Did you forget to thaw the steaks for dinner tonight? Don’t worry about it! You can cook Frozen Steak in the Air Fryer right now, without any need to plan ahead.
The case for frozen steak
These steaks go straight from the freezer to the air fryer, with just a quick stop for seasoning first.
And…they won’t fry out if you follow our instructions!
Steak is a classic dinner, fit for both special occasions and casual evenings. Making the perfect steak at home doesn’t have to be complicated when you have your trusty air fryer at the ready.
It takes about 20 minutes to make frozen steak in the air fryer, start to finish. You don’t need to wait for the meat to thaw, and you don’t need to do any fancy preparation steps.
FYI – If you have already thawed your steaks, go visit my Air Fryer Steak recipe for instructions for air frying a fresh steak instead.
Grab what you’ll need
- Olive Oil – A thin coat of oil on the steaks ensures that they stay tender, and helps the seasonings adhere to the meat.
- Salt and Pepper – Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper are simple seasonings that are all you need to make a delicious steak. Of course, regular salt and ground pepper will work as well.
- Frozen Steaks – Grab two steaks right from the freezer to put in the air fryer! I’m making ribeye steaks today that are each about ⅔ of a pound.
I find that these instructions work best for steaks that are about 1-inch thick. Steaks that are thicker or thinner will require some adjustments in cooking time.
Air Frying Instructions
- Gather your ingredients and preheat the air fryer at 380°F/190°C for 5 minutes.
- Place the frozen steaks on a plate and brush both sides with olive oil. If you don’t have a basting brush, rub the oil on the meat with your hands.
- Season with salt and pepper. Be sure to get both sides of the steaks!
- Place the seasoned frozen steaks in the air fryer basket, and cook at the same temperature you preheated the air fryer to for 13-16 minutes, or until the steak is done to your liking.
- Allow the steak to rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting into it. This is important. If you cut into the steak too soon all of the juices will run right out.
- Garnish with fresh parsley if you like, and enjoy.
Serving Ideas
Air Fryer Frozen Steak is the perfect meal to serve on a busy weeknight. It’s quick and easy and will go with all of your favorite side dishes. Try some of these:
Air Fryer Baked Sweet Potatoes are delicious with steak. I like mine with lots of butter and a little bit of brown sugar!
If you’d rather be more traditional, you can also bake russet potatoes in the air fryer, or air fry red potatoes instead.
Be sure to include some veggies with your meat and potatoes meal. Air Fryer Broccoli is always a good choice, or you can make a healthy salad.
Doneness Guidelines
The recommended cooking time in this recipe should give you a medium rare steak temperature. Adjust the cooking time by 2-3 minutes per level if you want your steak done differently.
- Rare – 120°F/50°C – This steak is red and warm or slightly cool in the center.
- Medium Rare – 130°F/54°C – If you want a warm red center, medium rare should be your order.
- Medium – 140°F/60°C- A medium steak is firm and hot in the center with a hot pink color.
- Medium Well – 150°F/65°C – Not quite well done, but almost there!
- Well Done – 160°F/70°C – A well-done steak is no longer red on the inside and is firm and dry in texture.
Remove the steak from the air fryer just before it reaches the temperatures listed above, as the steak will continue to cook just a bit as it rests.
FAQs
Yes. I don’t often recommend preheating, but I do preheat the air fryer for most frozen meats. The frozen steaks will cook better if the machine is already nice and hot when you put them in.
If you have already thawed your steaks, go visit my Air Fryer Steak recipe for instructions for air frying a fresh steak instead.
If you like your steak well done, you should cook frozen steak for 14 to 18 minutes in a preheated air fryer. Check the temperature to be sure that it’s above 160°F/70°C for well-done steak. Add additional time if needed.
Frozen Steak In Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 steaks ½ to ¾ lb each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper or to taste
- chopped fresh parsley optional, to garnish
Instructions
- Gather your ingredients. Preheat the air fryer at 380°F/190°C for 5 minutes.
- Place the frozen steaks on a plate. Brush with olive oil on both sides.
- Sprinkle both sides of the steaks with salt and pepper.
- Place the frozen steaks in the air fryer basket. Air Fry at 380°F/190°C for 13-16 minutes, flipping the steaks halfway through. Cook until the steak reaches an internal temperature of 130-140°F for medium rare.
- Let the steaks rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve garnished with fresh parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Air fry the steak straight from frozen. You do not need to let the steak thaw at all!
- I used frozen ribeye steaks that were approximately 2/3 lb each and about 1 inch thick. Depending on the size of your steak, you may need more or less time in the air fryer.
- I like my steak medium/medium-rare which took about 13 minutes in the air fryer. If you like yours more well done you will likely need to cook for 14-16 minutes. Use an instant read thermometer to know when your steaks are done.
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.
- Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes air frying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Nutrition
So. This actually did happen to me last night!
I had completely forgot to take the main part of tea out of the freezer. Thankfully I saw your recipe, and tea was saved. Thank you!
I could have made something else, but when you have promised steak…other things pale in comparison!
Simple fast and most of all tasty.