Can You Air Fry Steaks? (Find Out)

There’s nothing juicier than air-fried steaks tossed with seasonings, garlic butter, and herbs. These flavorful, delicious steaks take no more than 10 minutes to cook!

They are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.

Air-fried steaks are healthy and tasty at the same time. They’re packed with protein. You can have them for lunch, dinner, or any festive gathering! It’s up to you!

You’re going to love this flavorful air fryer steak recipe. Let’s get to it!

What exactly is an air fryer?

The air fryer is just a more powerful countertop convection oven that does not really fry your food. The compact gadget, patented by Philips Electronics Company, claims to replicate the results of deep-frying using just hot air and little or no oil.

This device has grown in popularity in recent years, with over 40% of U.S. houses owning one by July 2020, according to market research firm NPD Group. You can air-fry anything, from prepackaged chicken wings and handmade french fries to roasted veggies and fresh-baked cookies.

How To Cook Steak In The Air Fryer?

Follow the step-by-step procedure to make air-fried steak.

Ingredients

  • Steak: 1 lb of sirloin, Ribeye, New York steak that is 1 inch thick
  • Italian Seasoning: It’s a classic seasoning that tastes so good.
  • Spices: One tablespoon each of freshly ground pepper and kosher salt, and crushed red pepper flake

For Garlic Herb Butter

  • Butter: 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted at room temperature
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic minced or finely grated
  • Fresh herbs: 1 tbsp each of freshly chopped parsley and fresh chives. These herbs add subtle color and flavor to your steaks.
Air-fried steak on a plate
Parsley enhances the flavor of steaks.

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Meanwhile, sprinkle seasoning on both sides of the steaks and pat them in. Cover the marinated steak and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight to marinate.

Step 2: After 2 hours, take the steak out and brush both sides with olive oil. Cook it in the air fryer for around 4 minutes on each side at 390 degrees F. Flip the steak and cook for a further 4 minutes.

Step 3: Give the steak 10 minutes to rest after moving it to a chopping board. Mix butter, parsley, chives, garlic, and red pepper flakes in a small bowl.

Remove the steak and cut it into thick slices of size 1/4-inch against the grain.

Mix garlic powder, herbs, chives, parsley, red pepper flakes, and butter in a small bowl. Place in the microwave, and melt into a sauce by heating for 15 seconds to make garlic butter.

Now, drizzle 1 tablespoon of the garlic butter sauce over each steak slice and serve.

Here’s the time chart for differect steak doneness:

10 minutes for medium-rare

12 minutes for medium

14 minutes for medium-well

Here’s the temperature chart for the steak’s doneness:

Type of SteakTemperature
Rare125°F
Medium-Rare135°F
Medium145°F
Medium Well155°F
Well160°F
Different types of steaks

Nutritional Information

A single serving of 16 oz. Sirloin steak comprises 221 kcal in total. It is rich in protein (39.5g). It has 0.5g of carbohydrates and 7g of fat.

However, there are cholesterol and sodium levels but in negligible amounts. All in all, it’s a delicious meal with a rich amount of protein.

Tips:

  • Spraying the oil on the steak will help them brown evenly.  
  • Avoid packing the air fryer too tightly. There should be sufficient airflow over the steaks for ideal browning.
  • Lightly cover them with foil to prevent them from overcooking.
  • Let the steak rest at room temperature before serving. Take the steaks and place them on a dish rest for 30 minutes.
  • Use paper towels to pat dry steaks. Moisture can cause them to steam rather than brown.
  • You can add various spices and seasonings to food to suit your tastes. Steaks need at least 12 to 15 minutes to come to room temperature.
  • Start with steaks at least an inch thick since thickness matters. Thinner steaks cook quickly and lack a brown texture.
Medium Rare steak with Herb Garlic Butter
Medium Rare Fillet Mignon Steak with Herb Garlic Butter

Seasoning Options

Plenty of seasoning options help us to enhance the flavor of seasonings:

Chicago steak seasoning is the most used seasoning for dressing up steaks. Salt and pepper also work well.

