How To Cook A Steak In Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer | Rules

If you have an Emeril Lagasse air fryer and a good steak, you already have everything you need for a fast weeknight dinner that still feels special. The trick is getting the time, temperature, and resting step right so the meat turns out browned on the outside and tender inside instead of gray or dried out.

This guide walks you through how to cook a steak in emeril lagasse air fryer models step by step, from choosing the cut to slicing and serving. You will see how to set the machine, how long to cook different thicknesses, and how to hit safe internal temperatures without losing juiciness.

Understanding Your Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer

Before you cook steak in the Emeril Lagasse air fryer, it helps to know how the appliance behaves. The fan moves hot air around the basket or tray, so food browns best when it has space and dry surfaces. Crowding steak or skipping preheating often leads to steaming instead of searing.

Most Emeril Lagasse air fryers, including the compact basket style and the larger Power AirFryer 360, run between 180°F and 400°F with a timer up to around 30 minutes. The steak preset on many models lands at 400°F for about 12 minutes, which suits a 1-inch steak cooked to around medium doneness once you flip and let it rest.

Controls are simple: set temperature, preheat for several minutes, then set time. Some units also have rack positions or multiple baskets. When steak sits closer to the heating element, it browns faster, so you may need a shorter cook time or an extra watch on the first run.

Doneness Level	Approx Time At 400°F*	Target Internal Temp
Rare	7–9 minutes	125–130°F (52–54°C)
Medium Rare	10–12 minutes	130–135°F (54–57°C)
Medium	12–14 minutes	135–145°F (57–63°C)
Medium Well	14–16 minutes	150–155°F (66–68°C)
Well Done	16–18 minutes	160°F+ (71°C+)
USDA Safe Minimum For Whole Steaks	12–14 minutes or as needed	145°F (63°C) plus 3-minute rest
Thickness Over 1.5 Inches	Add 2–4 minutes total	Use thermometer, not color alone

*Times based on a 1-inch steak in a preheated Emeril Lagasse air fryer; always test with a meat thermometer.

How To Cook A Steak In Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Step By Step

This section gives you a reliable base method for most boneless beef steaks around 1 inch thick. You can adjust seasoning and finish later once you know how your exact machine behaves.

Step 1: Choose The Right Cut And Thickness

For air frying, pick steaks that are at least 1 inch thick so the center stays tender while the surface browns. Ribeye, New York strip, sirloin, and filet mignon all work well. Trim any large, dangling pieces of fat that could smoke or burn near the heating element.

If the steak is thicker than 1.5 inches, you may want to reduce the starting temperature slightly or plan for a longer time so the center cooks through before the outside dries. A thinner steak, closer to ¾ inch, usually needs a shorter time and careful monitoring from the halfway mark.

Step 2: Bring Steak Closer To Room Temperature

Take the steak out of the refrigerator 20–30 minutes before cooking. This short rest helps it cook more evenly, since the center is not ice cold when it hits the hot air. Pat it dry with paper towels on both sides; moisture on the surface turns to steam and hurts browning.

Step 3: Preheat The Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer

Set the temperature to 400°F and let the air fryer run empty for about 3–5 minutes. A warm chamber means the steak starts searing as soon as it goes in, which gives better color and flavor. Light smoke or a mild hot smell is normal during preheating, especially on new units.

Step 4: Season The Steak Generously

Coat the steak lightly with a high-smoke-point oil such as canola, avocado, or light olive oil. Sprinkle kosher salt on both sides, along with freshly ground black pepper. From there, you can add garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried thyme, or your favorite steak rub. Press seasonings into the meat so they stick during cooking.

Step 5: Arrange The Steak In The Basket

Lay the steak in a single layer in the hot basket or on the tray. Leave a bit of space around it so air flows freely. If your Emeril Lagasse model has racks, use the middle or upper-middle position for strong heat without placing the steak right next to the element.

Step 6: Cook, Flip, And Check Temperature

Cook at 400°F for about 5–7 minutes, then open the air fryer and flip the steak with tongs. Continue cooking for another 5–7 minutes, depending on desired doneness and thickness. Start checking internal temperature a couple of minutes before the low end of the time range so you do not overshoot.

Slide an instant-read thermometer into the thickest part from the side. For a juicy result that still follows food safety guidance, many cooks target around 135–140°F in the center, then let the steak rest while carryover heat brings it closer to the recommended 145°F.

Step 7: Rest The Steak Before Slicing

Move the steak to a warm plate or cutting board and tent loosely with foil. Let it rest for at least 5 minutes. During this time, juices redistribute and the center finishes cooking through, so the meat stays moist instead of spilling juice all over the board.

After resting, slice across the grain for chew-friendly bites. For strip and ribeye, that usually means cutting straight across the shorter side. For flank or skirt, turn the steak so you slice perpendicular to the long muscle fibers.

Cooking A Steak In Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Cuts And Thickness

Not every steak behaves the same way in hot air. Fat content, bone, and muscle structure change how fast each cut cooks and how tender it feels on the plate. Once you know the basic method, you can match the time and rack position to the specific cut you bought.

