Here’s a simple, reliable way to cook a steak in the air fryer (works for ribeye, sirloin, strip, etc.).
🥩 Air Fryer Steak (Basic Method)
Ingredients
- 1 steak (about 1–1.5 inches thick)
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Optional: garlic powder, paprika, steak seasoning
- 1 tsp oil (optional but helps browning)
- Butter (optional finish)
🔥 Steps
1. Prep the steak
- Pat dry (important for browning)
- Season generously with salt + pepper (and any spices you like)
- Let it sit 20–30 minutes at room temperature if possible
2. Preheat air fryer
- Set to 400°F (200°C) for 3–5 minutes
3. Cook
Place steak in the basket in a single layer.
Cook at 400°F (200°C):
- 🟢 Rare: 7–8 min
- 🟡 Medium-rare: 9–10 min
- 🟠 Medium: 11–12 min
- 🔴 Medium-well: 13–14 min
👉 Flip halfway through cooking
4. Optional butter finish
In the last 1–2 minutes:
- Add a small pat of butter on top
- Optional: garlic clove or herbs for extra flavor
5. Rest (don’t skip)
- Rest steak 5–10 minutes after cooking
- Keeps it juicy and tender
🌡️ Best internal temps (more accurate than time)
- Rare: 125°F
- Medium-rare: 130–135°F
- Medium: 140–145°F
- Medium-well: 150°F+
💡 Quick tips
- Thicker steak = better results in air fryer
- Don’t overcrowd the basket
- If you want a steakhouse crust, sear it 30–60 seconds per side in a hot pan after air frying
