Cooking the Perfect Grass-Fed Sirloin Steak in an Air Fryer

By Chris Baggott

August 17, 2024 2 min read

Sliced medium-rare grass-fed sirloin steak cooked in an air fryer, displayed on a wooden cutting board.

I've been experimenting with cooking a our Grass fed sirloin steak in my air fryer. The key to achieving a tender, juicy steak without drying it out lies in the timing. (Note: this technique works with any of our grass fed steaks) Grass-fed sirloin steak in an air fryer with a meat thermometer showing a temperature of 127.2°F.

Grass-fed sirloin steak in an air fryer with a meat thermometer showing a temperature of 127.2°F.

A grass-fed sirloin steak is carefully monitored with a meat thermometer in the air fryer, showing a temperature of 127.2°F, ensuring it reaches the perfect medium-rare doneness.

The Cooking Process

When cooking a grass-fed sirloin in an air fryer, it’s crucial to pull the steak out when its internal temperature is around 125°F. At this stage, the steak is not fully cooked but will continue to cook as it rests. To retain its moisture and ensure it doesn’t become overdone, immediately wrap the steak in foil. This method allows the internal temperature to rise slowly, reaching the desired doneness without overcooking. If you wait until the steak reaches typical 'done' temperatures in the 140s°F while still in the air fryer, it will likely end up overcooked by the time it’s on your plate. Grass-fed sirloin steak wrapped tightly in foil, resting on a wooden cutting board to retain juices and achieve optimal tenderness.

Grass-fed sirloin steak wrapped tightly in foil, resting on a wooden cutting board to retain juices and achieve optimal tenderness.

A grass-fed sirloin steak rests tightly wrapped in foil, ensuring the juices are reabsorbed for a tender and flavorful result, completing the air fryer cooking process.

Grass-fed sirloin steak after resting, with a meat thermometer showing a final internal temperature of 159°F.

After resting in foil, the grass-fed sirloin steak reaches a final internal temperature of 159°F, ensuring it’s perfectly cooked and ready to enjoy.

Preparation Tips

For the best results, I recommend starting with a dry brine. Dry brining the steak overnight helps enhance its flavor and tenderness. Personally, I buy several sirloins at a time and dry brine them all at once. This way, I always have a properly seasoned steak ready to go whenever I need an easy and nutritious protein option. Two grass-fed sirloin steaks seasoned with salt for a dry brine on a metal tray.

Two grass-fed sirloin steaks seasoned with salt for a dry brine on a metal tray.

These grass-fed sirloin steaks are dry brined with salt, a simple but effective technique to enhance flavor and tenderness before cooking.

Why Grass-Fed Sirloin?

As we age, particularly beyond 50, our protein needs increase significantly. I just turned 64 and am shooting for 1 gram of protein per pound of weight per day. Grass-fed sirloin is an excellent choice, offering high-quality protein that's essential for maintaining muscle mass and overall health. Having these steaks prepped and ready to cook makes it easy to meet those needs without fuss. Simply pop one into the air fryer, and you have a quick, healthy meal in no time. Cooking a grass-fed sirloin steak in an air fryer is a straightforward way to enjoy a nutritious and flavorful meal. Just remember to monitor the temperature closely and allow the steak to finish cooking outside the air fryer to avoid overcooking.