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An Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak is tender, juicy, and very delicious! You can air fry a ribeye steak to the perfect medium-rare, or to any level of doneness that you like! Cooking a steak in the air fryer is very easy, and we love it!
Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak
[tapping the microphone… Is this thing on?] I’m going to preface this with telling you not to listen to anyone who tells you not to cook a steak in the air fryer. Just ignore them and do it anyway.
Why? Because it comes out so delicious and juicy!
If I had listened to those people I would have missed out on a fabulous steak!
But I Like a Good Sear on My Steak
- So do we! The biggest argument for not cooking a steak in the air fryer is that you don’t get a good sear.
- There is a technique called “reverse searing”. That’s when you sear the meat in a hot skillet after cooking it by another method, such as sous vide, pressure cooking, air frying, etc.
- It’s just searing it in a pan! Easy to do if you really want that crust on your steak.
My hubby loves a good steak. He rarely gets one as I just don’t eat much beef. I hadn’t made many during the years and we went out to a restaurant if he wanted one. Needless to say, the results were not always good. He’s a medium-rare steak kind of guy.
When I was testing my air fryer to see if I wanted to keep it, I decided to try steaks in it. My hubby likes a well marbled ribeye, so that’s the first cut I tried.
I had to make a few steaks to get it down. But it didn’t take long, and we loved the results!
Steaks seem to come in two sizes, 8-oz (about 1 inch thick), and 16-oz (about 1.5 inches thick), on average. The weight isn’t the determiner of cook time so much as the thickness.
Long story short, cook thicker steaks longer! Just like with any other cooking method.
Some tips for cooking steak in the air fryer
- It is actually very easy to cook a rib eye steak in the air fryer!
- Bring the steak to room temperature before you cook it. This is true of most meats, but steak for sure.
- Salt & pepper both sides before air frying. Press the seasonings into the meat with your fingers (then wash them!).
- preheat your air fryer before adding the steak to it. Get it HOT!
- Flip it halfway through cook time, if you want (I had some big ones I couldn’t flip easily and they turned out great!)
- After cooking, remove the steak to a plate and let it rest for just a few minutes. This keeps it juicy.
- Use an instant read digital meat thermometer. You can’t always tell the internal temp just by looking.
Air Fryer Turkey Burgers
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Air Fryer Turkey Breast with Orange Glaze
If you make a Rib Eye Steak in the air fryer, please leave me a comment with a star rating below and let me know how you liked it!
Air Fryer Rib Eye Steak
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 (8-16 oz) Rib Eye Steak (1" to 1.25" thick)
- ½-1 tsp Kosher Salt
- ¾ tsp Pepper
- ½ tsp Garlic Powder (optional)
- ¾ tsp Low Sodium Steak Seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Season both sides of the steak with the spices. Then set aside to come up to room temperature. This ensures even cooking, and that it will cook in the times given.
- Preheat the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes at 390° F. Make sure the air fryer basket is in there.
- Quickly set the steak in the air fryer basket, and then quickly close the lid.
- For a medium-rare result, I use this timing (you may want to cook for a little less time the first time to see how your air fryer cooks):Cook a 1-inch thick 8 oz steak at 390° F for 8 minutes. Cook a 1.5-inch thick 16 oz steak for 12 minutes.*Flip the steak over halfway through the cook time and check temperature so you can see if it is cooking faster or slower than anticipated. Then you can adjust timing if needed. Thicker or thinner cuts of steak will require a time adjustment. *Your model of air fryer may give you different results.
- Take the temperature of the steak (see temperature chart for doneness in the notes below). Then move it to a plate, loosely tent it with foil, and let it rest for 5-8 minutes before you cut into it.
Notes
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- 125°-130° F for Rare
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- 130°-140° F for Medium-Rare
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- 140°-150° F for Medium
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- 150°-155° F for Medium-Well
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- 160°+ F for Well-Done
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Ever since I got my air fryer over the summer, it’s the only thing I use to cook steaks now! I don’t do it often as it does get expensive but when I do make them I cook them to a medium rare and it comes out perfectly! I use a garlic herb butter to go on top and it’s the best!
I did exactly what you said and our ribeyes were to die for!!’
First time – just as easy as promised!
I wish I wouldn’t of waited 30.00 in steak :/ should of known better , followed the directions to the letter and had 2 amazing cuts of Rib-eye both turned out like leather sadly
I’m sorry to hear that. What on earth happened?! Either you cooked them too long or they weren’t as good cuts as you thought.
Is my “go to” for ribeye in air fryer….we like MedRare
We have been air frying our steaks for a while. I like your recipes/guidelines. Ours always come out delicious!
I read your recipe and was still dubious, but gave it a go!! Absolutely luscious!! My previously boasting husband used to say you can only get a good result on the BBQ grid said “PERFECT” thank you so much, am doing steaks again now!!
WOW! I am so happy you both liked your steaks!
This was easy and perfectly amazing! I never comment on recipes, this was worth it! I am the biggest steak snob. The key was preheating I believe. And plenty of salt, pink salt.
I used a bone in rib eye 16 oz., followed your directions and added some Everything bagel spice. Cooked about 10 on each side @ 390°. It came out perfectly medium-rare! Delicious! Thanx
Turned out great. Medium, just the way I like it.
Picked up what I thought was just an old ( Later) toaster oven 2nd hand & saw the similarities to their air fryers Tried out your ” ribeye steak recipes and the results were fantastic! I’m 90 yes old! Thanx
I just tried a rib eye in my new air fryer. And, oh my, it was absolutely delicious. Cooked for 9 minutes as it was an inch thick. Perfect!!!. And so tasty. Thank you so much.
If 13 minutes is enough you must really love a bloody steak
As I noted, a thicker steak may take a little longer. Also, air fryer models are all different. As you can see in the photo, my steak was not too rare at all. After you make one in your air fryer, you will know if any adjustments need to be made for future steaks.
That’s why God created the instant read thermometer!
I followed your directions and the steak was juicy and delicious. I’m not a great cook anyway, but I received many compliments thanks to you. I
Made olive oil and garlic green beans and baked potato as sides. Thanks!
Had thicker steaks so I airfried the suggested 12 minutes. Came out a tad more medium than our usual medium rare but family still loved and still worthy of 5 stars. Simple. Tasty. All the Yummmmms… A definite keeper on our menu. Didn’t have to change a thing. Thanks for sharing!
I. I did it air fryer steak we steered it for a few minutes before putting it in the air fryer and we put it in the air fryer for about 5 minutes turning halfway through it turned out beautiful. Thanks for the recipe.