Learn how to make perfect, flavorful, and juicy air fryer ribeye steak! This great alternative to grilling or pan-frying creates an amazing steak in just a few minutes of time.
Table Of Contents
You may be questioning, will air frying a steak really give me a delicious, juicy steak like the grill would? The answer is a resounding YES! Just like I say when air frying hot dogs, you will never know the difference.
My secret for making the perfect air fryer ribeye steak is to give it a generous salt bath first, then air fry it for just the right amount of time in lots of freshly ground black pepper. You can also opt to marinade your steak in one of the best steak marinade recipes, and air fry it that way.
Steak is delicious served with a refreshing side of my cucumber tomato salad, this southern corn salad recipe, roasted asparagus or a lemon potato salad.
So I give you plenty of tips below, including a steak doneness chart and how the varying levels of doneness affect the steak's flavor and texture.Remember, though, that practice makes perfect! Learning about your air fryer and how it works to cook an amazing steak won't happen overnight. Air fry steak regularly to become a master!
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- Air Fryer Mini Pizza
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- Air Fryer Roasted Garlic
- Air Fryer Roasted Sweet Potatoes
- Air Fryer Jalapeño Poppers
Ingredients and Equipment Needed
All you need to air fry steak is ribeye steak, coarse ground salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Don't forget steak sauce or butter for serving.
You'll also need a digital thermometer to make sure the ribeye is cooked to how you like it and a pair of kitchen tongs.
Steak can be easily air fried in both basket-style air fryers and oven-style ones. I have used my Instant Omni Plus oven air fryer most for making steaks, because it's big and I can turn my steak dinner into a one pan air fryer meal by adding potatoes and a vegetable. Add some air fryer crispy asparagus or rosemary and herb baby potatoes to the pan and you've got a full meal!
I have also used both of my basket air fryers. My Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Ultenic air fryer create a delicious ribeye steak too.
Instructions
STEP 1: Generously rub each side of the ribeye with freshly ground salt or coarsely ground salt. Set in the fridge for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, rinse the salt off the steaks with cool running water and pat dry with paper towels.
*I twist my grinder 10-15 times per side to get enough salt on it. Don't be afraid to use a lot of salt. The meat will not absorb it all and once it's washed off, you will have a flavorful meat but not one overpowered with salt flavor.
STEP 2: Preheat the air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. Once preheated, place the steaks in the air fryer basket and sprinkle with your desired amount of freshly ground black pepper. Air fry for 5-13 minutes, until the internal temperature matches your preferred doneness (see chart below). Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy.
*Your air fryer will affect cook times. My Omni Plus cooks faster than my basket air fryer. It took 5 minutes to reach an internal temperature for 120°F as opposed to 7 minutes it took with my Ultenic air fryer. Check out the recipe card below for average cook times based on doneness levels to help you get started. But always check your internal temperature on the lower side of the range.
STEP 3: Remove steak from the air fryer and let rest for 3-5 minutes on a plate. Then serve with more salt and pepper if desired, butter, or steak sauce.
Air fryer ribeye is best served immediately. But, it can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Reheat in the air fryer, microwave, or oven.
Enjoy!
Steak Doneness Chart
Rare: 120°F
Medium-rare: 130°F
Medium: 140°F
Medium-well: 150°F
Well done: 160°F +
Most steaks taste best cooked to medium-rare, including ribeye. It is not recommended to cook a well done steak, unless of course this is what you prefer.
Doneness and Flavor
Not sure how you like your steaks cooked yet? The temperature you cook a steak to affects its texture and flavor. Here is how a ribeye will taste when cooked to the varying levels of doneness:
Rare: soft and tender with a red center; good for steaks with little to no fat.
Medium-rare: red, juicy center; this temperature allows the fat to marbleize which creates a buttery and juicy flavor.
Medium: slightly red center and firm texture; slightly tough and dry to chew.
Medium-well: mostly brown center and firm texture; dry to chew.
Well done: no red color left and very firm and dry.
Tips For Air Frying Steak
- Always bring steak to room temperature before air frying.
- Consider the thickness of you steak rather than how many ounces it is to gauge how long it will cook for. Thinner steaks need less time than thick ones.
- For a juicy and flavorful ribeye, let it rest for 3-5 minutes. This helps the juices redistribute and makes the best-tasting and juiciest steaks. Keep in mind, the internal temperature may increase up to 5 degrees as it rests.
- Seasonings: The best seasoning to put on any steak is simply a little salt, pepper, and butter, or steak sauce. A good quality steak cooked to the recommended internal temperature produces a juicy, delicious meat that doesn't need much more seasoning than that. You can also sprinkle it with a little garlic powder or drizzle with a garlic butter sauce if you'd like.
Recipe FAQs
Check for doneness by inserting a digital or meat thermometer through the thickest part of the steak for an accurate temperature reading. Use the steak doneness times above to cook to the desired temperature.
See the above steak doneness chart for how long to air fry ribeye steak. The time will vary depending on your brand air fryer and how done you prefer your steaks.
Don't worry about flipping halfway through if you are using an air fryer basket or tray with holes. If you are using a baking pan without holes, like the tray that comes with my Omni Plus, then you should flip it halfway to ensure even cooking. I use my tray when making one pan meals because it fits a lot of food and the steak always needs to be flipped.
Yes, the cook time is determined more by the thickness of the steak than the ounces. The most accurate way to determine if a thin or thick ribeye steak is done is to use a thermometer to check the internal temperature.
Yes you can air fry a steak from frozen. Follow the same method for cooking a thawed steak but leave out the salt treatment. Frozen steak will need more time to cook.
Recipe
Air Fryer Ribeye Steak
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 8-10 oz ribeye steak
- coarse salt such as pink Himalayan salt
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Generously rub each side of the ribeye steaks with freshly ground salt or coarsely ground salt. Set in the fridge for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes, rinse the salt off the steaks with cool running water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380° Fahrenheit. Once preheated, place the steaks in the air fryer basket and sprinkle with your desired amount of freshly ground black pepper. Air fry for 5-13 minutes, until the internal temperature matches your preferred doneness (see chart below). Use an instant-read thermometer for accuracy.
- Remove steak from the air fryer and let rest for 3-5 minutes on a plate. Then serve with more salt and pepper if desired, butter, or steak sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
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Hayley Dhanecha says
So amzing to see what an air-fryer can do. I love my air fryer too!! Simple recipe with great flavours
Tristin says
This was a great alternative to bbqing steak. It came out tender, flavorful and juicy.
Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says
As a hardcore grill artist, this definitely was a pleasant surprise! Super flavorful and juicy! I really appreciate the doneness chart too! That really helps out a bunch as we're a family that's divided on how we like our steaks cooked. Thank you so much for sharing this!
Ann says
I have started making steaks in my air fryer, and I am surprised how delicious they come out! Very close to the same flavor and texture as if I made it on our traeger.