Okay, so I’ve been seeing “tri tip” all over my cooking groups lately. I finally caved and grabbed one at the store. I’ve always grilled it before, but I thought, “Why not try the air fryer?” Let’s see how this goes!
Getting Started
First things first, I pulled the tri-tip out of the fridge. It was about 2.5 pounds, nice and thick. I let it sit on the counter for, I don’t know, maybe 30 minutes? Just to take the chill off a bit.
Seasoning Time
While that was happening, I mixed up my favorite dry rub. You know, the usual suspects:
- Salt (gotta have salt!)
- Black pepper (freshly cracked, of course)
- Garlic powder (because garlic makes everything better)
- Onion powder
- Smoked paprika (for that little smoky kick)
- A pinch of cayenne (just a little heat)
I rubbed that mixture ALL over the tri-tip. Really massaged it in there. Don’t be shy with the seasoning, folks!
Into the Air Fryer
My air fryer is, let say, a pretty basic one, but it works.I preheated to 400°F.
Then, I plopped the seasoned tri-tip right into the basket. I didn’t bother with any oil in the air fryer itself, since tri-tip has some good fat on it.
Cook, Flip, Cook!
I set the timer for 15 minutes. After that, I opened it up, flipped the tri-tip over, and cooked it for another 10-15 minutes. It really depends on how thick your meat is and how done you like it.
The important part is the internal temperature. I used my trusty meat thermometer (seriously, everyone needs one!) and aimed for about 135°F for medium-rare.
Rest and Slice
Once it hit that temperature, I pulled the tri-tip out of the air fryer and put on the board with foil to rest.
And let it rest for a good 10 minutes. This is crucial, people! Don’t skip the resting! It lets all those juices redistribute and keeps the meat nice and tender.
Finally, I sliced it up. Remember to slice against the grain – it makes a big difference in how tender it feels.
The Verdict
Honestly, it turned out pretty great! The outside had a nice crust, and the inside was juicy and pink. The air fryer definitely did the trick. It was way faster than grilling, and cleanup was a breeze. I’d totally do this again, maybe next time I’ll try a different rub or add some veggies to the air fryer basket.
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