How Long For Sirloin Steak In An Air Fryer? | Time Guide

Sirloin steak and an air fryer are a pretty friendly match. You get a browned, juicy steak, you skip babysitting a pan, and clean-up stays simple. The only real puzzle here is time: how long for sirloin steak in an air fryer so it comes out tender instead of dry or gray.

This guide walks through reliable time ranges for different thicknesses and doneness levels, how to adjust for your specific air fryer, and a step-by-step method you can follow any weeknight.

How Long For Sirloin Steak In An Air Fryer?

When you ask how long for sirloin steak in an air fryer, you’re really asking two things: how long to set the timer, and what internal temperature to aim for.

For a typical 1-inch thick sirloin steak in a preheated air fryer at 400°F (200°C), most home cooks land in these ranges for one steak:

Doneness	Approx Time At 400°F / 200°C*	Target Internal Temp (°F)
Rare	6–8 minutes	120–125°F
Medium-Rare	8–10 minutes	130–135°F
Medium	10–12 minutes	135–145°F
Medium-Well	12–14 minutes	145–155°F
Well Done	14–16 minutes	155°F+
USDA Food-Safe Minimum For Steak	Varies by thickness	145°F plus 3-minute rest
Rest Time Off Heat	5–10 minutes	Temp rises about 5°F

*Time range based on recipes using 400°F for sirloin steak in an air fryer, with slight shifts between models. Always let the internal temperature be the final decision maker.

The safest way to dial this in is simple: set a timer toward the lower end of the range, flip halfway, then check the center with a meat thermometer. If you like steak cooked closer to official food-safety guidance, treat 145°F plus a short rest as your baseline medium target and adjust from there.

Factors That Change Sirloin Steak Air Fryer Time

Those numbers give you a solid starting point, but no two steaks or air fryers behave exactly the same. A few practical details change how long sirloin needs in your basket.

Steak Thickness And Weight

Thickness matters more than weight for timing. A 1-inch steak at 400°F might land around 8–10 minutes for medium-rare, while a 1½-inch sirloin can push closer to 11–13 minutes at the same temperature. Thinner strip-style pieces may be done in 6–8 minutes, so check early so they do not dry out.

Starting Temperature Of The Meat

Steak that just came out of the fridge cooks slower than steak that has sat at room temperature for 20–30 minutes. If you put very cold sirloin straight into the air fryer, add 1–2 minutes to any guideline and rely even more on the thermometer near the end.

Air Fryer Size And Power

Smaller baskets with strong fans blast food with more direct heat and can shave a couple of minutes off cooking time. Larger, oven-style models sometimes run a little gentler, so the same steak might need the upper end of the time range. If your air fryer usually browns food fast, start on the low end of the times and check early.

Marbling, Grade And Cut

Well-marbled sirloin (or “top sirloin”) holds moisture better than very lean versions. Lean steaks push from tender to dry faster once you pass medium. If your sirloin looks quite lean, aim for the lower end of each time range and keep the rest period a bit shorter.

How You Like Your Steak

Some people are happy with plenty of pink, others want only a hint. Medium-rare usually sits around 130–135°F, medium around 140–145°F, and well done beyond 155°F. Tiny changes in time can move you from one stage to the next, which is why the thermometer matters more than the minutes written on the dial.

Sirloin Steak In Air Fryer Cooking Time Chart

This section pulls those ideas into one place so you can match your steak and your goal. The times below assume a 1-inch sirloin, a preheated basket, and a 400°F setting. Flip once halfway through.

For medium-rare, many air fryer recipes suggest around 8–10 minutes for a 1-inch sirloin, with a target internal temperature near 130–135°F. Medium tends to land in the 10–12 minute window, around 140–145°F. For anything above that, go minute by minute and probe the thickest part each time so you stop just where you like it.

Professional and official food-safety sources often publish slightly different targets for doneness, but they agree on one rule: check the center with a reliable thermometer and let the steak rest. That little pause lets juices settle and temperature even out, which makes more difference than another splash of sauce.

Step-By-Step Method For Air Fryer Sirloin Steak

This method works well for most air fryers and keeps the focus on doneness rather than guesswork. You can adjust the seasoning to match whatever you like.

Prepping The Sirloin Steak

Start with steaks that are about the same thickness so they cook at the same pace. Pat both sides dry with paper towels, since moisture on the surface slows browning. Season the steaks with salt at least 15 minutes before air frying, or up to overnight in the fridge if you prefer a deeper seasoning.

Simple Seasoning Options

You do not need a long ingredient list to get great flavor. A basic mix of kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and a small amount of oil or melted butter on the surface works for almost everyone. If you want a steakhouse feel, add smoked paprika, onion powder, or a small pinch of dried herbs such as thyme or rosemary.

