potato chip in an air fryer because they tend to fall apart and get stuck in the basket if they are not cut into smaller pieces first.
- Any food that needs boiling or steaming first.
- You need to heat frozen foods such as chicken nuggets or fish sticks before being placed inside an air fryer, so they do not stick together when cooked at high temperatures for extended periods. This could cause them to burn instead of turning golden brown as their fresh counterparts would after about 10 minutes, depending on how crispy you like your meal.
- Anything that has a liquid filling (like ravioli).
- Anything too big (like whole chicken breasts or potatoes).
- Foods with high water content (like tomatoes, cucumbers, and lettuce).
- Eggs will get too runny if they’re fried at temperatures above 200 degrees.
5 Interesting Air Fryer Steak Recipes
Steak is one of the most popular foods in the world. There are many different ways to prepare a steak when it comes to cooking. For example, you can grill, pan sear, broil, or even use an air fryer.
Air fryers are becoming increasingly popular because they are quick and easy to use. You need to place your food into the air fryer basket and set your desired temperature and time. Once your food has cooked, remove it from the basket and enjoy!
If You’ve Never Used an Air Fryer Before, Try These Air Fryer Steak Recipes Out for Size!
Perfect Air Fryer Steak with Garlic-Herb Butter
Are you looking to make restaurant-quality season steak from the comfort of your kitchen? Well, look no further. If you love cooking steak, this recipe is for YOU.
We’ve taken a classic garlic-herb butter and added it to perfectly seared steak for an out-of-this-world flavor combo that will be a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 cloves garlic minced, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves chopped, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional), salt and pepper to taste 4 (8 ounces each) rib-eye steaks
Instructions:
- Combine the butter, garlic, parsley, thyme, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.
- Set aside.
- Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Working in batches if necessary, add the steaks to the air fryer basket and cook until you reach the desired doneness.
- Remove from the air fryer and top each steak with 1 tablespoon of garlic herb butter before serving.
Air-Fryer Steak Frites
1. Pat dry your steak with a paper towel and let it come to room temperature on the counter.
2. Season liberally on both sides with salt and pepper, then place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees while you peel and cut your potatoes into fries. Toss potatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl, then place them in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
4. Cook for 20 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
5. Once potatoes are cooked through golden brown, remove them from the basket and set them aside on a plate or bowl covered with foil to keep warm. Turn heat up to 425 degrees.
6. Place prepped steak in the air fryer basket for 3 minutes before flipping for another 2 minutes (for medium-rare). Adjust cook time accordingly if you prefer rare or well-done medium steak!
Perfectly Cooked Air Fryer Steak Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds of steak
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of minced garlic
- A sprinkle of salt and pepper
- ½ cup of balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup of chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons of butter or garlic butter
Directions:
1. Remove the steaks from the refrigerator, pat dry, and let them sit on the counter for about 20 minutes before cooking to bring them to room temperature.
2. Mix olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the mixture all over both sides of the steaks. Set aside for 20 minutes. (Be sure to use a plate that can fit into your air fryer.)
3. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Lay the steaks in the basket and cook for 8 minutes (for medium-rare). Flip them over and cook another 5-6 minutes if you prefer medium doneness. They will continue to cook as they rest, so take them out 1-2 degrees before they are at your desired doneness. Remove medium-rare steak from the air fryer and cover loosely with foil; let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Air Fryer Filet Mignon
Prep Time: 10 Minutes | Cook Time: 16 Minutes | Total Time: 26 Minutes | air fryer Servings: 4 | Calories: 321 kcal
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 filet mignon steaks (about 1 1/2 inches thick)
Instructions:
Combine the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a small bowl. Place the filet mignons in a dish and coat the olive oil mixture on both sides. Allow marinating for about 30 minutes. Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees F. Place the filets in the air fryer basket and cook for 6 minutes on one side. Flip the fillets over and cook for another 6 minutes. Then flip again, cooking for 2-3 minutes until you reach the desired doneness. Let sit for 5 minutes before slicing.
Grilled Chuck Steak Recipe with Compound Butter
In the world of steaks, filet mignon and rib-eyes get all the attention but don’t forget about chuck steaks. These are great for grilling and are incredibly flavorful if marinated and cooked correctly. This recipe is a surefire way to impress your guests without breaking the bank.
For this recipe, you will need a few things:
- 2 one-inch thick chuck steaks, weighing approximately 1 lb each
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
- 2 teaspoons honey
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
Combine the soy sauce, oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large resealable plastic bag to make the marinade. Add steaks, seal bag, and turn to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 8 hours. Remove steaks from marinade and discard marinade. Grill steaks over medium-high heat for 5-7 minutes per side or until a meat thermometer reads 135°F for medium-rare (145°F for medium). Let stand 10 minutes before slicing. Your perfect steak is ready.
Final Words – Can You Cook Steak in an Air Fryer?
You now know that an air fryer is an excellent piece of kitchen equipment that can help you cook various foods. You can cook steak in an air fryer as good as a cast iron steak, but it does take some time to get that steak from raw to ready to eat. And now, you know everything you need to know about cooking steak in an air fryer.
So, what are you waiting for? If you want to try this unique method, get yourself a good steak and an air fryer, and start cooking! if you want some practical method, you can watch full-length recipe videos.