Can You Cook Steak In An Air Fryer?

can you cook steak in an air fryer

Have you ever wondered, can you cook steak in an air fryer?

If so, this article is for you.

An air fryer is very similar to a convection oven or toaster oven, with the exception that it is designed to use less oil and energy than both of those cooking appliances.

A steak cooked with an air fryer is typically as crunchy as one cooked in hot oil, but virtually without the same fat content.

That is why steak cooked in an air fryer is so appealing to many people.

But can you cook steak in an air fryer?

Well, let’s take a look at this.

Is It Possible To Cook Steak In An Air Fryer?

In short, it is possible to cook steak in an air fryer. However, it depends on the type of air fryer that you have if your steak will come out as crispy as one cooked in hot oil.

As I mentioned earlier, an air fryer uses little to no oil and energy as a regular oven and convection oven do. This is why it can sometimes be too dry to cook your steak in.

However, if you can find an air fryer that uses a hot air mechanism, then your steak will become crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

Is Air Frying Steak Good or Bad?

Air frying food is one of the healthiest ways of cooking a steak. It produces a very low amount of bad cholesterol and almost no saturated or trans fats.

However, I must warn you that when you cook your steak in an air fryer it will not be as crispy as one cooked in hot oil.

This is because the absence of grease prevents browning (the Maillard reaction) from taking place.

The Maillard reaction is what makes your steak juicy and crispy, so the absence of it will make your steaks come out flatter than expected. They might also take longer to cook because of this.

Air frying steak is great, especially if your someone who is on a diet and cannot cook a steak in hot oil, but still want a crispy and delicious meal.

How To Cook Steak In An Air Fryer

Cooking steak in an air fryer is as simple as any other steak preparation.

All you need to do is preheat your air fryer to the specifications that your manufacturer recommends, and then add in your favorite seasonings or marinade!

I like to use store-bought BBQ seasoning for my steaks. Then I place my steak on the hot plate of my air fryer, just like I would do in the oven or on a grill.

Though if you are finding that your steak is too dry for your taste, then you can always add some oil to create some moisture. And don’t forget to flip halfway through so both sides get crispy!

It’s one of the easiest methods to cook steak, especially if you are someone who wants to enjoy flavorful steak without the extra calories that come from melted butter, or piping hot oil!

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

It really depends on how you like your steak prepared. If you prefer medium-rare, then it will only take around 15 to 20 minutes of cooking time.

But if you prefer a well-done piece of meat, then it may take anywhere from 30 to 40 minutes.

The reason for this is because the outside needs to be cooked and browned, whereas the inside needs to be hot and at least medium-rare or even rare!

Also, bear in mind that your steak will cook a little bit more as the heat dissipates, so I suggest checking it about 5 minutes before it is finished cooking.

What Temperature Do You Cook Steak In An Air Fryer?

Unfortunately, there is no specific temperature you need to cook your steak in an air fryer.

It really depends on how well-done or done the inside of the steak is, and what types of seasonings or marinades you use.

Usually, a rare steak will be cooked at a temperature around 350ºF (170ºC), whereas a well-done steak will be cooked at around 400ºF (200ºC).

But like I said, it really depends on preference.

All you need to do is set your air fryer to the best temperature that suits your liking.

My air fryer’s manual recommends cooking steak at 350°F

Can I Reheat Steak In An Air Fryer?

Air fryers are not made to reheat food, but you can try.

The best way to reheat steak in an air fryer is by using the “Air Fry” function on your machine.

If it doesn’t have one, then preheat the air fryer at a temperature of 350°F (170ºC) and put in the steak you want to reheat.

Then, flip it halfway through so both sides can get crispy.

This method should give your steak the same consistency as freshly cooked steak, but watch out! Because the center of it might still be cold if your air fryer takes a while to reheat food.

I personally don’t recommend this method of reheating steak in an air fryer, but give it a try if you want to see what happens.

Why Are Some People Against Air Frying Steak?

Not everyone is a fan of the idea of air frying steak. In fact, there are actually quite a few people who say that is not possible to cook steak in an air fryer at all!

The reason for this has mostly to due to the lack of fat and grease that comes from cooking your steak in hot oil.

See, I think the reason some consider air frying steak to be an impossibility is because of the fact that they try to cook their steaks just like they would in a regular oven or on a grill.

But on an air fryer, there really isn’t any oil! And if you add just a little bit of oil, then your food will not get crispy, but rather soggy.

Also, you can’t cook anything with the lid closed because of the lack of circulation inside an air fryer! So make sure you are watching your food cook, otherwise, it will come out pale and unappetizing.

Other than those minor details, cooking steak in an air fryer is pretty easy. All you have to do is place your steak on the cooking rack, set the temperature and time, and wait for it to cook.

Whether you are cooking red meat or even seafood, an air fryer will provide a nice crunchy outside, with a soft inside to enjoy every bite of!

Give it a go and see what you think.

Other Considerations

It’s worth keeping in mind that although air fryers are becoming very popular kitchen appliances, they aren’t without their setbacks.

Some of these include:

  • Food doesn’t come out quite as crispy as cooking it in a regular oven or on a grill.
  • Temperature control is difficult because air fryers lack an actual temperature setting .
  • There isn’t much space between the bottom and the top of the machine, which isn’t good for larger pieces of food.

That’s why I prefer to use my air fryer to cook steak, pate or dry meats like ribs.

But that’s just because I’m used to cooking with it and know the nuances of how well it works in comparison to other machines.

You can certainly try out an air fryer and see if it’s a good fit for your kitchen and cooking style!

Conclusion

In conclusion, yes, you can cook steak in an air fryer! I love it because there is no oil or butter that needs to be touched.

It’s not without its setbacks, but I would say that an air fryer is definitively better than deep frying steak in boiling hot oil.

Air fryers can be great machines for cooking but I can’t lie, I prefer to cook my steaks on a BBQ/Grill.

The bottom line is that you CAN cook steak in an air fryer! Whether or not it’s worth it for you personally, however, is up to you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this post and I hope you’ve learned a thing or two about cooking steak in an air fryer.

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