10 Best Air Fryer for Steak Tested by Kitchen Pros [2023]

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Cooking the flawless steak is an art form where even a slight change in temperature or time can make your steak chewy or rubbery. Avoiding overcooking and attaining the flawless sear and oil splatters requires practice and some skill.

In recent years, an air fryer has emerged as a perfect choice for cooking steak as it allows you to set precise temperatures and time to achieve the perfect level of doneness. 

If you have considered buying an air fryer for cooking stakes, we have compiled a list of best performing units. Here is how we made the selection:

10 Best Air Fryer for Steak Tested by Kitchen Pros [2023]

1. Cosori Electric Smokeless Grill Air Fryer

Cosori Smokeless is a great air fryer to downsize your kitchen. It helps you replace many of the single-purpose units occupying your counter space. Its low-height design, its storage is also very easy. You can easily store it inside your kitchen cabinet.

Its ease of use is commendable, making it suitable even for older parents who love to cook. The cooking presets eliminate the guesswork in your cooking. The Wi-Fi connectivity and pairing with Alexa and Google make cooking even more convenient.

Our cooking experts were particularly impressed by ceramic grill of this Cosori air fryer, which sizzles and gives your steak the original taste and texture. The wide temperature that can be reach upto 510F, makes it perfect for cooking steaks and many other recipes that require high temperature.

Compared to Cosori, the PowerXL air fryer grill combo is available at a much lower price. However, it does not offer Alexa connectivity. You can consider Power XL 6 QT if you want an air fryer under $100.

Our team expressed its dissatisfaction when it comes to the design of the grill plate. It has handles on both sides, which get very hot after going inside the air fryer, so be careful when handling it. The handles sometimes also block the door from closing, especially when steaks are thick.

The lid opens wide enough to allow you to put food conveniently. The splatter guard on the lid catches most oil splatters, keeping the fan and heating element clean.

Key Specs:

2. Ninja Foodi Pro Indoor Air Fryer Grill With Dehydrator

Ninja Foodi Pro flaunts its cyclonic grilling technology, efficiently cooking food from all sides. The air fryer can reach a max temperature of 500F, the best temperature for steak in the air fryer. Your chicken or beef steak sears and caramelizes exceptionally well at this temperature. 

We liked the addition of a temperature probe that prevents you from cutting food multiple times to check its doneness.

The cooking quality is so incredible that you can easily compare it to the one cooked on a George Foreman grill. We experienced that this air fryer grill cooks delicate foods such as salmon better than an actual grill.

The ceramic-coated grill plate and other non-stick accessories are PTFE/PFOA-free. A plus point for people who prefer a non-toxic air fryer.

Integrating smoke control technology, splatter shield, and cool-air zone in this air fryer are thoughtful features. Hence, you don’t need to fear the accumulation of smoke in the house. Since the air fryer does not produce smoke, it is perfect to use for outdoor grilling.

A minor inconvenience is that it is a bit loud and can easily wake up a light sleeper in a small apartment. However, you will probably be okay if there is space between your rooms and kitchen.

Ninja Foodie also has another grill named Ninja FG551 with a 6 quart capacity. Both are great appliances, but FG551 is a bit more expensive than the Ninja Foodi Pro; you can select one according to your budget.

Key Specs:

3. GoWISE USA GWAC22003 Air Fry Grill With Racks

This GoWISe air fryer won second place in America’s Test Kitchen, followed by Philips air fryer, which occupied the first. But trust me, after testing so many air frying units, we can vouch that it can be compared to any premium-priced air fryer.

GoWise 5.8 qt air fryer is sufficient to cook large portions for a family of two to three people and small quantities for four. So, if you cook less food in routine, it is a suitable air fryer.

A delightful feature of this air fryer is that it comes with all the useful accessories, including a heavy-duty grill plate, skewer rack, and air fryer basket. These accessories provide countless meal options to cook for family and friends.

After cooking multiple times, we rate it as the best air fryer for grilling fish. Whether cod, salmon, or trout, everything comes out crispy and delicious. The same is true for chicken, whether chicken Pepper steak, roast, fried chicken, or mouthwatering sauce-coated Buffalo wings.

The shape of the bucket is amazing, neither round nor square, a bit like a rectangle with rounded edges, making it perfect for fitting elongated meat pieces.

The touchscreen control panel only takes up a small space on the front of the air fryer instead of cluttering the unit. A slight inconvenience we faced using this air fryer is that there is no cancel button to end the cooking when the food attains the desired crispiness.

