How long does it take to cook steak in an air fryer? Well, you are at the perfect place to find the answer to such a question.
For an inch thick steak, cook it in an air fryer for 5 minutes if you want it rare, 9 minutes if you want it medium, and 12 minutes if you want it well done. Your air fryer should already be preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit when you place your steak in and begin timing.
We all know that cooking steak can be a lot more complicated than that sounds, so in the rest of the article, we are going to look at all you need to know about how to cook steak in an air fryer.
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How Do You Decide How Long To Cook a Steak in an Air Fryer?
The times we learned in the introduction will not apply in every single situation.
There are a lot of factors that go into deciding exactly how much time you need to keep your steak in the air fryer to get the final result you want.
The main three factors are the temperature of the air fryer, how thick the steak is, and how well you want it done.
Temperature of the Fryer
Most people will cook their steaks at 400 degrees Fahrenheit when using an air fryer. Because this is the most common temperature, we will be assuming it throughout this article.
However, if you either have to or are choosing to cook at a different temperature, you will have to adjust your cooking times.
For lower temperatures, you will need to cook your steak longer, all other things being equal. At higher temperatures, you will have to spend less time cooking your steak.
Thickness of the Steak
The classic steak is 1 inch thick, but some people prefer steaks that are 1.5 inches. The times we have in the introduction are for an inch thick steak, so you will have to adjust if your steak is different.
As a very quick rule, you can adjust the cooking time based on the size difference from an inch.
For example, instead of spending 12 minutes cooking an inch thick steak well done, spend 18 minutes cooking a 1.5 inch steak because it is 50% larger.
How Well You Want It Done
People can be peculiar about their steaks, and this is where how long you cook it in the air fryer will make the biggest difference.
Use the table below to determine how long you will need to cook your 1 inch thick steak based on how you want it done:
| Rare | 5 minutes |
| Medium-Rare | 7 minutes |
| Medium | 9 minutes |
| Medium-Well | 10 minutes |
| Well Done | 12 minutes |
Top Tips for Cooking Steak in an Air Fryer
Cooking your steak is not just about throwing it into the air fryer and starting a timer. There are a few things you will need to be aware of to get the perfect steak.
Let’s look at some of the best tips for cooking steak in the air fryer.
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Set Your Steak Out First
Do not take your steak straight out of the fridge to put into the air fryer. Let it sit out at an ambient temperature for at least 20 minutes, preferably more, before you begin cooking it.
The closer the steak is to room temperature when it begins cooking, the more evenly it will cook. A more evenly cooked steak will have both a better taste and a better texture.
Preheat Your Air Fryer
Different air fryers will take different amounts of time to reach the temperature you set them to. For this reason, you should wait for your air fryer to be fully preheated before you put your steak in and begin timing.
By waiting for the frier to preheat first, you get rid of the uncertainty of wondering how long it might take to do so.
This means we can use more precise timing and get a better steak in the end.
Prepare Your Steak
How much preparation you want to do with your steak is up to you, but one step that you should always do is pat the steak dry before cooking.
By removing the moisture from its surface, you are ensuring that it will begin to cook immediately. Different levels of moisture will take different amounts of time to evaporate, which could throw your cooking off tremendously.
Whether you want to rub some oil onto your steak is up to you. Unlike with a frying pan, the air fryer does not need oil to cook your steak, but it does add flavor.
Speaking of flavor, if you are seasoning your steak, make sure to do this before placing it in the air fryer.
Do Not Crowd Your Steaks
You may accept it as a challenge to fit as many steaks as you can into your air fryer for a quick big meal, but you will be disappointed with the results if you do.
The air around the steaks needs to heat sufficiently to cook them. If you have your steaks too close together, they will not cook properly.
Use a Food Thermometer
This is optional, but if you want to be completely sure that your steak is cooked to a certain level, you can use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature. Use the table below as a guide:
| Rare | 125 F |
| Medium-Rare | 135 F |
| Medium | 145 F |
| Medium-Well | 150 F |
| Well Done | 160 F |
Let It Rest
To get the most flavor out of your steak, do not begin cutting into it as soon as you take it out of the air fryer.
Instead, let it rest for about 5 minutes. This will allow the juices to settle, and the steak will taste a whole lot better as a result.
What Ingredients Do You Need for Air Fried Steak?
When you are cooking steak in an air fryer, the only other ingredients you could need are oil and seasoning, and even those are optional.
A good beef steak is quite nutritionally rich, so you do not need to combine it with much when cooking.
See the table below for some nutritional values from the USDA for a 251 g single steak of beef rib eye.
| Calories | 680 kcal |
| Fat | 47.7 g |
| Protein | 62.2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 0 g |
| Iron | 6 mg |
| Potassium | 700 mg |
| Sodium | 146 mg |
| Calcium | 30.1 mg |
How Do You Serve Air Fried Steak?
Serving air fried steak is down to personal preferences, but there are a few tried and tested options that you can go for if you are out of ideas.
If you are happy to go for a minimalist approach, pouring some melted garlic butter on your steak after it is cooked and adding a sprinkle of rosemary and thyme will give you that classic steak dish.
For a more traditional hearty meal, why not use the air fryer to make some French fries or potato wedges? Serving your steak with potatoes will fill out the carbohydrate gap.
If a healthy, modern approach is what you want instead, your air fried steak will go great served with a nice Mediterranean salad.
Air Fried Steak FAQs
Do You Have To Use a Thermometer When You Air Fry a Steak?
Using a thermometer when you cook your steak in an air fryer is optional. It allows you to be 100% precise in how cooked your steak is.
However, if you follow all of the top tips in this article, you will be able to do this using just the timing we have learned about.
Can You Air Fry a Frozen Steak?
Air fryers will cook a steak from frozen, but you will have to keep them in for longer.
It is easier to defrost your steak before cooking, but if you want to cook it in the air fryer directly, you can use a meat thermometer to check on it periodically.
Do You Need To Flip a Steak in an Air Fryer?
There is some controversy over whether it is necessary to flip a steak while cooking it in an air fryer. Although people continue to disagree on it, you can take the middle road and flip the steak once halfway through cooking.
This allows you to flip the steak at least once while not opening the air fryer and disturbing the temperature unnecessarily.
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Conclusion
Cooking an inch thick steak in an air fryer takes between 5 and 12 minutes, depending on whether you want it rare or well done.
More importantly, we have learned today about many of the other details that go into choosing a time and a method for cooking the perfect steak in your air fryer.
References
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172164/nutrient
https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a28638368/air-fryer-steak-recipe/