Cook a steak that’s frozen solid? Really?
Yes. Really. Many home cooks and professional chefs alike have made this their method of choice. Cooking a steak from frozen is a convenient and effective route to mastery for a delicious and perfectly-cooked steak. So much so that I freeze every raw steak I buy on purpose before cooking. Really.
Let's say friends drop in unannounced around dinner time. Or you have a crazy busy day, and nothing planned for dinner. Your timing couldn't be better to serve juicy steaks by preparing them straight from the freezer.
Beyond convenience, cooking from frozen has more advantages than you may be inclined to believe:
1) Retention of Juices. Thawing, a long-recommended best practice, is not the best at all. Thawing frozen steak causes it to lose flavorful juices. While a frozen steak begins cooking before juices drain away, resulting in a tender, juicer steak.
2) Even Cooking. With a thawed steak, outer layers cook faster than the center. Frozen steaks cook evenly at your preferred doneness inside with a much thinner tasty, seared margin on the outside.
3) More control. Less overcooking. Whether you use a low temp oven method or an air fryer method, you have more control over how you want your steak to finish--rare, medium or well done.
4) Thawing Danger Zone. Before cooking, a thawed steak’s surface spends time in the temperature range of 40ºF to 140ºF, where bacteria grow rapidly during the thawing process. A frozen steak spends practically no time in the bacterial hot zone before bacteria-blasting cooking begins.
Now, let's get busy. You can cook a frozen steak in your favorite way. On the stove, in the oven, on your grill or in your air fryer. No matter which method you choose, you're going to love how your steaks turn out. You many never go back. In the interest of time, we're going to show you how to cook a frozen steak in my two favorite ways. Air Fryer Method and Stove/Oven Method.
First, my preferred method of the two. No searing needed. Air Fryer Method:
1) Choose frozen steaks at your favorite marketplace. Red and marbled, around 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick, grass-fed prime or choice cuts. Tip: If you buy unfrozen steaks to freeze and use later. Overwrap, like I overwrap steaks. First in Cling Wrap. Then in a zipper freezer bag with the air sucked out. Lastly, I put that in a Glad lidded storage container. If you go to all this trouble, your frozen steaks will come out of the freezer looking just like they did when you bought them raw, rock hard, but bright red and ready to air fry.
2) Preheat your air fryer for 2-3 minutes at the temperature recommended for cooking steak for your air fryer. Typically, 390º to 400º.
3) Apply Generous Seasoning. Salt and cracked pepper and any other seasoning you may desire while the air fryer is preheating.
4) Place the frozen steak(s) in the air fryer, leaving space between them to allow for air to circulate.
5) Cook to doneness desired. Follow guidelines of your air fryer. The times below are for frozen steaks about 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick.
a) Medium Rare Steak: Cook about 19-22 minutes, flipping half way.
b) Medium Steak: Cook about 22-26 minutes, flipping half way.
c) Well-Done Steak: Cook about 26-30 minutes, flipping half way.
6) Check for doneness. Use a meat thermometer to gauge internal temperature. Medium Rare, aim for 145º; for Medium, aim for 165º; for Well-Done, aim for 175º - 185º. These are approximate levels of doneness depending on the size of steaks and personal preference.
7) Rest and serve. Once the streak reaches your desired level of doneness, remove it from the air fryer and rest it for 2-3 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures the most juicy, flavorful steak.
Now, for my other favorite way to cook a frozen steak: Iron Skillet Seared and Oven Finished.
1) Start with a prime or choice frozen steak from the marketplace where you shop. Look for steaks around 1-1/2 to 2 inches thick, evenly marbled.
2) Seasoning: Generously season with salt and pepper or add any other seasoning you like.
3) Preheat the oven: Set the temperature to 275°F to 300°F. Lower temperatures are preferred to ensure even cooking without overcooking the exterior.
4) Pan-searing: Begin by searing the frozen steak in a hot iron skillet with a bit of extra light olive oil or avocado oil because of their healthier high smoking points. Sear each side for a few minutes until it's well-browned, then transfer your steak to the oven to finish cooking to your desired doneness. This phase should take around 1-2 minutes per side.
5) Place skillet in oven. Finish cooking the steak at what seems too low, but trust me. The oven should be 270º to 300º. Cook the steak in the oven for approximately 20-30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the steak and your desired level of doneness. Check the internal temperature periodically using a meat thermometer. Here's a rough guideline for internal temperatures:
For medium-rare: Aim for an internal temperature of 135°F.
For medium: Aim for an internal temperature of 145°F.
For well-done: Aim for an internal temperature of 170°F.
6) Resting Time: Once the steak reaches your desired level of doneness, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, flavorful steak.
In the end, preparing a frozen steak is an adventure worth embarking on. So, whether you're aa steak aficionado or a novice in the kitchen, don't hesitate to give it a try.
