Tender, juicy meat. Slightly crisp, caramelized edges. Buttery finish. All in 15 minutes or less. Air Fryer Steak isn’t just for busy, “hands-free” home chefs; it’s totally legit on its own and the perfect method for a mid-week surprise dinner.
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Some couples play “Dream Vacation.” For others, “Lotto Fantasies” is the champ. In my house, our current favorite is “Delusions of Tiny Houses,” and our reigning top tiny house debate? Between an instant pot and an air fryer, would we need any other actual cooking apparatus if we wound up living in an RV?
This part of the game has brought us some thought-provoking and ultimately ridiculous arguments and high-stakes bets over hypothetically never being able to eat – nay cook – certain foods again. (Like, I didn’t think we were huge homemade chocolate chip cookie people in this house, but the thought of never pulling a tray of fresh baked cookies from an oven again is apparently traumatizing to some of us.)
Cooking steak in an air fryer was another big one. Was this even possible? What about the taste? What about the texture? Were some meaty gods of carnage going to strike us down for being blasphemous? Turns out, I was just being melodramatic – it works great! No cast iron needed!
Air fryer steak doesn’t even take any “technique,” but it does come with caveats – all which come before you even start to cook – so please read on. And if you have a skeptical partner like my husband did, throw an extra five bucks, a foot rub, and dish duty on the table too. I mean… at least I walked away with air fryer steak. *womp womp*
For a condensed post, click to view the web story for this recipe!
Best Cuts for Air Fryer Steak
First up, size matters. Whichever cut you choose, keep in mind that it has to actually fit into the air fryer, so have an idea of what size steak your particular model can handle.
Thicker steaks – roughly 1″ – work best. They cook long enough to develop a crispy, golden brown exterior, but don’t cook so long that a perfect medium-rare temperature isn’t achievable.
“Steakhouse style” steaks – strip steak, sirloin, and ribeyes – have yielded the best results for us. Flank, strip, and flat iron didn’t quite develop an exterior crust before the center was the right temperature.
How to Make Air Fryer Steak
Here’s one more for the list: Open flame. Grill grates. Cast iron skillet. And now air fryer basket. Don’t sleep on this easy, hands-off method – Air Fryer Steak gives you foolproof insides and crisp edges with countertop convenience. Comes out perfectly seasoned, but give it a buttery finish and it’ll become an easy family favorite fast!
Before You Start!
Pat the steaks completely dry, then set on a plate and bring to room temperature. This takes about 30 minutes. Room temperature steaks will cook more quickly, and much more evenly.
- PRE-COOK REST. Remove the steaks from their packaging, pat very dry, then season with salt. Rest at room temperature for at least 30 minutes (up to 2 hours).
- PREHEAT. Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F even if your model doesn’t require it.
- SEASON. Pat steaks dry again, then rub with a bit of olive oil and season with more salt and ground pepper. Arrange the steaks in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
- COOK. Cook at 400°F (see below for cook times); flip the steaks once halfway through.
- REST. Add a small pat of butter to each steak, then rest 5-10 minutes.
- SERVE. Slice against the grain for tender bites and serve.
Chef’s Tips!
- Moisture is the enemy of crispiness – do pat your steaks completely dry. A kiss of olive oil will also help with browning.
- Use the right cut! Steakhouse style steaks – think ribeyes, sirloin, and strip steak – perform best when cooked whole in the air fryer.
- Butter really does make everything better. I picked up this tip when I was working in restaurants – our line cooks always let steaks rests with a bit butter drizzled on top to enhance the flavor.
- Always check the internal temperature using an instant read thermometer for accurate results.
- Resting adds roughly five degrees to the final cook time, so keep that in mind when pulling the steaks. For more temperature tips, keep reading.
Air Fryer Steak Temperature Cooking Guide
Two factors will determine cooking time: thickness of the steak, and temperature of the steak before putting into air fryer.
Cook times below reflect steaks that are roughly 1″ thick and have been rested at room temperature for at least 30 minutes prior to cooking. Add 1-2 minutes for colder steaks.
- Medium Rare = cook at 400°F for 10 minutes until temperature reaches 125°F; rest 5-10 minutes for a final temperature of 130°F-ish
- Medium = cook at 400°F for 12 minutes until temperature reaches 130°F; rest 5-10 minutes for a final temperature of 135°F-ish
- Medium Well = cook at 400°F for 15 minutes until temperature reaches 140°F; rest 5-10 minutes for a final temperature of 145°F-ish
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t recommend it. I wound up with no caramelization in the finished product (the meat was too wet) and it took about twice as long to cook.
Sure. I prefer mine with just salt and pepper so that the beef dominates, but if you need to sprinkle on some of that Canadian city’s preferred topping, I’m not going to stop you. Just don’t skip the salt in the first step!
Our Most Popular Steak Recipes
- Steak Bites with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers
- Steak Fajita Salad
- Mostly Veggie Steak Stir Fry
- Grilled Rosemary Flank Steak
- Skirt Steak Tacos
Did you try steak in the air fryer? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.
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Recipe
Air Fryer Steak
Print Recipe Rate this Recipe Pin RecipeRecommended Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 10-oz steaks, ribeye, new york, or sirloin
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp butter
- kosher salt, to taste
- fresh ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pat the steaks completely dry, season with kosher salt, then set on a plate and rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Preheat the air fryer at 400°F for 5 minutes, if if your model doesn't require it.
- Pat the steaks dry again, then rub with olive oil, pepper, and more salt if desired. Arrange in the air fryer in a single layer.
- Cook 10 minutes at 400°F for medium rare (12 minutes for medium); flip the steaks over halfway through cooking.
- Remove the basket and set on the counter. Top each steak with ½ tbsp butter. Rest 5-10 minutes.
- Season with additional salt and pepper to taste, then slice against the grain and serve.
Notes
- Medium Rare = cook at 400°F for 10 minutes until temperature reaches 125°F; rest 5-10 minutes for a final temperature of 130°F-ish
- Medium = cook at 400°F for 12 minutes until temperature reaches 130°F; rest 5-10 minutes for a final temperature of 135°F-ish
- Medium Well = cook at 400°F for 15 minutes until temperature reaches 140°F; rest 5-10 minutes for a final temperature of 145°F-ish
jojobe
I’ve just acquired my airfryer and am excited to use it in this manner! Does it create a lot of greasy smoke? I don’t have an extractor vent in my kitchen, only a microwave filter fan.