Easy Mongolian Beef Recipe in the Air Fryer! | AirFried.com (2024)

FAQs

What are the tips for cooking meat in the air fryer? ›

Don't overcrowd the air fryer! Leave one inch between portions of meat to ensure proper air circulation for your food to cook thoroughly and evenly. You may need to air fry in several batches to ensure there is enough space for each portion of meat. Now, you can air fry your favorite proteins with confidence.

Yes, that's right. You can cook raw meat in the air fryer. As a suggestion, what you want to do is take out the meat you would like to prepare out of the freezer and let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes or so.

Different air fryers may have slightly fluctuating temperatures from what they say on the digital readout, but 400 degrees F is our target temperature. This 400 degree heat is not in direct contact with the meat so it will not be sticking to anything.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Immediately before cooking, pat the steaks dry. Brush both sides of the steaks with olive oil. Sprinkle with the salt and pepper (or steak seasoning of choice).

Even if your air fryer has top-notch air circulation from its fan, you need to give most larger pieces of food (such as pork chops, burgers, and chicken cutlets) a turn about halfway through cooking.

Using oil

Using oil in an air fryer is perfectly fine and helps the meat to remain moist and come out looking golden brown. However, a little oil in an air fryer does go a long way. With most cuts of pork, simply rubbing some oil into the meat will be all you need. You can use either regular olive oil or a spray oil.

Do you wrap beef in foil in air fryer? ›

Absolutely! You can use foil in the air fryer, just be sure to roll up the sides so that the air can still circulate. If you foil wrap such as with these beef and potatoes, it will cook similar to being over an open flame just a lot faster.

No. It won't get hot enough to properly sear the steak. You're better off using a very hot cast iron skillet.

The only downside: the air fryer can dry out foods that have been in the fridge, especially meat. Meat can be delicate when reheated, and if it's overcooked, it can go from tender and juicy to dehydrated and stringy in an instant.

Use Tinfoil As A Tool

Another tip that can help keep meats from losing moisture is to protect them with a physical barrier from the dry heat of the air fryer. Using tinfoil helps keep moisture locked in and around the meat, preventing over-evaporation.

Use a Small Amount of Oil

One thing you should do both for crispy texture and to prevent sticking is use a small amount of oil. Cooking without any oil whatsoever may sound appealing, but fat promotes browning and can help food crisp up.

Air frying creates juicy, tender steaks with a nice sear, making it an underrated cooking method. Ribeye and New York Strip are the best cuts for air frying, but tri-tip and top round also work well. Marinate lean cuts prior to air frying to prevent them from drying out in the high heat.