Air Fryer Steak makes a perfect seared, seasoned, buttery outside and tender inside cooked to your liking. It’s a fast, easy, and delicious way to cook steak.
Air Fryer Steak
Yes! Cooking a steak in the air fryer is possible, cook it rare, medium-rare, well done, and so on. Simply remove all moisture from your steak with a paper towel, coat it with cooking oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Preheat the air fryer, and cook! From start to finish it only takes about 20 minutes.
An air fryer allows hot air to penetrate the steak from all sides allowing even cooking, less fuss, a crispy outside, and a tender inside.
For more easy air fryer recipes try pairing this steak with our air fryer potatoes, tender air fryer broccoli, or easy green beans.
Recipe Ingredients
- 2 steaks, ribeye, striploin, or sirloin – about 1″ thick
- 2 tsp olive oil – or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder – optional
How To Make Air Fryer Steak
Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.
STEP 1: Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Pat the steaks dry with paper towel.
STEP 2: Rub olive oil over both sides of the steak. Season both sides with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper and ½ tsp garlic powder.
STEP 3: Preheat the air fryer by letting it run at 400°F for 5 minutes.
STEP 4: Arrange the steaks in a single layer in the air fryer, cook them individually if they don’t fit side-by-side without touching.
STEP 4: When the steak has finished cooking, remove, and let rest at room temperature for 5 minutes. Top each one with butter. Slice against the grain and serve.
How Long To Air Fry Steak Cuts
Here is a basic guideline to cook 1-2 lbs of steak that is 1″ thick. It is best to use the meat thermometer to check when your steak is ready as no two steaks are ever exactly the same in size.
Please use this guide with discretion as every air fryer will work a bit differently. You will have to test yours to see exactly how much time it takes to cook.
- RARE (cool red center) – Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, until it reaches 125°F
- MEDIUM RARE (warm red center) – Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until it reaches 135°F
- MEDIUM (warm pink center) – Cook for about 5-6 minutes per side until reaches 145°F
- MEDIUM WELL (slightly pink center) – Cook for about 6-7 minutes per side until it reaches 150°F
- WELL DONE (no pink) – Cook for 7-8 minutes per side until it reaches 160°F
Recipe Tips
- Use steaks at least 1 inch thick so it doesn’t cook before achieving a seared outside.
- Preheat your air fryer first. This will give you the best crispy outside.
- Pat the raw steak with a paper towel to remove all excess moisture.
- It’s best to slightly undercook rather than overcook because the steak will continue to cook after being removed from the air fryer.
- Let the steak rest on a plate for 5 minutes before cutting to allow the internal juices to circulate.
FAQs
Can I air-fry a frozen steak? Technically you can, but you risk overcooking the beef. If you prefer a medium rare steak, then you will have more success if you thaw it first.
What steak cut should I use? The steak in the photos is a bottom sirloin or tri-tip steak. The more expensive cuts including top loin, t-bone, tenderloin, or ribeye work well. Less expensive chuck steaks, flank steaks, skirt steaks, and hangar steaks also work and tend to be less tender.
You can tenderize the steak by marinating. This often reduces cooking time so avoid overcooking by checking the temperature of your steak with a thermometer.
How to store leftovers
Leftover steak can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. It can be reheated in the air fryer or microwave.
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Air Fryer Steak
Ingredients
- 2 steaks ribeye striploin, or sirloin - about 1" thick
- 2 tsp olive oil - or vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder - optional
Instructions
- Let the steaks sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Pat the steaks dry with paper towel.
- Rub olive oil over both sides of the steak. Season both sides with 1 tsp salt and ½ tsp ground black pepper and ½ tsp garlic powder.
- Preheat the air fryer by letting it run at 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Arrange the steaks in a single layer in the air fryer, cook them individually if they don’t fit side-by-side without touching.
- When the steak has finished cooking, remove, and let rest at room temperature for 5 minutes. Top each one with butter. Slice against the grain and serve.
Recipe Notes:
How Long To Air Fry Steak Cuts
Here is a basic guideline to cook 1-2 lbs of steak that is 1″ thick. It is best to use the meat thermometer to check when your steak is ready as no two steaks are ever exactly the same in size.- RARE (cool red center) – Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, until it reaches 125°F
- MEDIUM RARE (warm red center) – Cook for about 4-5 minutes per side until it reaches 135°F
- MEDIUM (warm pink center) – Cook for about 5-6 minutes per side until reaches 145°F
- MEDIUM WELL (slightly pink center) – Cook for about 6-7 minutes per side until it reaches 150°F
- WELL DONE (no pink) – Cook for 7-8 minutes per side until it reaches 160°F
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided is an estimate and is per serving.