Steak is a delicious and popular meal, but determining the best cooking method can be tricky. The two most common ways to cook steak at home are baking and air frying. Both have their pros and cons. Keep reading to find out whether baking or air frying results in a better steak.
Nutrition
When comparing the nutritional differences between baked and air fried steak, there are a few things to consider:
- Calories – Air frying steak uses little to no oil, resulting in a lower calorie count compared to baking with added fats/oils. An average 6 oz sirloin steak contains around 200 calories. Air fried it would retain all those calories. Baked with 2 tbsp of oil, it would have over 300 calories total.
- Fat – Similarly, the fat content will be lower in an air fried steak since no oil is used. Baking uses added fats and oils which increases the total fat grams.
- Vitamins & Minerals – Nutritionally, steak contains B-vitamins like niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, selenium. These nutrients are retained through air frying and baking as no nutrients are lost.
- Safety – Baked and air fried steak both reach safe internal cooking temperatures needed to kill harmful bacteria when following proper guides and recipes.
Overall, air frying steak is the slightly healthier cooking method nutritionally since no additional oils are used. But baking can still produce a tasty, safe to eat steak as well.
Convenience
For convenience and ease when cooking steak, air frying triumphs over baking:
- Prep Time – Air fried steak involves minimal prep of just seasoning the steak. Baked steak often uses a marinade or coating that requires some time to prepare.
- Cook Time – The average steak takes only 8-12 minutes to fully cook when air fried. Baking takes at least 20 minutes if not longer.
- Monitoring – Air frying requires little babysitting or monitoring during the cook time. Baking in the oven requires periodically flipping and basting the steak.
- Clean Up – With air frying, there are no pans to wash, just the fryer basket. Baking creates a pan and possible dishes from marinades/coatings to clean.
Air frying is clearly the faster and simpler way to cook steak at home.
Taste
The most important factor for many steak lovers is how it tastes. Here is how baked and air fried steak compare:
- Texture – Air frying can produce a crispy, seared exterior while maintaining a tender, juicy interior. Baking doesn’t achieve the same level of outer crispiness.
- Flavor – Baked steak infused with spices, herbs and oils provides bold flavor. Air fried steak relies solely on seasoning for flavor.
- Doneness – Oven baking makes it harder to achieve even doneness throughout. Air frying’s high heat circulates evenly for consistent rare to well-done results.
- Appearance – Baked steak can look pale and dry, while air fried develops a nice browning. But baking allows sauce coats that improve appearance.
For ideal texture and doneness, air frying seems preferable. But baking offers some edge with infusing more flavor.
Cost
The costs of baking and air frying steak mainly comes down to appliance and equipment factors:
- Appliance – Most homes already have a standard oven for baking. An air fryer must be purchased separately as an additional small appliance.
- Accessories – Pan costs for baking are low since basic metal baking sheets usually suffice. Air frying may require purchasing a special steak tray or rack accessory.
- Electricity – Air fryers are an energy efficient appliance, using less electricity than an oven during cooking. This can help lower energy bills over time.
- Oil – Baking uses added fats and oils for cooking, an extra cost. The no oil approach of air frying is more cost effective long-term.
For those who already own both appliances, the per use costs are minimal for either method. But first purchasing an air fryer can be an added upfront cost to consider.
Final Verdict
So is it better to air fry or bake your steak? Here is a quick summary of the pros and cons of each method:
| Air Frying Steak | Baking Steak |
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While both have their merits, air frying ultimately produces better steak in terms of nutrition, convenience, taste and cost efficiency. The technology of air frying circulates high heat quickly for the ideal crisp exterior while locking in moisture and tenderness on the inside. And it does so with fewer calories and less time and effort than baking.
Tips for Air Frying Steak
Follow these tips to air fry steak perfectly every time:
- Use ribeye, New York strip, filet mignon or other tender cuts for best results.
- Trim excess fat and remove membranes to prevent overcooking.
- Pat steaks dry before seasoning to help them get crispy.
- Use a steak tray or rack in the air fryer so the hot air circulates under the steak.
- Brush lightly with oil if needed to promote browning.
- Flip steak halfway during cooking to ensure even browning.
- Let steak rest 5 minutes before slicing for juiciest results.
- Track cook times and temperatures to identify your preferred doneness.
With the right cut, preparation and cooking, air fried steak can be a quick and delicious dinner using a small appliance you likely already own. So if you’re deciding between baking and air frying for cooking up the perfect steak, the air fryer is clearly the way to go.