Air Fryer Beef Roast - Perfect and Tender Recipe
Tender beef roast cooked in the air fryer, with a golden crust and juicy interior.
Steps
- 1
Remove the roast from the fridge. Rub evenly with olive oil, then season with salt and black pepper.
- 2
Let the roast sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- 3
Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (380°F).
- 4
Cook the roast for 40–42 minutes, turning once after the first 15 minutes.
- 5
Remove the roast from the air fryer when the internal temperature reaches 57°C (135°F) for medium-rare (2-3°C below desired doneness).
- 6
Let the roast rest for at least 10 minutes, then slice thinly and serve.
Shopping list
900 g (2 lb) top round roast, 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tsp salt, 2 tsp black pepper
Recipe story
The air fryer beef roast is a modern twist on a classic European dish. Its origins lie in English cuisine, where roast beef was a symbol of hospitality. In the 19th century, the recipe spread to France and Germany, where it was adapted with various spices. Today, the air fryer offers a quick and healthy way to achieve the same golden crust and tender interior.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Olive oil
Originating in the Mediterranean basin, olive oil was already produced in ancient Crete 5,000 years ago. In ancient Greece, it was considered a gift from Athena and used in lamps, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies. The Romans spread it throughout the empire, and in the Middle Ages, monasteries preserved the tradition of its production.
