Learn how to cook frozen steak in the air fryer with my fast, failproof method. No thawing needed – just tender, juicy steaks in about 20 minutes.
I don’t always have a multi-course meal planned for my family – more often than not, I have to get creative with dinner on the fly. That’s where air frying comes in handy.
Air frying frozen steaks is a game-changer on those weeknights when dinner is the furthest thing on your mind. The results are as rewarding as my air fryer steak, but with more convenience. You don’t even need to thaw the steaks in advance!
In culinary school, we were taught that frozen proteins cook differently from fresh ones due to the way heat travels through the ice crystals (I touched on this in my recipes for frozen chicken breast and frozen salmon). That lesson came to mind here, so I tested this recipe with ribeye, sirloin, and even leaner cuts to make sure the method worked every time.
Table of Contents
Why you should cook steak in the air fryer
- Healthier. I use a fraction of the oil or butter compared to steaks cooked on the grill or stovetop.
- Tender and juicy. No one would ever guess these steaks were cooked in the air fryer.
- Consistent. I tested everything from thinner sirloins to thicker ribeyes to ensure this delivers juicy results, regardless of the cut. The ribeye was my top pick for flavor, while sirloin worked best for speed.
- Prevents overcooking. The extended cooking time helps the inside of the steaks while keeping the outside from getting too charred.
Key ingredients
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
- Frozen steaks. When testing this recipe, I found the best cut of steak was ribeye steaks and sirloin steaks, as these cuts of steak have more fat, which keeps them from drying out in the air fryer.
- Olive oil. Just enough to develop a crispy crust on the steaks. Unsalted butter also works.
- Kosher salt and black pepper. To taste.
- Seasonings. I used garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
How to make air fryer frozen steak
Step 1- Prep. Preheat the air fryer. Brush the steaks with a little bit of oil and season both sides.
Step 2- Air fry. Place the steaks in the air fryer basket and air fry until they reach your preferred doneness (flipping midway through).
Step 3- Rest and serve. Let the steak rest briefly before serving.
How long to cook frozen steaks
The exact amount of air frying time will depend on the steak’s thickness and your preferred level of doneness. If we’re using 1-inch steaks as the base, use this as your guide:
Rare: 14-15 minutes
Medium rare: 15-17 minutes
Medium: 17-20 minutes
Medium well: 21-23 minutes
Well done: 23-25 minutes
Tip: Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the steak. Look for 125°F (52°C) for rare, 130°F (54°C) for medium-rare, 140°F (60°C) for medium, 150°F (65°C) for medium-well, and 160°F (71°C) for well-done.
Arman’s pro tips
- No overlapping. In order for the steaks to cook evenly, there should be little to no overlapping. This may mean air frying in batches, but it’s worth it.
- Don’t skip the oil. In my testing, brushing the frozen steak with a thin layer of oil before seasoning helped the spices stick better and encouraged a golden crust, even without thawing (you can see it in my pictures).
- Don’t be shy with the seasonings. Since we’re using frozen steaks, we can’t marinate them, and the seasonings don’t have as much time to absorb into the meat. This means we have to add more seasonings than normal to impart flavor.
- Swap the seasonings. I kept the seasonings fairly conservative, but you can use your favorite spices or steak seasoning blends.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! I specifically tested this recipe with frozen steaks, and it works just as well as thawed. In fact, starting from frozen can help prevent overcooking since the inside has more time to cook gently.
If your steaks are already cooked, they can be reheated at 360°F (180°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping midway through.
Let the steak cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Yes, cooked steaks freeze well. Place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months.
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Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
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Brush the frozen steak with olive oil on both sides, then season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
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Air fry the steak for 17-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of the steak, flipping halfway through, until it’s reached your desired level of doneness. I find medium (140°F) best for frozen steak.
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Remove the steak from the air fryer and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Steak thickness: The 17-20 minute cooking time is based on 1-inch steaks. Thicker steaks will take longer. Use a meat thermometer to double-check doneness.
- Doneness levels: Look for 125°F (52 °C) for rare, 130°F (54 °C) for medium-rare, 140°F (60 °C) for medium, 150°F (65 °C) for medium-well, and 160°F (71 °C) for well-done.
- Steaks: I love Ribeyes or Sirloin Steaks because of the fat-to-meat ratio. Any cut will work, though.
- Leftovers: Will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days and in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Serving: 1servingCalories: 255kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 23gFat: 18gSodium: 350mgPotassium: 319mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.03gVitamin A: 23IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 2mgNET CARBS: 1g