GOwise USA GWAC22003 is an incredible appliance. But if you need a unit for making steak and baking cookies, muffins, etc., consider GoWISE USA GWAC983.

Key Specs:

4. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer Best For Everyone

If you want streamlined cooking performance and brilliant features to converge at one point, buy Ninja AF101. It has a compact and lightweight design, which makes it extremely user-friendly.

Besides cooking from scratch, the air fryer is great for reheating leftovers, such as chicken nuggets, pizza and tater tots.

For cooking in this air fryer, our cooking experts recommend going for a bit less time to prevent over-drying. If you need more cooking time, add gradually while you observe the outcomes. We cooked chicken wings, coating them with Louisiana fried chicken flour and adding some oil, and the results were mouthwatering.

The best part of this air fryer is its pause button, which, unlike the GoWISE USA GWAC22003, allows you to check food and make adjustments on the go.

When making juicy steak in the air fryer, never use the metal tongs; they will ding, scratch, and ruin the non-stick coating on the accessories, which otherwise stays for a long time.

We were slightly disappointed by the noise of its internal fan, which is a bit louder than what our testing experts prefer. But if you focus on its cooking results, this won’t be a big deal.

This 4 quart air fryer is great to cook food for three to four people. For cooking more food, you can consider the Ninja AF150AMZ, with almost similar function, material, and design but a bigger capacity.

Key Specs:

5. Chefman Air Fryer With Rotisserie

The most prominent feature of this air fryer is its big see-through window that allows you to witness what is happening inside the cooking chamber. You can observe steak’s transformation and stop the unit when the meat attains the desired sear and texture.

Its auto-shutoff makes it safe for users of all age groups. It turns off the unit when the door is not closed properly and when the unit stays idle for some time.

Though it is made with plastic, it is high quality, durable, and BPA-free, which is a relief. The accessories are dishwasher safe but non-stick coated; therefore, we suggest you quickly hand wash them.

What differentiates it from other single-basket air fryers is that it can accommodate two racks in its deep chamber and cook multiple ingredients simultaneously. So its 6.3-QT capacity can accommodate as much or even more than an XL basket such as Chefman TurboFry 8 Qt air fryer.

The compact digital display lights up brightly when you turn on the air fryer. This lets you see the touch buttons clearly and prevents entering the wrong settings.

We loved its drip tray’s design. It is slightly deep from the center, which allows it to gather all the oil and food juice in the middle when making air fryer steak bites or Hamburger steak, enabling easy cleaning.

A slight inconvenience we faced was when using aluminum foil. The high-speed air blowing inside the cooking chamber loosened it, posing a safety hazard. So make sure to secure the foil completely before putting food on it.

Key Specs:

6. Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer With Smart Cooking Functions

Instant Pot Vortex air fryer has a mobile app that gives you access to more than 1900 recipes, so the sky’s the limit if you want to experiment with this air fryer.

We were extremely pleased with this air fryer’s clean and clutter-free control panel. Each button is at a decent distance from the other, so you don’t accidentally enter the wrong settings.

The air fryer has a dedicated preheat setting which is faster than any oven, so the cooking time won’t increase much.

We tested this air fryer by cooking chicken wings and chicken steaks. The air fryer cooked a basket full of chicken wings within 20 minutes at 380F. We chose the “air fry” setting for cooking steak and cooked each side of the meat for about 10 minutes at 400F.

Our only complaint is regarding the user manual, which seems a bit confusing. So, be patient if you make a few mistakes until you find the perfect setting for making different foods. For instance, after a few trials, we found that 9 minutes was sufficient to make skinless salmon perfectly; others might have a different opinion.

Instant Vortex has another 6QT air fryer with a viewing window. It also has a broil and dehydrate setting. If viewing your food during cooking is your priority, you can go with Instant Vortex Plus, 6 quart air fryer.

Key Specs:

7. COSORI Pro III Air Fryer Best With Baking Function

COSORI Air Fryer Pro III Dual Blaze beautiful rectangular body is the first thing that caught our attention. The next was the placement of its heating elements, located above and below the cooking compartment, ensuring that the ingredients cook evenly.

The purpose of the dual burners is to skip shaking or turning the food. But we recommend you not rely on it entirely as there is always room for shaking and stirring for even cooking. The air fryer adjusts the cooking temperature according to your settings.

When cooking, you can easily fit homemade fries made out of at least 7 potatoes or a small to medium-sized whole chicken in the basket.

The air fryer provides near-perfect cooking results. But if you have a low budget but want a Cosori, consider COSORI Pro II. You will get many premium functions like Alexa connectivity like the dual blaze. However, it does not have dual burners.