Cooking Sirloin Steak In The Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3–5 minutes so the basket is hot.
2. Spray or brush the basket lightly with oil if it tends to stick.
3. Lay the sirloin steaks in a single layer with a little space between them. Avoid stacking or overlapping.
4. Cook for 4–5 minutes, then flip the steaks. This helps the surface brown evenly.
5. Cook for another 3–6 minutes, depending on thickness and doneness. Start probing the center with a thermometer near the earlier end of the range.
6. When the steak is about 5°F below your target internal temperature, take it out of the basket.

Resting And Serving

Place the steaks on a warm plate and loosely cover them with foil. Let them rest for 5–10 minutes. During this rest, the internal temperature creeps up slightly and the juices spread back out through the meat. Slice across the grain for the tenderest bite, and finish with a little extra salt or a pat of garlic butter if you like.

If you are cooking for someone who prefers steak cooked closer to official food-safety guidance, simply leave their steak in the air fryer a couple of minutes longer and bring it closer to the 145°F mark before resting.

Doneness, Food Safety And Thermometers

For whole cuts of beef such as sirloin steak, the USDA recommends cooking to at least 145°F (63°C) and letting the meat rest for 3 minutes before eating. You can see this in the USDA’s own Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart.

FoodSafety.gov repeats the same guidance in its steak and roast temperature chart, where steaks, roasts, and chops of beef, veal, goat, and lamb all share that 145°F target plus a rest period.

At the same time, many steak-focused sources and restaurants describe medium-rare in the 130–135°F range and medium in the 135–145°F range. That is why recipes sometimes list lower temperatures for “perfect steak” than food-safety charts do. At home, the safest approach is to understand both sets of numbers and make a careful choice based on who you are feeding and how much risk you are willing to accept.

No matter which target you choose, make a thermometer your default tool. Probe the center of the thickest part of the steak, avoiding bones or the very edge. Trust that reading over any color on the outside, since air fryers can brown the surface fast while the center catches up.

Air Fryer Sirloin Steak Time For Different Thicknesses

Not every sirloin steak lands at a neat 1-inch thickness. This table gives practical ranges for common sizes at 400°F (200°C). Times assume you flip the steak once halfway through and pull it a few degrees before your final target.

Steak Thickness	Time Range At 400°F	Notes
¾-Inch Thin Sirloin	6–8 minutes	Check early; goes from pink to dry fast.
1-Inch Standard Sirloin	8–12 minutes	Most common size; medium-rare around 8–10 minutes.
1¼-Inch Thick Cut	10–13 minutes	Better for juicy medium; check after 9–10 minutes.
1½-Inch Steakhouse Cut	11–14 minutes	Flip once, probe more than once as you approach time.
2-Inch Sirloin (Very Thick)	14–17 minutes	Cook in stages; consider a short rest halfway through.
Thin Sliced Sirloin Strips	4–6 minutes	Toss once; ideal for salads and sandwiches.
Multiple Steaks In Basket	+1–3 minutes	Add time if the basket feels crowded.

Use these numbers as guide rails, not rigid rules. Your air fryer model, how often you open the basket, and the exact size of the steak will all nudge cook times around. The thermometer tells you when you are really there.

Common Mistakes With Air Fryer Sirloin Steak

A few easy missteps can make a tasty sirloin turn out dry or uneven. Steer around these, and those time charts above become much more reliable.

Skipping The Preheat

Cold baskets steam instead of brown. Preheating lets the surface of the steak sear as soon as it hits the hot air, which helps flavor and texture. Most air fryers only need a handful of minutes to get hot enough.

Overcrowding The Basket

If steaks sit on top of each other or touch too much, hot air cannot move properly. That leads to pale spots, uneven doneness, and longer cook times. Give each sirloin a bit of space, or cook in batches when you have more than two steaks.

Cooking Straight From The Fridge Or Freezer

Very cold meat slows the center while the outside rushes ahead. If your steak is fridge-cold, expect to add a couple of minutes to the time chart. If it is frozen, use a specific frozen-steak method rather than the fresh timing above, or thaw the steak first for more predictable results.

Forgetting To Rest The Meat

Pulling sirloin from the air fryer and cutting it right away dumps a lot of juice on the board. Resting helps moisture settle back into the fibers so each slice stays moist. It also finishes the cooking gently, which helps you land right on your chosen doneness.

Relying Only On Time

The same minutes on the dial do not give the same result in every kitchen. Air fryers vary in power, and even steak thickness from the same pack can shift doneness. Treat time as a guide and the internal temperature as your real decision point.

Quick Reference For Weeknight Sirloin Steak

When you are tired and just want dinner on the table, you do not want to scroll back through charts. Here is the fast pattern many home cooks follow for a straightforward 1-inch sirloin steak.

Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Season the steak and pat it dry. Cook for 4–5 minutes, flip, then cook another 3–5 minutes. Start probing at the lower end of that second stretch. Take it out about 5°F before your goal, rest 5–10 minutes, then slice.

So the practical answer to how long for sirloin steak in an air fryer is this: expect roughly 8–10 minutes for medium-rare and 10–12 minutes for medium on a 1-inch steak at 400°F, and let the thermometer and your taste decide the final call.