Air Fryer Steak: Time, Temp & How To

Air fryer steak is a real thing — not a substitute for a screaming-hot cast iron pan, but legitimately good, especially for sirloin or ribeye when you don't feel like firing up the grill or smoking up the kitchen. About 10 minutes for a 1-inch ribeye to medium-rare. The crust isn't quite as deep as a sear, but it's closer than people expect.

Temperature

400°F

(205°C)

Cook Time

10 min

flip halfway

Doneness

130°F medium-rare, 140°F medium, 150°F medium-well

Oven equivalent: 425°F (218°C) for 15 minutes. Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes for best results. A light spray of oil helps with browning.

How to air fry steak

Pull steak from the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Cold steak cooks unevenly.
Pat completely dry. Season aggressively with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Light spray of oil.
Preheat the air fryer for 5 minutes at 400°F. The longer preheat helps with the initial sear.
Place steak in the basket. Cook for 5 minutes.
Flip and cook 4-5 more minutes for medium-rare. Always use a meat thermometer.
Rest on a cutting board for 5-7 minutes before slicing. This is mandatory, not optional.

Tips that actually matter

Bring to room temp before cooking. Cold-from-the-fridge steak often comes out unevenly cooked.
A meat thermometer is the difference between perfect and ruined. 130°F medium-rare, 140°F medium, 150°F medium-well, 160°F+ well done.
For thicker steaks (1.5 inch+), drop temp to 380°F and cook 14-16 minutes.
The air fryer crust is good but not as deep as a cast iron sear. For best of both worlds: cook to 5° below target in the air fryer, then sear in a hot pan for 30 seconds per side.

Common mistakes

Skipping the rest. The juices that pool on the cutting board are the juices that should have been in your steak.
Cooking from cold. Uneven cooking, more well-done at the edges than you wanted.
Eyeballing doneness. The visual color cues that work for grilling don't work as well in the air fryer.
Salting too far in advance. 5 minutes before cooking is fine. 30 minutes pulls moisture to the surface, which then steams.

Variations

Ribeye (1-inch): 10 minutes total at 400°F for medium-rare.
Sirloin (1-inch): 9 minutes total. Leaner than ribeye, easier to overcook.
Filet mignon (1.5-inch): 14 minutes at 380°F. Resist the urge to cook hotter; filet is delicate.
NY strip (1-inch): 11 minutes total at 400°F. Trim excessive fat or it'll smoke.
Frozen steak: surprisingly serviceable — 25 minutes at 360°F, flipping at 12. No thaw needed.

Cooking something else?

Use the main converter to plug in any oven temperature and time.

Open Air Fryer Converter

Frequently asked questions

How long to air fry steak?

About 10 minutes at 400°F for a 1-inch ribeye to medium-rare. Add or subtract 1-2 minutes per 1/4 inch of thickness or per doneness level. Always check internal temp with a thermometer.

What temperature for steak in the air fryer?

400°F (205°C) for steaks up to 1 inch thick. Drop to 380°F for thicker steaks (1.5+ inch) so the inside has time to come up to temp without burning the outside.

Do you flip steak in the air fryer?

Yes, once at the halfway point. The bottom of the basket is hotter than the top, so flipping ensures even cooking on both sides.

Can you cook frozen steak in the air fryer?

Yes. Cook at 360°F for about 25 minutes, flipping at 12. No thaw needed. The texture is acceptable but not as good as from properly tempered steak.

Why is my air fryer steak tough?

Overcooking is the most common reason. Steak goes from medium-rare to chewy in about 90 seconds. Use a thermometer; pull 5° below your target and rest 5-7 minutes.

How do you get a crust on air fryer steak?

Three things: completely dry the surface before cooking, preheat the air fryer for at least 5 minutes, and don't crowd the basket. For a deeper crust, finish with a 30-second sear in a cast iron pan.