Okay, so I wanted to try something new in the kitchen, and I decided to cook a tri-tip steak in my air fryer. I’d heard some good things about getting a nice sear and juicy insides, so I gave it a shot. Here’s how it went down.
First off, I grabbed my tri-tip from the fridge. It was about 2 pounds, a nice size for a couple of meals. I patted it dry with some paper towels, which is something I always do to get a good crust.
Next, I preheated my air fryer. I set it to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (that’s about 200 Celsius for my friends across the pond). While it was heating up, I got to seasoning the steak. I kept it simple: a good sprinkle of salt and a generous amount of black pepper all over. You can use whatever you like, really, but I wanted the beefy flavor to shine.
Once the air fryer was nice and hot, I placed the seasoned tri-tip right in the basket. I made sure it wasn’t folded or anything, just laid it flat.
- I cooked it for about 15 minutes on one side, then flipped it over.
- After the flip, I cooked it for another 10 minutes. My goal was medium-rare, and I know my air fryer tends to cook quickly.
After the time was up, I took the steak out and let it rest for about 10 minutes. This is important, folks. Resting lets the juices redistribute, so you don’t lose them all when you slice it.
Finally, I sliced the tri-tip against the grain. It was perfectly pink inside, just how I like it. The crust was on point, thanks to the dry surface and the hot air fryer.
Final Thoughts
This was a win. Seriously, the air fryer did a great job. It was quicker than using the oven, and the cleanup was a breeze. I’ll definitely be making tri-tip this way again. If you haven’t tried it, you should. It’s easy, it’s tasty, and it’s pretty darn quick.
