I don’t know about you, but we’ve been swept up in the air fryer craze. Our Test Kitchen even named the best air fryer! The tabletop convection ovens are amazing, circulating hot air around your food until it gets a crisp exterior—just like a fryer, but with a whole lot less oil. Faux-frying is what most people are using these gadgets for, but don’t stop there. You can air-fry some surprising foods, including steak. (See our complete air fryer guide.)

Because the temperatures inside the air fryer are so consistent, your steak will turn out perfect, every time. It’s an ideal scenario when the weather isn’t cooperating and you can’t hit the grill.

How long does it take to cook steak in an air fryer?

In our testing, we found that cook times vary dramatically between brands of air fryers. As a result, we have given wider than normal ranges on suggested cook times. It should take anywhere between 7 to 9 minutes for a medium-rare steak, and 10 to 14 minutes for a medium steak. Until you know the cook time on your air fryer, it’s best to begin checking at the first time listed and adjust as needed.

The best way to know when your steak is finished is to use a meat thermometer. You want to be sure it has reached a food-safe cooking temperature.

Do you need to flip steak in an air fryer?

There are different schools of thought on flipping steaks in the air fryer. Because of an air fryer’s powerful ability to circulate hot air around food, you technically do not need to flip. Your steak will cook through, if left on just one side. However, because flipping can place a different part of the steak closer to the heating element (for an air fryer, this is at the top), a steak will cook more evenly if flipped halfway through.

What temperature should I cook steak to?

This depends on personal taste! See the list below to see what you should look for on your thermometer when cooking a steak.

Rare: 125ºF

Medium-rare: 135ºF

Medium: 145ºF

Medium-well: 155ºF

Well-done: Anything beyond 165ºF

How to Make Air Fryer Steak

Ingredients

• A 1-inch thick boneless ribeye or New York strip steak
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1: Prep the steak

Start by rubbing the steak all over with the olive oil. This isn’t a necessary step when cooking a steak on the grill or in a cast-iron pan, but in an air fryer, the steak’s surface has the best chance of caramelizing and creating a crust if it’s coated in oil. Sprinkle the steak generously with the kosher salt and pepper. Then, let the seasoned steak sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to take the chill off.

Step 2: Preheat the air fryer

Some air fryers have a steak setting, but we don’t recommend using it. These settings don’t allow you to customize the cook time, and they might be calibrated for bone-in steaks, which take longer than boneless cuts. We like to preheat the air fryer on the regular setting to 400° F. Let the air fryer preheat for about three minutes before moving on.

Don’t miss the Test Kitchen’s other air-fryer cooking tips.

Step 3: Cook the steak

Add the steak to the air fryer basket and cook it for about 7 to 9 minutes for a medium-rare steak or 10 to 14 minutes for medium, flipping the steak halfway through. When the steak is finished cooking, let it rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

EASY AIR FRYER STEAK RECIPE

Looking for a fool-proof way to cook perfectly tender juicy steak? We love cooking steak in the air fryer. This Air Fryer Steak cooks up in less than 20 minutes and comes out perfectly tender and juicy every time!

We use our air fryer all the time and have a ton of air fryer recipes and this helpful air fryer guide on how to use an air fryer.

And if you don’t have an air fryer, check out our Pan Seared Steak with Asparagus and Mushrooms or Perfectly Grilled Steak.

No matter how rare or well-done you like your steak to be, this simple air fryer recipe will make it come out just right. And if you like your steak to have a crispy exterior, the air fryer can do that without sacrificing the tenderness of the meat. You’ll never go back to cooking your steak on the stove or oven once you try this recipe!

WHY WE LOVE MAKING STEAK IN THE AIR FRYER

Air fried steak is the easiest and most hands off way to make juicy steak. You get a nice and crispy exterior, while leaving the inside tender and juicy.

It’s such a hearty and flavorful main dish that’s easy enough to become a weeknight regular. Plus, if you’re following a gluten-free, keto, low-carb, paleo or Whole30 diet, this air fryer steak is a great option for you.

There really isn’t an easier or healthier way to cook steak. Any excess fat on your steak will actually be removed from the steak by your air fryer while it cooks.

CAN YOU USE OTHER CUTS OF STEAK?

You can easily use other cuts of steak for this recipe, if desired. Stick with a tender cut like T-bone, sirloin, Porterhouse or New York Strip for the best results.

HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER STEAK

This recipe is about as simple as steak can get. All you have to do is season it, cook it, make your herb butter and serve!

FOR THE STEAK

1. Season Steak: Season your steak generously on both sides with salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Let it sit for about 5 minutes while the air fryer preheats.
2. Heat Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
3. Cook: Place the steak in the center of the air fryer basket and cook until it reaches your desired doneness, depending on the thickness of the steak: about 10 minutes for medium-rare, 12 minutes for medium and 14 minutes for medium-well, flipping halfway through.
4. Let Cool: Transfer the steak to a cutting board and allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.

CAN YOU FREEZE RIBEYE?

Feel free to freeze any leftover steak you have, if desired. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or place it in a freezer-safe bag with all the air squeezed out. Frozen steak lasts for up to 3 months, if stored properly. Thaw it out completely before reheating.

MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES

My air fryer has to be one of my top favorite kitchen appliances. There are just so many tasty things to make with it! Here are some of my other go-to air fryer dishes:

• These Air Fryer Green Beans are a healthy and delicious side dish for any meal!
• Want to switch up the protein? You need to try this Air Fryer Chicken Breast
• You’ll love my easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries. They’re so crunchy and so easy to pair with whatever dips you enjoy.
• Do you like ultra crispy bacon? If so, you have to try this Air Fryer Bacon recipe ASAP!