Air fryer steak will come out 'superb' if you do 1 simple thing before cooking it

Air fryers have quickly become a staple in UK kitchens, and it's easy to see why. They're quick, easy to use, and often much less messy than a frying pan or oven. From chips to chicken, just about everything can be cooked in them these days, including steak.

More and more home cooks are now turning to the air fryer to make juicy steaks that take just minutes to prepare. And while the results can be impressive, experts say there's one key step you need to take before cooking to make sure your steak turns out just right. Skip it, and your steak could end up overcooked, dry, or grey on the outside. But get it right, and your meat could come out tender, moist and full of flavour, even without using a frying pan or grill.

According to BBC Good Food, the trick is to preheat your air fryer before cooking.

Just like you would with an oven or barbecue, giving the appliance a few minutes to heat up first can make all the difference.

Experts say preheating helps give the outside of the steak a golden, seared finish. If you skip this step, the meat might turn grey before it gets any colour, by which time the inside could be overdone.

BBC Good Food recommends setting your air fryer to 200C and letting it run for around two minutes before adding your steak.

This way, the basket and surrounding air are hot enough to start cooking the outside immediately.

One reviewer who followed the method said: "Superb, particularly with home-made garlic butter placed on it for the final three minutes."

Another user added: "Worked perfectly, my tip would be to remove the steak from the fridge around half an hour before air frying."

And someone else said: "I cooked the steak for eight minutes on each side at 200C, my husband said it was perfect."

The full recipe calls for two rib-eye steaks, brushed with oil and seasoned with salt and pepper.

Once the air fryer is preheated, cook for six minutes on one side, then turn and cook for two minutes more for rare to medium-rare. Add another two to four minutes depending on how well done you like it.

BBC Good Food also recommends resting the steak after cooking, which helps lock in the juices and keep it tender.

They also advise letting the steak come to room temperature before cooking to avoid toughness.

For those looking to be more precise, using a meat thermometer can help. Experts at The Kitchn say the internal temperature should reach 52C for rare, 54C to 57C for medium-rare, and 60C for medium.

While the recipe has a solid four out of five stars from reviewers, some warned the timings might need adjusting depending on your air fryer and steak thickness.

One user said: "If you are aiming for medium rare I would definitely reduce the cooking time. I followed the recipe to the letter but it was overcooked."