Cooking Sirloin Steak In An Air Fryer – Marinated Steak Recipe
In today’s recipe, I will show you how to cook sirloin steak in an air fryer. This air fryer marinated steak recipe is an incredibly easy, very versatile, and hands-free approach to cooking this tender, juicy cut.
You can take a look at another handy guide: The Best Temperature To Cook Steaks On Pellet Grill. And, for more air-fried recipes, go take a look at my website. There are loads!
Can You Cook A Steak In An Air Fryer?
While it may not be an extremely popular practice, not everybody has a skillet, griddle pan, or outdoor grill to make delicious steak in. And as you may already know, cooking steak inside a regular non-stick pan isn’t recommended.
So, what to do? Is it possible to cook steak in an air fryer?
Luckily for us air-fryer fanatics, it is possible. And the best part is that it actually makes pretty delicious steaks!
But there are unfortunately a couple of things you have to do and have to monitor while cooking steak with this method. But fear not, because, in today’s guide, I will show you how to cook sirloin steak in an air fryer!
What You Will Need For Any Air Fryer Recipe For Steak
The key to making delicious steak using this cooking technique is to season it. An air-fryer won’t necessarily create that delicious, savory, umami, and caramelized layer on the outside that the hot griddle can. So, the seasoning makes up for this.
You can use a simple mixture of salt and black pepper, or something a little more complex like a steak rub with garlic, paprika, oregano, and peppercorns.
You can even make a marinade as we will today. These are all techniques that will help tenderize the meat so it doesn’t just dry out like it often does in an oven.
Then, you will obviously need a beautiful piece of steak. Today, we are specifically making sirloin steak, one of the most tender and juicy cuts you can buy!
When choosing a piece, make sure it’s super fresh. The meat should have a bright pinkish-red color. It should have sharp and clean-cut edges, not sawed at (hacked) tips. The meat should also be wet, but not moist or slimy. And finally, it should have a firm texture. You can use this guide to help you choose the best piece.
How To Cook Sirloin Steak In Air Fryer
First, prepare the marinade in a small bowl. Mix everything well together and add the steak pieces. Make sure the steak is coated with the sauce evenly. Allow it to marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 12 hours.
Now, it’s not as simple as marinating the steak, then cooking the steak. You have to choose the correct baking temperature and choose how done you want the steak to be.
I almost exclusively cook my sirloin steak at 400ºF (200ºC) in an air fryer. This temperature helps quickly seal the outside and allows the inside to retain its juiciness while cooking.
Then, you will need to air fry the sirloin for the appropriate amount of time. The shorter the time, the less cooked the sirloin steak will be.
For rare steak, you will only cook the sirloin for about 6 minutes. The internal temperature (at the thickest part of the sirloin steak) should be between 125-130ºF (51.6-54.4ºC).
Medium-rare steak will take about 7 minutes or until the internal temperature has reached 135ºF (57.2ºC).
A medium steak will take about 8-9 minutes. You can remove the steak from the air fryer once it has reached an internal temperature of 140ºF (60ºC).
Medium-well steaks will take about 12 minutes to cook. The internal temperature should be 145ºF (62.7ºC).
And finally, the well-done steak will cook for around 14-15 minutes. But please, don’t do this to a beautiful piece of meat that is supposed to be juicy. Everybody has their preference. But this is a cut that you are wasting money on if you like your meat well done. It will be dry and tough.
FAQs
You don’t need to flip the steak at all! That’s why you are using an air fryer! The appliance has been designed to effectively circulate heat and air around the entire piece of food, cooking it evenly all around. That being said, it wouldn’t hurt.
The cooking times may vary slightly depending on the cut you are using, but you can still cook any kind of steak inside an air fryer. Remember, the thicker and denser the meat is, the longer it will take to cook. You can use the same techniques I mention in this recipe.
Nothing changes about how you can serve this delicious steak. You can serve it as is with loads of veggie accompaniments, pieces of bread, or fresh salads. You can also slice it up and serve it inside a steak salad or as finger food on a platter. It’s entirely up to you.
How To Cook Sirloin Steak In An Air Fryer – Marinated Steak Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
- 2 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 1/2 tbsp paprika
- 1 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp fine salt
- 4 sirloin steaks (1-inch thickness)
Instructions
Marinate the sirloin steaks
- To start, whisk together the soy sauce, dried spices, and herbs. Due to the soy sauce, don't use too much salt from the get-go.
- Then, place the marinade into a large container or baking tray. Add the steaks and make sure they are covered with the marinate very well.
- Wrap the container with plastic or saran wrap, or add the lid. Leave the steaks to marinate for at least 30 minutes. However, you can leave it for up to 12 hours.
Cook the steaks
- Once the steaks have been marinated, remove them from the liquid. You don't have to pat them dry, but they shouldn't be dredged in the sauce.
- Add the steaks to the air frying basket. They shouldn't overlap and you can work in batches if you have to.
- Cook the steaks for the appropriate amount of time, depending on how done you want them to be. Medium-rare steaks (which most people prefer) will take about 7 minutes.
- Once they have reached the correct internal temperature, remove them from the basket and set them aside. Leave the steaks to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving them.
