Roast Beef in the Air Fryer
A Sunday roast does not need the oven on for two hours. A 1 kg beef joint cooks in an air fryer in about 40 minutes, with a crisp, well-browned outside and a rosy middle. This page gives times per kg, the temperatures for each doneness and the joints that fit a basket-style machine of 4–6 litres.
- Temperature
- 180°C
- Total time
- 1:10hr
- Prep
- 10min
- Servings
- 5
- Core temp
- 55°C
- Per serving
- 245kcal
Why the air fryer works for roast beef
Roast beef in air fryer baskets works well for a small joint. The fan moves hot air quickly around the meat, so the outside gets a dark crust in a way an oven struggles to match, and the whole cook takes about half the time. For a family of four or five, a 1 kg topside is plenty, and an air fryer is ready after 5 minutes rather than 20.
The limit is size. Most basket machines take up to about 1 kg, and the joint should not touch the walls. Anything bigger is better in the oven. Pick a lean, even joint such as topside, silverside or a rolled sirloin, as they brown without drying out.
How to make roast beef in the air fryer
Tap a time to start a timer.
- Prepare the joint Take the beef out of the fridge before cooking. Pat it dry and check that it is tied with string, so it keeps an even shape.
- Season Mix the oil, salt, pepper, mustard powder, thyme and garlic into a paste and rub it all over the beef.
- Preheat Heat the air fryer to 180 °C for . Check the joint fits with at least 2 cm of space around it.
- Cook Place the beef fat side down in the basket and cook for . Turn it over and cook for a further . As a guide allow per kg for medium-rare.
- Check the temperature Push a meat thermometer into the centre. Take the joint out at 55 °C for medium-rare, 60–63 °C for medium or 70 °C for well done. These are common kitchen figures, not FSA rules.
- Rest Wrap the beef loosely in foil and rest it for . The temperature rises by 3–5 °C and the juices settle. Carve thinly across the grain.
Cooking times and temperatures
| Roast Beef | Temperature | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Beef topside, 1 kg, medium-rareTurn halfway | 180 °C | 35–40 min |
| Beef joint, 1 kg, medium | 180 °C | 45 min |
| Beef joint, 1 kg, well doneCore 70 °C | 180 °C | 55 min |
| Small joint, 750 g, medium-rare | 180 °C | 28–30 min |
| Small joint, 500 g, medium-rare | 180 °C | 20–22 min |
Times are a guide and depend on the size of the food and the power of your air fryer. Cooked when the centre reaches 55 °C. See also cooking times and temperatures for all dishes.
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Tips
- Tie the joint. String keeps the shape even, so every slice cooks at the same speed.
- Rest it properly. Twenty minutes under foil makes the meat easier to carve and much juicier.
- Make gravy from the juices. Tip the juices from the drawer into a pan with a splash of stock and a spoonful of cornflour.
Serving
Carve into thin slices and serve with Yorkshire puddings, gravy and horseradish, with potato wedges and carrots or Brussels sprouts from the air fryer while the beef rests. Leftover air fryer roast beef also makes good cold sandwiches. Parsnips are another good roast side.
Storing and reheating
Cooked beef keeps for up to 3 days in the fridge in a covered container. Reheat slices in the air fryer at 160 °C for 2–3 minutes, with a splash of gravy, until steaming hot all the way through (75 °C in the centre). Roast beef in air fryer leftovers also freeze well sliced, for up to 2 months.
Variations
- Herb crust: Mix 2 tbsp chopped rosemary and thyme into the paste.
- Mustard coating: Brush the joint with 1 tbsp wholegrain mustard before the seasoning.
- Beef sandwich filling: Slice cold, thinly, and serve with horseradish and rocket in crusty bread.
Troubleshooting
- The roast beef is dry
- Overcooking is the usual cause. Use a thermometer, take the joint out as soon as it reaches your target temperature and always rest it for 20 minutes.
- The outside is dark but the middle is raw
- The joint was too thick or too cold. Lower the heat to 160 °C for the second half and let the meat reach room temperature before cooking.
- The joint touches the sides of the basket
- Hot air cannot circulate and one side stays pale. Choose a joint under 1.2 kg or roast in the oven instead.
Frequently asked questions
How long to cook roast beef in an air fryer?
Allow 35–40 minutes per kg at 180 °C for medium-rare, 45 minutes for medium and 55 minutes for well done. A 1 kg joint therefore takes about 40 minutes for pink.
What are air fryer roast beef cooking times per kg?
At 180 °C, medium-rare takes 35–40 minutes per kg, medium about 45 and well done about 55. Joints of 500–750 g take 25–30 minutes for medium-rare.
What temperature should roast beef be?
The FSA gives no figure for whole beef joints, only that the outside is properly cooked. Common kitchen temperatures are 55 °C for medium-rare, 60–63 °C for medium and 70 °C for well done. Rolled or stuffed joints should reach 75 °C.
Can you cook roast beef in the air fryer from frozen?
Defrost it fully in the fridge first, which takes 24 hours. A frozen joint cooks unevenly and the outside overcooks.
What size beef joint fits the air fryer?
A 750 g to 1 kg joint fits a 4–6 litre basket. Larger joints need a bigger oven-style air fryer.
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