Cooking steak in a power air fryer pro can be a quick and easy way to make a delicious meal. With an air fryer, steaks can come out juicy and flavorful in a fraction of the time it would take to cook them in the oven or on the grill. The key is understanding how long different cuts and thicknesses of steak need to cook in the air fryer to reach your desired level of doneness.
Factors That Affect Steak Cook Times in an Air Fryer
There are a few key factors that impact how long it will take to cook a steak in the power air fryer pro:
- Thickness – A thinner steak will cook faster than a thicker cut.
- Doneness – Rare steaks take less time than medium or well-done.
- Steak cut – Cuts like ribeye and strip steak will take longer than flank or skirt steak.
- Preparation – Partially frozen steaks may take slightly longer.
- Quantity – Cooking multiple steaks at once increases cook time.
Keep these factors in mind as you determine cook times. While exact times will vary between different power air fryer models, the times below offer general guidelines for common steak cuts and thicknesses.
Cook Times for Common Steak Cuts
Ribeye Steak
For a 1-inch thick ribeye steak:
- Rare: 8-10 minutes
- Medium Rare: 10-12 minutes
- Medium: 12-14 minutes
- Medium Well: 14-16 minutes
- Well Done: 16-18 minutes
For a 2-inch thick ribeye steak:
- Rare: 14-16 minutes
- Medium Rare: 16-18 minutes
- Medium: 18-20 minutes
- Medium Well: 20-22 minutes
- Well Done: 22-24 minutes
Strip Steak
For a 1-inch thick strip steak:
- Rare: 8-10 minutes
- Medium Rare: 10-12 minutes
- Medium: 12-14 minutes
- Medium Well: 14-16 minutes
- Well Done: 16-18 minutes
For a 2-inch thick strip steak:
- Rare: 14-16 minutes
- Medium Rare: 16-18 minutes
- Medium: 18-20 minutes
- Medium Well: 20-22 minutes
- Well Done: 22-24 minutes
Sirloin Steak
For a 1-inch thick sirloin steak:
- Rare: 6-8 minutes
- Medium Rare: 8-10 minutes
- Medium: 10-12 minutes
- Medium Well: 12-14 minutes
- Well Done: 14-16 minutes
For a 2-inch thick sirloin steak:
- Rare: 12-14 minutes
- Medium Rare: 14-16 minutes
- Medium: 16-18 minutes
- Medium Well: 18-20 minutes
- Well Done: 20-22 minutes
Flank Steak
For a 1-inch thick flank steak:
- Rare: 8-10 minutes
- Medium Rare: 10-12 minutes
- Medium: 12-14 minutes
- Medium Well: 14-16 minutes
- Well Done: 16-18 minutes
Skirt Steak
For a 0.5-inch thick skirt steak:
- Rare: 6-8 minutes
- Medium Rare: 8-10 minutes
- Medium: 10-12 minutes
- Medium Well: 12-14 minutes
- Well Done: 14-16 minutes
Tenderloin Steak
For a 1-inch thick tenderloin steak:
- Rare: 6-8 minutes
- Medium Rare: 8-10 minutes
- Medium: 10-12 minutes
- Medium Well: 12-14 minutes
- Well Done: 14-16 minutes
For a 2-inch thick tenderloin steak:
- Rare: 10-12 minutes
- Medium Rare: 12-14 minutes
- Medium: 14-16 minutes
- Medium Well: 16-18 minutes
- Well Done: 18-20 minutes
Tips for Cooking Steak in an Air Fryer
Follow these tips to get perfect steaks from your power air fryer pro every time:
- Pat steaks dry before cooking for better browning.
- Brush lightly with oil to promote browning and prevent sticking.
- Preheat air fryer for 3-5 minutes before adding steaks.
- Cook at 400°F for best results.
- Flip steaks halfway through cooking.
- Allow steaks to rest 5-10 minutes before serving.
- Check internal temperature using a meat thermometer to ensure doneness.
- Adjust cook times as needed based on thickness and doneness preferences.
- Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket.
- Clean air fryer basket thoroughly after each use.
Internal Temperatures for Doneness
Use these temperatures as a guide when checking your steak:
| Doneness | Internal Temperature |
|---|---|
| Rare | 120-125°F |
| Medium Rare | 130-135°F |
| Medium | 140-145°F |
| Medium Well | 150-155°F |
| Well Done | 160°F and above |
Conclusion
Cooking steak in a power air fryer pro is a quick and convenient way to enjoy delicious, juicy results. With the right cut, thickness, and cook time for your preferred doneness, you can make perfect steak meals with ease. Refer to the guidelines above to determine the ideal air fryer cook times for ribeye, strip, sirloin, flank, skirt, and tenderloin steaks. Monitor doneness by internal temperature, and enjoy your steak with confidence.