Steak is one of the tastiest dinners to treat yourself with, but it can easily become dry and chewy if not cooked properly. Cooking it in a hot frying pan is the most common way to make it but it requires a lot of care, as the meat can burn quickly unless you are precise with the timing. However, not many people realise that you can actually cook steak in an air fryer and it will turn out incredibly juicy without having to stand over it for ages.
Samira Kazan, a cookbook author and founder of Alpha Foodie has shared making air fryer steak is quick and convenient, as long as you coat it in a little olive oil beforehand. She said: “I used olive oil, but other neutral-flavored oils will work, too – to brush the steaks and air fryer basket.”
It is usually not recommend to cook steak with olive oil if you are using a pan as it has a low smoke point, but air fryers are different and you need the olive oil to lock in the moisture.
Olive oil helps keep the meat tender inside while also helping to sear the steak as it cooks so you get a caramelised crust on the outside.
It will also prevent the steak sticking to the air fryer basket and also help any seasoning stick evenly so you will get a incredibly tasty cut of meat.
Air fryers are fantastic when you want a juicy steak without much effort, and this simple recipe is perfect for a weekday dinner or even just when you want something special without much effort.
How to cook the perfect steak in the air fryer
You will need:
- Steak (8oz and one inch thick)
- Half a tablespoon of olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Half a teaspoon of garlic powder
- A quarter teaspoon of onion powder
- A quarter teaspoon of paprika
- A quarter teaspoon of dried rosemary
Method:
To begin, place the seasonings in a small bowl and mix together. You should use roughly one teaspoon of salt and half a teaspoon of pepper.
Place the steak on a plate and use paper towels to pat it dry. Any water on the steak surface can prevent it from browning, so dry it beforehand if you want a golden crispy crust.
Then, brush the steak lightly with olive oil and then rub the seasoning mixture on both sides of the meat.
Now, you are ready to cook. Put the steak in the air fryer tray or basket, then set it to 200C, and make sure to flip it halfway through the cooking time.
How long you cook the steak will depend on how you like your steak. For rare steaks, cook for roughly five minutes, medium steaks will be around eight minutes and a well done steak will take 15 minutes to cook.
Once the steak is ready, take it out of the air fryer and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. Do not cut into it before the time is up, otherwise the juices can spill out, and it can dry out the meat.
Your steak should be succulent, juicy and bursting with flavour without having to spend ages cooking.