The capacitive touchscreen control panel at the top has a beveled screen, allowing better focus and visibility. Its 12 one-touch cooking functions, such as broil, roast, keep warm, and steak, offer endless possibilities for making delicious food.

Using the steak settings, we cooked beef steak following a dedicated beef recipe using a liner paper on the crisper rack. The setting was accurate, and the steak was succulent, delicious, and crispy. You can skip using the liner as the crisper rack is non-stick and a breeze to clean.

The spacious capacity of the air fryer is ideal for a medium-sized family; however, the same cannot be said for small kitchen owners as it demands some counter space.

Key Specs:

8. Nuwave Brio 15.5QT Large Air Fryer Oven

Nuwave Brio, with a 15.5 quart capacity, is one of the biggest air fryers on our list of the best air fryers for cooking steak. It is safe to use; its body does not get hot during operations, so there is no need to worry about burning your fingers.

Nuwave also has a smaller air fryer with a Linear T technology, but unlike Nuwave Brio 15.5 QT, Nuwave Brio 7.25 QT is suitable for small families only.

Its three-tier design allows you to cook multiple dishes at a time. The food that needs maximum heat can go on the top layer. While more delicate foods can be cooked at the second or third layer.

We have used this air fryer to make various things, including steaks, asparagus, toast bread, whole roasted chicken, and chicken cordon blues. Though it required a few trial and error attempts, we finally achieved perfection. We loved the grill grate that comes with it; it is ultra-nonstick and reversible and gives a beautiful sear to your fresh or frozen steak.

When making steak, the integrated temperature probe allowed us to keep the internal temperature in check and did not let you overcook it. The cooking process ended automatically when the steak reached the desired temperature.

The air fryer is sturdy and durable but cumbersome due to 26 pounds of weight. You cannot put this air fryer in the kitchen cabinet between uses.

Key Specs:

9. GoWISE USA GW22956 Air Fryer with 3 Stackable Racks

GoWISE USA GW22956 is a modern digital screen air fryer. It comes with 3 stackable racks. Just like a rotisserie and oven-style air fryer, you can make multiple dishes in this air fryer at once. We absolutely loved how it fits on the countertop without demanding you clear a lot of space.

The basket is about 9 ¾ wide and 4 ½ deep when measured from the crisper. The basket can easily accommodate two 2-inch thick steaks. Coat the meat with your favorite spices, drizzle some oil, and place them on the crisper plate. The air fryer takes around 12 minutes at the highest setting to cook a juicy, succulent, brilliantly caramelized medium steak.

You may find the beeping sound a bit louder; we wished there was a button to mute or slow down the noise level. However, you may not find it a big issue if you are not a light sleeper. For those who find beeping unbearable, we recommend GoWISE GW22971, which has a mute and alarm function.

Air fryer’s 7 quart basket not only provides expansive space, but its manufacturing with PFOA-free non-stick coating also ensures your household’s health.

The temperature controls are quite accurate; they consistently attaint the precise temperature you set. That’s why you get great food— nice and crispy on the outside and succulent on the inside. Another remarkable feature of this unit is that you can modify time, even during cooking.

The only annoying aspect of this air fryer is its dimly backlit control panel. We wish the light were a bit more intense, enhancing the visibility of the touch buttons.

Key Specs:

10. Cuisinart TOA-26 Best Compact Airfryer Toaster Oven

Cuisinart TOA-26 compact air fryer has all the practical features that makes it a great unit for everyday use. Since it is an air fryer toaster oven combo, after having it, you can also say goodbye to your standalone toaster.

Cuisinart TOA-26 cooks almost everything, including baking cakes, making delicious and juicy steaks, and air-frying veggies and wings. Since the air fryer is very compact, it heats up quickly without heating the surroundings. 

We were impressed that the air fryer is not just beautiful by looks but also works exceptionally well. Whatever we made in this air fryer was delicious, except when we burned our steak by not paying attention to the temperature.

Stainless steel color makes cleaning much easier. You can easily wipe the whole thing with a damp microfiber cloth and make it sparkle.

A slight hiccup we felt using this air fryer was choosing a setting using its dial. There is no “click” sound between different dial settings; therefore, you must eyeball the dials when configuring them.

The air fryer is great for a medium-sized family, but if you want an even bigger Cuisinart air fryer with more functions, consider TOA-60, which is double the capacity of TOA-26.

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Making Steak in Air Fryer Vs Oven

When it comes to making perfectly caramelized steak, both an air fryer and an oven can give you mouth-watering results. However, there are certain differences between making steak in an air fryer vs an oven.

