Cooking steak in an air fryer is quick and avoids the splatter that often comes with frying it in a pan. According to one food blogger, adding a simple extra ingredient before cooking helps the outside of the steak brown better and gives it a richer colour.
The key ingredient for a crispy crust
The tip comes from the Skinny Taste food blog run by recipe creator Gina Homolka. She explained that adding a dry seasoning rub to the steak before air frying can help create that crispy outer layer.
She uses a simple mixture of garlic powder, paprika, salt and black pepper to coat the meat before cooking. The blogger also recommends choosing steaks that are at least one inch thick, as thinner steaks tend to cook too quickly in the air fryer and may not have enough time to brown properly.
How to cook steak in an air fryer
Another tip is to lightly spray the steak with a little oil before adding the seasoning. This helps the meat brown more evenly during cooking. Cooking time will depend on the thickness of the steak and how well done you want it.
For example, a one-inch thick steak cooked at 200C will usually take around 10 minutes for medium-rare, turning it halfway through cooking. If you prefer the steak medium, the cooking time increases to around 12 minutes.
The recipe also recommends letting the steak rest for a few minutes after cooking so the juices settle before slicing. Air fryer steak is often served with sides such as baked potatoes, mashed potatoes or vegetables like roasted green beans or asparagus.
Air fryer steak recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 4 sirloin steaks, about 1 inch thick
- Olive oil spray
Method:
- Mix the garlic powder, paprika, salt and black pepper together in a small bowl to make the seasoning rub.
- Lightly spray both sides of the steaks with olive oil, then coat them evenly with the seasoning mixture.
- Preheat the air fryer so the basket is hot before cooking.
- Place the steaks in the air fryer basket in a single layer so air can circulate properly.
- Cook at 400F (around 200C) for about 10 minutes for medium-rare, turning the steaks halfway through cooking.
- For a medium steak, cook for roughly 12 minutes, again flipping halfway through.
- Once cooked, remove the steaks from the air fryer and add a small extra pinch of salt and black pepper if desired.
- Cover the steaks loosely with foil and allow them to rest for about five minutes before serving.
