3 Perfect Steak Cooking Methods: Air Fryer, Cast Iron, and Oven

Air Fryer Steak

• ⚡ The air fryer uses a fan to circulate hot air, creating a crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy.
• 🥩 A 2-inch thick New York strip is coated with avocado oil (due to its high smoke point) and cooked at 450°F for 5 minutes per side.
• 🥣 While the steak rests, a cowboy butter is made with melted butter, garlic, lemon zest, cayenne, salt, parsley, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, paprika, and chives.

Cast Iron Pan Steak

• 🍳 For a well-seared steak, patting the surface completely dry is crucial to avoid moisture, the enemy of a good sear.
• 🌡️ Using a cast iron pan ensures even heating for a perfect crust, and avocado oil is recommended for its high smoke point.
• ⚠️ Common mistakes include not heating the pan properly and cooking a steak that is too cold; steak should be at room temperature.
• 🧈 Rendering the fat cap is key for flavor, allowing the steak to reabsorb the melted fat.
• 🚫 The number one rule is not to touch the steak once it's in the pan, allowing a crust to form for 3-4 minutes per side.
• 🌿 A chimichurri sauce is prepared with parsley, garlic, red wine vinegar, salt, red pepper flakes, oregano, and olive oil, pulsed for a coarse texture.

Oven (Reverse Sear) Steak

• ♨️ The reverse sear method involves cooking the steak in a low oven (250°F) first, then searing it for a foolproof, medium-rare steak.
• ⏳ Salting the steak overnight uncovered in the fridge helps dry out the surface for a better crust and reabsorbs salt for a juicy interior.
• 🌡️ An oven thermometer is used to ensure the steak reaches the desired internal temperature, aiming for around 115°F before searing.
• 🍳 After a low oven cook, the steak is seared in a very hot cast iron pan with avocado oil, fat cap side down, for about 30-45 seconds per side to achieve a golden-brown sear.
• 🥂 A pan sauce is made by sautéing shallots, garlic, and crushed peppercorns, deglazing with champagne, adding beef stock and beef demi-glace, and finishing with cream until luscious.