When making steak in an air fryer, heat gets from above and below where the heating elements are placed. Whereas in an air fryer, heat comes from a heating element above the cooking chamber and is circulated by a high-speed fan.

An air fryer generally prepares your steak faster than an oven. It is because the heat in an air fryer is concentrated in a smaller space than in an oven.

Both an air fryer and an oven can impart a nicely seared texture to your steak. However, an oven uses the broil setting for cooking steak, while an air fryer uses “air crisp” or “air fry” for the same purpose. Air fryers also come with a dedicated steak setting.

Cooking steak in an air fryer is more convenient than in an oven as it is a countertop appliance which is easier to set up, use, and clean.

Guide To Choose Best Air Fryer For Cooking Stake

If you are buying an air fryer to make steaks, some aspects you must consider are mentioned below. These aspects allow you to make a better decision and receive value for your money.

• Consider the temperature range, as it can significantly impact the taste, texture and quality of your steak. Buy an air fryer with a wide temperature range. The max temperature limit should also be at least 400F.
• Consider an air fryer where you can accommodate elongated as well as thicker pieces of steak. If possible, prefer a square-basket air fryer, especially if you want a small one. It allows you to fit your steaks more efficiently.
• You can also choose an air fryer with a customizable steak preset, enabling you to modify the preset according to your recipe. A customizable steak preset also eliminates the need to memorize the temperature and time settings.
• Making steak in an air fryer can cause splatters making it a hassle to clean. Therefore, buy an air fryer with a non-stick coating and whose parts are dishwasher safe.

FAQs

What are the best air fryers for steak?

1. Cosori Electric Smokeless Grill Air Fryer
2. Ninja Foodi Pro Indoor Air Fryer Grill
3. GoWISE USA GWAC22003 Air Fry
4. Ninja AF101 Air Fryer For Everyone
5. Chefman Air Fryer With Rotisserie
6. Instant Pot Vortex Large Air Fryer
7. COSORI Pro III Air Fryer With Baking Function
8. Nuwave Brio Large Air Fryer Oven
9. GoWISE USA GW22956 Air Fryer with 3 Stackable Racks
10. Cuisinart TOA-26 Compact Airfryer Toaster Oven

Is air fryer good for steak?

Yes, an air fryer is a great appliance for cooking steaks. The steak cooks faster in an air fryer because extremely hot air blows around the food in a small space, ensuring the meat remains tender and juicy.

How long to cook steak in an air fryer?

The cooking time varies depending on how done you want your steak to be. You need around 10 minutes to cook medium-rare steak. For medium doneness, you need to cook your steak for 10-12 minutes; for medium-well, you need 12-14 minutes.

Which air fryer setting for steak?

Some air fryers have a steak setting that can be used for making steaks. However, you can use the highest temperature setting if you don’t have a dedicated steak setting on your air fryer. Often you can use a combination of settings too. For instance, you can use the “air fry” setting followed by the “broil” setting to get the perfect charred and caramelized flavor.

Do I need to sear steak before air frying?

No, there is no need to sear steak before putting it in the air fryer as it can also take care of the searing part. You only need to be careful about preparing your steak according to recipe guidelines.

How to cook a 2in thick steak in air fryer?

When cooking a 2-inch thick steak, it is recommended to cook it to medium-rare doneness, which takes around 8 to 10 minutes on each side.

Why is steak tough in air fryer?

Cooking steak in an air fryer is a challenge because steak overcooks and becomes chewy very easily. Making a perfect steak in an air fryer requires you to cook it for the precise duration at the right temperature mentioned in the recipe. You must also avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure proper airflow.

How does Gordon Ramsay air fry steak?

Gordon Ramsay preheats his Philips air fryer at 390F for five minutes. He prepares his steak by rubbing dry herbs and spices on both sides and letting it sit for at least 15 to 20 minutes or as long as possible to infuse the flavors into thick layers of meat. He then cooks the steak for 10 minutes on each side for medium-rare doneness.

Wrapping Up!

Buying the best air fryer for steak can become a big challenge if you don’t have a list of options or recommendations in your mind. Without expert help, you might buy a sub-par quality air fryer that might not give you the anticipated results. The above-provided list of the best air fryers for steaks will help you choose the unit corresponding to your needs. So, make sure to check each air fryer before making a decision.

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Rostey

My current affair with air fryers led me to create this blog. I am the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of KitchenHanker.Com. A website dedicated to providing high-quality, unbiased reviews of the best air fryers in the market, tips, and tricks for using the air fryer.

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