Can You Air Fry a Frozen Steak?

Cooking different meats in an air fryer comes with its challenges. But it doesn’t have to be difficult or avoided. Air fryers do more than reheat food and cook chicken nuggets and french fries. Not only can you air fry a frozen steak, but you can also cook different types of steak such as T-bone, Ribeye, New York Strip, and Filet Mignon.

In this article, you’ll learn the do’s and don’ts of cooking a frozen steak in an air fryer as well as best practices, tips for a delicious steak, and even a marinade. So let’s get started.

How Long Do You Cook Frozen Steak in an Air Fryer?

How long you cook a frozen steak will depend on the thickness and if there’s a bone, and how you like your steak cooked.

Cook for 5 minutes. (No pre-heating required)
- Check how steak is doing.
- Flip over.
Cook for 5 more minutes
- Check temp to see if the steak is done.
  - If done, go to step 3
    - 125°F-130¯F Rare
    - 130°F-140°F Medium Rare
    - 140°F-150°F Medium
    - 150°F-155°F Medium Well
    - 155°F-160°F Well
  - If not done, flip over and repeat step 2
remove and cover with foil
- Rest for over a minimum of 5 minutes
Enjoy eating your steak.

Serve with your favorite sides such as a green salad, fresh corn on the cob, french fries, steamed broccoli, potato salad, garlic bread, baked potato, and more. The list goes on and on.

What Temperature Should You Cook Your Steak?

Air Fryer Set at 400 Deg F - Can You Air Fry a Frozen Steak

You should set your air fryer to 400°F when cooking frozen steak. The internal temperature of your steak should range from 120°F to 160°F (from rare to well done). You also want to be sure to avoid drying out your steak. Cook it too long and it will be dried out. That’s where a meat thermometer is invaluable. Below is a general guide:

Rare steak: 6-8 minutes
Medium steak: 8-10 minutes
Well-done steak: 12-15 minutes

Getting a steak to your perfect liking means that you need to consider the thickness of the steak. Thinner steaks will need less time.

How to Cook a Frozen Steak in an Air Fryer

You can cook steak in an air fryer using a few different methods. Below is the method we recommend.

Set your air fryer to 360°F (preheat if necessary)
Remove steak from packaging.
Brush on melted butter or olive oil on one side.
Sprinkle dry seasoning like salt, pepper, steak seasoning, and/or your favorite rub.
Flip the steak over and repeat steps 3 and 4.
Add to basket.
Cook per instructions above.
Enjoy eating your steak.
Cleanup your air fryer

Tips

Meat Thermometer - Can You Air Fry a Frozen Steak

Because you are cooking from frozen, you will need to add a little more cooking time. You need a high temperature to sear the steak and seal it in the juices. It also helps if you have a meat thermometer. Below are a few tips to help you get the perfect steak:

Don’t Overcook
Baste melted butter or olive oil to hold spices on the steak
Marinade tough cuts like round steak before freezing
Use 1″ to 2″ max thick steaks. The thinner the better.
If using a basket type of unit, you should flip halfway through the cooking time.

The average cooking time for frozen steak is 10 minutes. That seems a bit long to me but it really depends on the thickness of the steak and how you like your steak cooked. For me, it has to be medium-rare. That way, it’s nice and juicy but it’s not raw and it’s not burnt. So, for me, I’d check the internal temperature after five minutes and flip if it was halfway through the cooking time.

Bonus: Frozen Steak Marinade

One of the great things about marinading steak is that you can use a different marinade for each steak. If you are not in the mood for a steak with barbeque sauce, let’s say, you can choose a steak with a different marinade.

Here’s a recipe for a garlic herb marinade:

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 tbsp. lemon juice, white wine, or apple cider vinegar

1 tbsp. Italian seasoning

4 cloves of garlic, chopped

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
Take fresh steak and put it in a freezer bag. (I use a vacuum sealer for my freezing of food.)
Add the marinade to the bag
Seal the bag so there is no air inside.
Place in freezer and freeze for up to 3 months (if using a vacuum sealer, store up to 6 months)
On a busy night take a frozen steak out of the freezer and cook per the instructions above.

A garlic herb marinade is perfect because it’s simple and tastes delicious! Personally, I don’t like to add too many ingredients to a marinade because I don’t want to drown out the flavor of the steak. But that’s just me. You do your steak however you want!

Conclusion

Can You Air Fry a Frozen Steak - Comment Image

Once you’ve cooked frozen steak in an air fryer, you will love it! It’s so easy. You will never have to worry about waiting for your steak to be defrosted entirely again. So next time you are pushed for time but still want a delicious meal, just pull a frozen steak out of your freezer and pop it into your air fryer!

Have you ever tried to cook a frozen steak in an air fryer? What was your experience? Maybe you even have an awesome marinade you’d like to share. Let us know about your experience by leaving a comment below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Air fryers allow for healthier cooking by using circulating hot air to cook food, resulting in less oil and fat usage. They also cook food faster and more evenly than traditional ovens. Additionally, they can be used to make a variety of dishes, including fried foods, roasted meats, and even desserts.

Air fryers may be more energy efficient and economical than traditional deep-frying methods, as they use less oil and cook food faster. Additionally, they can also be more energy efficient than a traditional oven for certain types of dishes. However, it is important to note that the energy efficiency of an air fryer can vary depending on the model and the specific cooking methods used. Additionally, the upfront cost of purchasing an air fryer may be higher than other cooking methods. So, in short, air fryers are more energy efficient and economical than traditional deep-frying methods. Happy air frying!

To calculate the cost of using an air fryer, you would need to consider these factors:

Upfront cost: The initial cost of purchasing the air fryer itself.

Energy costs: The cost of electricity or gas to run the air fryer. This can be calculated by multiplying the power consumption of the air fryer (in watts) by the number of hours it is used, then multiplying that number by your local electricity or gas rate.

Food costs: The cost of the food you are cooking in the air fryer.

Maintenance costs: Any costs associated with maintaining and cleaning the air fryer.

To calculate the cost of using the air fryer over a period of time: you would add up the costs of each of these factors, then divide them by the number of months or years that the air fryer is being used. It’s worth noting that cost savings from using an air fryer compared to traditional frying methods will depend on how often you use the air fryer, how much oil you would normally use, and how it compares to your current cooking methods.