Ribeye has generous marbling and tends to stay juicy even if you slightly overshoot your target temperature. Sirloin is leaner and can dry faster, so many people stop closer to medium rare. New York strip sits somewhere between, with a firm bite and good flavor when browned well on the surface.

Steak Cut	Typical Thickness	Approx Time At 400°F
Ribeye	1–1.25 inches	10–14 minutes
New York Strip	1 inch	10–13 minutes
Sirloin	¾–1 inch	9–12 minutes
Filet Mignon	1.25–1.5 inches	11–15 minutes
Flat Iron	1 inch	10–13 minutes
Flank Or Skirt	½–¾ inch	6–9 minutes
Bone-In Steaks	1–1.25 inches	12–16 minutes

Thicker or bone-in steaks often do better when you drop the temperature slightly after the first half of cooking, so the center warms gently while the surface holds its color. Always trust your thermometer over the clock, since different Emeril Lagasse air fryer models run a little hotter or cooler.

Food Safety, Doneness, And Thermometers

Good steak should taste great and also stay safe to eat. Whole cuts of beef carry most bacteria on the outside, so the seared surface gives a lot of protection. Even so, food safety agencies advise cooking beef steaks to at least 145°F with a short rest to reduce the risk from harmful germs.

Agencies such as the USDA publish a safe minimum internal temperature chart for steaks, roasts, and other meats. A digital instant-read thermometer takes the guesswork out and keeps you from cutting into the steak too early just to check color.

Insert the probe from the side into the center of the thickest part of the steak, avoiding bone or large pockets of fat. Check multiple spots if the steak is very thick or if your air fryer has hot zones. When the steak hits your chosen temperature, move it to a warm plate and rest it before slicing.

Seasoning Ideas For Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Steak

Once you know how to cook a steak in emeril lagasse air fryer units consistently, you can play with flavor. A simple salt and pepper crust already tastes great, but a few pantry ingredients push the steak closer to restaurant style.

Simple Steakhouse Style

For a classic flavor, season with salt, coarse black pepper, and a touch of garlic powder. After cooking and resting, top the hot steak with a small pat of butter mixed with chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon. The butter melts over the crust and adds richness without extra work.

Garlic Herb Version

Mix olive oil with minced garlic, dried rosemary, thyme, and a pinch of kosher salt. Rub this mixture over the steak before air frying. The hot air toasts the herbs slightly, giving a fragrant crust that pairs well with mashed potatoes or roasted vegetables.

Marinated Steak Option

If you prefer a marinade, keep it on the dry side for air frying. Use soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, a small amount of oil, and seasonings such as garlic and black pepper. Pat the steak dry before it goes into the basket so excess liquid does not smoke or drip on the heating element.

Tips Taken From Official Guidance And Manuals

Many Emeril Lagasse manuals suggest a steak setting around 400°F for about 12 minutes, which lines up well with an air fried steak cooked to medium doneness. Emeril’s own air fried New York strip steak recipe uses a similar range of time and temperature for a 1-inch steak.

Using those presets as a starting point helps you learn how your model behaves. From there, you can shift a minute or two in either direction or adjust temperature slightly so your regular cut lands at your preferred doneness every time.

Common Mistakes When Cooking Steak In An Air Fryer

A few small missteps can hold back the quality of air fried steak. The good news is that each one has a simple fix, and once you correct them, the process starts to feel easy and repeatable.

Skipping The Preheat

Putting steak into a cold or barely warm air fryer often leads to pale, steamed meat. Preheating builds a hot surface so the outside browns quickly. If your model does not have a dedicated preheat button, just run it empty for several minutes at cooking temperature before adding food.

Overcrowding The Basket

Too many steaks in the basket block hot air flow. That slows browning and can leave the inside unevenly cooked. Give each steak some breathing room, or cook in batches instead of forcing everything in at once.

Relying Only On Color

Steak cooked in an air fryer can brown fast on the outside while the inside still sits under your target. Relying on color alone makes it hard to repeat results. A quick thermometer check tells you exactly where you are and lets you stop the cook at the right moment.

Skipping The Rest

Cutting into steak as soon as it leaves the air fryer sends juices straight onto the plate. A short rest keeps those juices inside the meat and improves texture. Even three to five minutes makes a clear difference.

Serving Ideas And Leftover Tips

Once you have a well cooked steak from the Emeril Lagasse air fryer, you can keep dinner simple or dress it up with favorite sides. Classic options include roasted potatoes, air fried green beans, or a crisp salad with vinaigrette.

Slice leftover steak thinly across the grain and use it the next day in sandwiches, quesadillas, or salad bowls. Reheat slices gently in the air fryer at a lower temperature, around 300°F, for just a few minutes so they warm through without overcooking.

If you track cook times, temperatures, and thickness in a small kitchen notebook or in your phone, you will quickly build a personal reference for how to cook a steak in emeril lagasse air fryer models that you own. After a few cooks, you will know exactly which settings hit your favorite doneness every time.