Perfect Medium-Rare Steak in an Air Fryer

Air fryer steak is a revelation for meat lovers who want a fast, convenient way to achieve a perfect medium-rare result. This method combines easy indoor cooking with the deeply satisfying seared exterior and juicy interior you expect from a grill. Ideal for busy weeknights or a special dinner, air-frying steak yields tender, flavorful meat with minimal fuss.

#sponsored. I was asked to try a Taotronics air fryer and chose one to test. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I could eat steak every week, and I often do. When I cook steak, I almost always use an air fryer. Our brother-in-law is a retired chef with excellent standards; when I told him I cook steak in the air fryer he was skeptical. After trying it at dinner, he declared himself a believer — high praise from a professional.

I was gifted a 19-quart, tray-style air fryer from Taotronics and enjoyed using it. The oven is large, attractive on the countertop, and versatile. In addition to air-frying, it can toast, roast, broil, dehydrate, slow cook, ferment, bake, defrost, warm, and more. The included three cooking levels—a basket, a wire rack, and a baking tray—make it easy to cook multiple items or larger pieces such as a whole chicken. It also includes a removable crumb and drip tray for easy cleanup and a handy magnet chart with suggested times and temperatures for many foods.

On to the air fried steak

• The best cuts for this recipe: strip loin (New York strip), ribeye, or filet mignon. Choose a steak at least 1 inch thick for best results.
• Remove steak from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about an hour before cooking. This helps with even cooking and better searing.
• There is no need to coat the steak with additional oil; the marinade helps the exterior brown in the air fryer.
• Fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, parsley) can be added if you like, but they’re optional for this simple preparation.
• I don’t flip the steak during cooking in my air fryer because the basket design browns both sides well. If your air fryer requires flipping for even browning, flip once halfway through.
• Coconut aminos is my preferred soy sauce alternative because it’s lower in sodium than many soy sauces. Regular or low-sodium soy sauce works fine too.
• When removing the steak from the marinade, blot lightly with paper towels. You want to remove excess liquid but leave enough to flavor and brown the meat. Discard any leftover marinade.
• Herb-infused compound butter or garlic herb butter are classic additions to steak, though optional if you’re watching calories.
• Use an instant-read thermometer to check doneness: medium-rare 130–140°F, medium 140–150°F, medium-well 150–160°F, well-done 160°F+. Adjust cooking time by 1–2 minutes per level of doneness; check often to avoid overcooking.
• Leftovers: store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Are you looking for quality stock photos at a reasonable price? Consider stock photo services for licensed images.

How to make air fryer steak

Pre-step

Gather ingredients: strip loin (or your preferred steak), coconut aminos or soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, garlic paste or powder, ground cumin, and a rectangular glass container with a lid for marinating.

Step One

Remove the steak from packaging and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the steak in the glass container.

Step Two

Add 1/8 cup coconut aminos (or soy sauce) and 1/8 cup Worcestershire sauce. Sprinkle on 1 teaspoon ground cumin.

Step Three

Add 2 teaspoons garlic paste (or garlic powder, or two smashed cloves). Use your hands to rub the marinade evenly over both sides of the steak, ensuring the liquid contacts all surfaces.

Step Four

Allow the steak to marinate at room temperature for about one hour, turning or shaking the container every 15 minutes to redistribute the marinade.

Step Five

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes if your model has a preheat function. When preheating is complete, set the air fryer to 400°F and cook the steak for 8 minutes for a medium-rare result. Depending on thickness and your air fryer model, you may need to add or subtract a minute or two.

Step Six

Check doneness with a digital thermometer: medium-rare 130–140°F. If additional cooking is needed, add one minute at a time until you reach the desired temperature. When done, remove the steak and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing to allow juices to redistribute.

Slice and serve. A simple grind of black pepper or a pat of compound butter complements the steak nicely, but the marinade itself delivers plenty of flavor.

Perfect!

I hope you enjoy this simple, reliable air fryer steak method. It’s fast, consistent, and produces a juicy, flavorful steak with minimal cleanup. Serve with baked potatoes, steamed green beans, roasted carrots, broccolini, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.

Other steak recipes

• Fajita-style steak and shrimp
• Juicy sirloin steak filets
• Steak fajita burrito bowl
• Carne asada tacos

And as always, may all your dishes be delish! If you try this recipe, share your feedback in the comments where you found it.