Air Fryer Tri-Tip Steak Recipe - Fork To Spoon (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook a steak in an air fryer without it drying out? ›

The best way to ensure a juicy steak is to use high heat to cook the steak quickly, which will bring it to the proper temperature without drying it out. Remember to rest your steak after air frying to allow the meat to reabsorb juices and complete its cooking time without direct heat.

Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 400 degrees F. Season the steak on both sides with a generous pinch of salt and several grinds of black pepper. Place the steak in the center of the air fryer basket and cook until desired doneness, about 10 minutes for medium-rare, 12 minutes for medium and 14 minutes for medium-well.

Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Brush the steak with olive oil and season it with pepper on both sides. Place the steak on a baking sheet and into the oven. Cook for 30-45 minutes, or until it reaches 115 degrees for medium rare (keep the steak in the oven longer for higher doneness levels).

Air Frying:

Placement: Place the seasoned and oiled tri-tip steak in the air fryer basket, ensuring not to overcrowd it. Overcrowding can result in uneven cooking. Temperature and Time: Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for a medium-rare steak.

On stovetop, heat on high until pan is very hot, then add tri-tip, fat side down. Turn heat to medium-high and sear roast for about 4 minutes. Turn the roast and put it in the oven. Cook it for about 10 minutes a pound, checking with an instant-read thermometer until it reaches 130 degrees for medium-rare.

Pat them dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture. Season both sides generously. Let the steaks sit for 15-20 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat. To prevent the steaks from sticking to the air fryer basket, lightly grease it with olive oil or cooking spray.

Spray the steak with olive oil and coat both sides with the spices. Preheat the air fryer so the basket gets hot. For a 1-inch steak, air fry 400F 10 minutes turning halfway, for medium rare, for medium, cook 12 minutes, flipping halfway.

Your steak will cook through, if left on just one side. However, because flipping can place a different part of the steak closer to the heating element (for an air fryer, this is at the top), a steak will cook more evenly if flipped halfway through.

I have found that 400 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature to cook steak in the air fryer, for an 8-ounce ribeye, it will take 12 minutes, and remember to flip halfway through.

Why is my steak chewy in the air fryer? ›

Don't use steaks that are less than an inch in thickness. Thin steaks are prone to overcooking quickly and becoming chewy. To enjoy the best flavor and texture, allow the steaks to come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking them in the air fryer. I typically remove them before I do any prep.

Tri-tip steak vs tri-tip roast – is there a difference? Yes. The tri-tip roast is the complete roast, situated at the bottom of the sirloin. Tri-tip steaks are individual steaks cut from the roast.

The longer you cook tri-tip the more tender it will become, so you can choose your time according to what you are trying to accomplish. For a more traditional texture you can cook it until it is just heated through, usually 3 to 4 hours.

If you're using a meat thermometer, place it inside of the tri-tip. Then, preheat the oven to 350 F and cook the tri tip until it reaches an internal temperature of 135 F. This should take approximately 15-17 minutes.

The amount of time it takes to cook a tri tip depends on the size and also the level of doneness you're going for. At 225 degrees Fahrenheit, a 2-pound tri tip takes an hour for rare, to an hour and a half for medium-rare. A 3-pound tri tip requires about 90 minutes for rare, and 2 hours for medium-rare.

Sear steak for about 3 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer steak to a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven on the middle rack, about 10 to 15 minutes per pound. Cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes before slicing.