This recipe for juicy air fryer steak is incredibly easy and delivers perfectly cooked steak every time. Cooking steak in the air fryer is the best hassle-free way to cook it, and this recipe is sure to become a staple in your meal rotation.
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Why you’ll love this recipe
Air frying steak is incredibly easy and quick, which is perfect for busy people or families. You simply season your steak, place it in the air fryer, and it does the rest. And as a bonus, there’s less clean-up afterwards compared to other cooking methods!
Some of my other air fryer beef recipes you might like to try are Air Fryer Roast Beef, Air Fryer Steak Bites, Air Fryer Beef Tenderloin, and Air Fryer Hamburgers.
Scroll down for the printable card for this air fryer steak recipe, or read on for all the details!
What do you need?
Steak
The best cuts of steak for air frying are tender cuts with some fat marbled. Some great options are:
- Boneless ribeye steak/ scotch fillet
- Filet mignon/ eye fillet
- Beef medallions
- Top loin/ New York strip steak
- Top sirloin steak
- Rump steak
Any cut that is good for grilling or shallow frying will be good air-fried.
Remove the steak from the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before cooking – meat that starts at room temperature will cook much more evenly as it doesn’t have to warm up so much before it starts cooking.
>> Related post: The Most Tender Cuts of Steak
Seasoning
Getting the seasoning right is key for air frying that perfect steak. I generally go for classic peppered steak: Sprinkle lots of cracked black pepper flakes and kosher salt onto a plate, then press the steak into the seasoning just prior to cooking.
For a more subtle flavor, you can add whole garlic cloves or flavorsome herbs like rosemary or thyme to the air fryer basket along with the steak.
Alternatively, you can use regular store-bought steak seasoning or steak rub (try Montreal steak seasoning*).
Oil
You will get the best results from air frying steak if you use a little oil. I normally use light olive oil, but almost any regular liquid cooking oil will work.
When air frying, choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking.
How to cook steak in the air fryer
This recipe is very simple to make, there are just a few steps to getting it just right:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F/ 200°C. It is important to start with a hot air fryer to help the sear develop on the outside of the steak quickly.
- Season the steak. Mix the seasoning on a plate. Pat steak dry, brush with a little oil, then press the steak into the seasoning on both sides.
- Place the steak into the air fryer basket. Ensuring they are not touching. Steaks need a lot of room to cook in an air fryer, so don’t be tempted to squeeze them in too tightly!
If you have more than will fit comfortably in your air fryer, air fry steaks one or two at a time, then leave them to rest as you cook more. Alternatively, air fry one much larger thicker steak and carve it to serve. - Air fry steak. Cook steak in the air fryer at 400°F/ 200°C until it is done to your liking. See the air fryer steak cooking time chart below for time estimates.
- Rest steak. After cooking, the meat should rest at room temperature for approximately five minutes (but not longer than 10) before serving. This allows the fibers of the meat to reabsorb the juices, resulting in a juicy and tender steak.
How to rest steak
To rest steak, place the cooked steak on a plate and cover it loosely with aluminum foil. Leave for five minutes.
You will notice some juices on the plate – these are known as ‘resting juices’ and can be poured over the steak before serving for extra flavor.
How long to air fry steak
Cook time depends on how big your piece of steak is (in particular how thick it is), how well you like it done, and how efficient your air fryer is.
Air Fryer Steak Cooking Chart
As a rule of thumb, start with 5 minutes per inch of thickness for rare steak, and add two minutes of cooking time for each degree of doneness. I have summarized some estimated air fryer steak cooking times in the table below.
| How well done? | 1 inch thick | 1½ inch thick | Internal Temp. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rare | 5 mins | 7 mins | 120°F/ 49°C |
| Medium-rare | 7 mins | 10 mins | 130°F/ 55°C |
| Medium | 8 mins | 13 mins | 140°F/ 60°C |
| Medium- well done | 10 mins | 15 mins | 150°F/ 66°C |
| Well done | 12 mins | 18 mins | 160°F/ 71°C |
Cooking times vary, and will depend on factors including which type of airfryer you have – some require you to turn food halfway through the cooking cycle to ensure it is cooked evenly.
>> Related article: Master Steak Levels of Cooking for Perfectly Done Steak Every Time
Check the internal temperature
The best way to tell how well done your steak is, is to use a thermometer to check the temperature in the center of the meat.
You can either monitor the internal temperature during cooking, using a wireless meat thermometer (like the Meater probe pictured in the photo above), or use an instant-read thermometer to regularly check the temperate towards the end of the cooking time.
Remember that the temperature of the meat will continue to rise a few degrees while it rests.
Serving ideas
I like to serve air fried steak topped with compound butter (garlic butter or herb butter), with a side salad and air fryer french fries, but air fryer potato wedges, or air fryer roasted potatoes are also great.
If you are looking to cook sides in the air fryer as well as the steak, just cook them initially for five minutes less than the full cook time, then toss them back in the air fryer to finish cooking while the steak is resting!
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover steak in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.
You can reheat leftover steak in the air fryer. Heat at 400°F/ 200°C for 3-4 minutes until warmed through.
>> See this post for full details Reheat Steak in The Air Fryer
Air Fryer Steak
Ingredients
- 8 oz steak around 1 inch / 2.5 cm thick [Note 1]
- ½ teaspoon light olive oil
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Directions
- Remove steak from the refrigerator 20 minutes prior to cooking to allow it to reach room temperature before cooking.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F / 200°C.
- Mix salt and pepper (or other seasoning) on a plate.
- Pat steak dry, then brush or spray with a little olive oil. Press each side of the steak into the salt/pepper mix.
- Place steak in air fryer basket. If you are cooking more than one, make sure they are not touching.
- Air fry at 400°F / 200°C for 7 minutes for medium-rare (12 minutes for well-done). If you want to be precise about how well your steak is done, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature – it should be 135°F / 57°C for medium-rare steak [Note 2].
- Remove steak from the air fryer, cover with aluminum foil and leave to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Try ribeye steak, filet mignon, top sirloin steak, or rump steak.
- Steak cooking times depend on steak thickness and will vary with air fryer model. Use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature during cooking:
- Rare: 125°F/ 52°C (approx 5-7 mins)
- Medium-rare: 135°F/ 57°C (approx. 7-9 mins)
- Medium: 145°F/ 63°C (approx. 9-13 mins)
- Medium-well done: 150°F/ 66°C (approx. 10-15 mins)
- Well done: 160°F/ 71°C (approx. 12-18 mins)
Nutrition
Recommended equipment
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
Welcome to Love Food Not Cooking!
I’m Eliza, busy mom, home cook, and blogger. My goal is to help everyone cook good food. Whether you are short on time, skills, or motivation, there is something here for you! We have dozens of quick and easy recipes for dinner, lunch, side dishes, and more. Our recipes use everyday ingredients, for quick delicious meals your family will love! Read more…
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