Order by Phone: (877) 377-8325

Home / The Steak Guide / How to Cook Steaks / How To Cook Steak in An Air Fryer

How To Cook Steak in An Air Fryer

How To Cook Steak in An Air Fryer

If you want to cook a golden-brown seared and juicy steak, look no further than an Air Fryer. Cooking a steak in an Air Fryer is a quick and easy method to make an incredibly tender, delicious steak.

Popular cuts of meat to cook using an Air Fryer include Filet Mignon, Ribeye, Top Sirloin, and Strip Steak.

The Air Fryer’s high heat ensures a delectable flavor inside and a perfectly golden-brown crust on the outside. This method is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, cooking steaks in the winter or rain when you don’t want to be outside, or if you don’t have a grill or stove top.

Plus, you won’t have to clean up the mess typically caused when cooking a steak in a pan on the stovetop. With the most effortless cleanup and more time for making side dishes, cooking with an Air Fryer is a no-brainer.

So don't be surprised if the Air Fryer technique becomes your new favorite way to cook steak every time. The instructions below are everything you need to know about cooking a steak in an Air Fryer.

If you know what specific cut of steak you are cooking, visit our How to Cook Steaks page and select the cut of steak for more specific instructions!

Cooking Steaks in An Air Fryer

Cooking steak in an Air Fryer is certainly not the most conventional cooking method, but it is an exceptionally fast and easy way to prepare a delicious steak. Cooking a fantastically tender steak in the Air Fry requires high heat and minimal time. How long you cook your steak will vary based upon the thickness of your steak and your doneness preference.

Be sure your steak is completely thawed

Before you begin cooking, we recommend thawing your meat in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Once thawed, remove your meat from the refrigerator for 30–40 minutes before cooking to bring it to room temperature.

Season steaks as desired

Season as you wish. Add a generous serving of our Kansas City Steak Original Steak Seasoning to bring out as many rich flavors as possible.

Preheat the Air Fryer

Set the temperature to 400°F. Allow your Air Fryer to preheat for approximately 2–3 minutes.

Place your steak in the Air Fryer

Place your steak in the center of the Air Fryer and begin frying. We recommend using the grill rack option if available.

Flip your steak at the halfway mark

Flip your steak halfway through your cooking time listed in the Cooking Times Chart below.

Remove the steak from the Air Fryer

Remove the steak from the Air Fryer and place it on a heat-safe surface.

Rest the steak for 5–10 minutes before serving, covering lightly with foil.

Allow it to rest for 5–10 minutes, covering lightly with foil. The temperature of the steak will continue to rise about 5°F during this time (this is called "carryover cooking"). Resting steak is important because the heat of cooking pulls the juices in the meat toward the surface; if you slice into it immediately after cooking, those flavorful juices will end up on your plate, not in your steak. Allowing your steak to rest will give the juices time to sink back in and throughout the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful.

Steak Cooking Times in the Air Fryer

Follow the recommended steak cooking times below for the best results. We recommend using a meat thermometer and the Measuring Doneness Chart below for perfect steak doneness. Additionally, you can find cut specific steak cooking recommendations for each cut on our How To Cook Steaks page.

Air Fryer

Rare

1-inch

6–8 mins

1½ inches

10 mins

Medium-Rare

1-inch

8–10 mins

1½ inches

12 mins

Medium

1-inch

12 mins

1½ inches

14 mins

Medium-Well

1-inch

14 mins

1½ inches

16 mins

Measuring Doneness of Steaks in the Air Fryer

Remove steaks from the air fryer when they are 5°F less than the temperatures listed. The centers will continue to warm as the steaks rest.

Rare Steak (125ºF)

Center is bright red; pinkish towards the outside

Medium-Rare Steak (135ºF)

Center is very pink; slightly brown towards the outside

Medium Steak (145ºF)

Center is light pink; outer portion is brown

Medium-Well Steak (155ºF)

Center is slightly pink; outer portion is brown

Well Done Steak (165ºF)

Uniformly brown throughout

Recipes for Cooking Steaks in the Air Fryer

Looking for a recipe, marinade, seasoning, or rub for cooking steaks in the air fryer? Check out our most popular recipes below or click Steak Recipes.

Five Star Steak Marinade Family Favorite Rub Garlic Parmesan Butter