This dry steak rub is a wonderful alternative. It tastes great on air-fried steak.

Alternatively, you may try pan-seared ribeye steak or the Santa Maria rub. This dish is fantastic with red wine sauce. It’s great for dressing up your recipe and amusing your guests.

Combine minced garlic, lemon zest, and chopped parsley to create a deliciously vibrant steak topping.

Some more dressing ideas for steaks:

  • Blended butter
  • Smooth pan sauce.
  • Mushrooms.
  • Crunchy herbs
  • Salsa
  • Creamy Blue Cheese
  • Olive tapenade

Here’s a short video on “how can we air fry steaks?”

A tutorial for perfect air-fried steaks

FAQs

How Long do You Air Fry Steak?

Different types of steaks take varying times and temperatures to be cooked, such as:

  • Air Fryer Sirloin Steak (1-inch thick): It is cooked at 400°F, 5 minutes on each side.
  • Well done Air Fryer Steak Bites (1lb.): It is cooked at 400°F for 10 minutes
  • Air Fryer Filet Mignon 6 oz. : It is cooked at 390°F for 4 minutes on each side
  • Air Fryer Ribeye Steak (1.5-inch thick): It is cooked at 400°F 6 minutes on each side

Will a steak dry out in an air fryer?

When cooking a steak in the air fryer, there is a lot of chance of it drying up. Unlike the chicken, it has a thin skin over it.

To help restore that taste and moisture, add 1 to 2 tbsp of oil to the air fryer and the steak.

How long can we store garlic butter?

You can store garlic butter spread in the refrigerator and freezer for up to two weeks and two months, respectively.

Pan-frying or air-frying Steak: which is better?

Air fryers are excellent at cooking steak because they supply hot air evenly to the food. However, the best way to cook a steak is over a high fire because the quicker it cooks, the more tender the meat will be.

Steaks prepared in an air fryer achieve the same effects as those usually obtained by searing them on a grill or pan. The recipe I shared will help you know what temperature and time to go for medium rare, well done, or medium rare air fryers.

Air frying is better than microwaves and ovens due to many reasons. A scorching hot grill takes approximately 2+ minutes per side to get a good, tight sear with a juicy medium-rare inside.

The air fryer uses less time and provides a medium-rare steak at a set temperature without any manual effort. However, different air fryers have versatile cooking temperatures and techniques.

Will frozen steak work in an air fryer?

Yes! You can use the air fryer for cooking frozen steaks.

The Air Fryer heats the steaks quickly and evenly because of its compact size and ability to distribute heat.

Does steak go well with pasta?

It’s entirely up to you! Some leftover pasta goes well with the fresh steaks. My personal favorite is the creamy penne spaghetti. Or you can serve it with Fettuccine alfredo as well.

Grilled steak
Grilled Steak

How Long Does It Take An Air Fryer To Cook A Steak?

In my tests, I have discovered that cook times vary greatly between air fryer brands. 

As a result, I’ve provided wider-than-usual ranges for suggested cook times. A medium-rare steak should take 7 to 9 minutes, and a medium steak should take 10 to 14 minutes. Until you know your air fryer’s cook time, start checking at the first time mentioned and adjusting as needed.

A meat thermometer is the best way to determine when your steak is done. You want to be certain that it has achieved a safe cooking temperature.

Final Thoughts

To conclude, I’d like to say;

  • An air-fried steak is an incredible option for a healthy and protein-rich diet. It’s ready in 8–19 minutes at 400F.
  • You can season them with Chicago or Santa Maria rub seasoning. There are a variety of temperatures for cooking stakes to your desired doneness.
  • I’ve discussed the details already. For best results, flip the steaks halfway through the recipe.
  • Steaks are served with pasta, potatoes, veggies, and crunchy herbs.
  • For any confusion, give it another read.

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