Air fryer steak brings the sizzle to your kitchen in minutes. It’s a tasty shortcut to steak with a satisfying sear, but without the fuss of pan frying.
Cooking steak in an air fryer? I know, it sounds a little out there, but hear me out – it will change your life.
The air fryer creates a perfectly seared crust on the outside while keeping the inside juicy and tender. It’s so quick and easy – just season your steak, and pop it in the air fryer—no need to wait for the grill to heat up or deal with a smoky kitchen.
What do you need?
- Steak – The best cuts of steak for air frying are tender cuts with some fat marbled. Any cut that is good for grilling or shallow frying will be good air-fried. 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
- Seasoning – I usually go for classic peppered steak seasoned with flaked salt and cracked black pepper. Use smoked salt or garlic salt for more flavor. Alternatively, you can use regular store-bought steak seasoning or steak rub.
- Oil – I use light olive oil, but you can use another liquid cooking oil. Choose one with a high smoke point (eg avocado oil, canola oil, vegetable oil) to reduce the chance of your air fryer smoking.
How to cook steak in the air fryer
1
Preheat.
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.
If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat mode, just set it to air fry for 3-4 minutes.
2
Season.
Season the steak. Mix the seasoning on a plate. Pat the steak dry, brush with a little oil, then press the steak into the seasoning on both sides.
3
Pop the in the air fryer.
Place the steak into the air fryer basket. If you are cooking more than one, make sure 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 larger steak and carve it to serve.
4
Air fry.
Cook steak in the air fryer at 400°F/ 200°C until it is done to your liking. See the cooking time chart below for time estimates.
After cooking, remove the steak, and allow it to rest for around five minutes before serving.
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. This allows the fibers of the meat to reabsorb the juices, resulting in a juicy and tender steak.
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.
A note on cooking times
The exact cooking time will depend on how big your piece of steak is (in particular how thick), how well you like it done, and how efficient your air fryer is.
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. Check the table below for estimated air fryer steak cooking times.
| 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 |
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. And remember that the temperature will continue to rise a few degrees while it rests.
>> Related article: Master Steak Levels of Cooking for Perfectly Done Steak Every Time
Serving ideas
I like to serve steak topped with compound butter (garlic butter or herb butter), with a side salad and chips or wedges.
Tip: If you want 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
Instructions
- 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
Nutrition information is an estimate and provided for informational purposes only.
