Air Fryer Corned Beef

Though cooking corned beef in the air fryer may sound a little untraditional, this is one recipe you must try! Air fryer corned beef is not only easy to make, but tastes delicious – so juicy and tender.

Corned Beef

Corned beef, also known as silverside in some areas, is often cured in a salty brine. This beef brisket cut of meat that can be tough so is usually cooked in the slowcooker, instant pot or in a pot of water on the stove with spices and seasonings. But, did you know that it can also be cooked in the air fryer?

And, cooking in the air fryer not only leaves you with a tender, juicy piece of meat, but it is simple to do and easy to clean up.

The secret to a juicy, tender piece of beef is the aluminium foil. Covering the beef with foil while it cooks stops the meat from drying out. To create a crispy crust, remove the foil and cook for a little longer at the end.

Corned beef with cabbage is a great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

Tips for Cooking Corned Beef

• Wrap the meat tightly in the foil so that it catches all the juices. This also helps to baste the meat during cooking.
• Preheat the air fryer for at least 3 minutes before adding the beef.
• Slice against the grain. See more below.
• Buy the largest piece of beef that will fit into your air fryer as it does shrink slightly while cooking and you’ll love having leftovers for sandwiches.
• The best way to check for doneness is with a meat thermometer. It should be 63˚C (145˚F) at the thickest part of the meat. As it is corned beef, the meat may still be pink in colour when cooked. Overcooking this meat can make it become dry and tough.
• In some countries, it seems that corned beef comes with a pickling packet. This is not the case in Australia. It can be discarded or used. The choice is yours.
• Some people like to rinse the corned beef well as this does remove the excess brine. This is optional.

Slicing Corned Beef

Corned beef should be sliced against the grain. This means slice the meat against the direction that the muscle fibres run. This is actually the same for all meat. Cutting this way helps the meat to stay more tender and less chewy.

Use a large serrated knife and cut in a see-sawing motion. Only slice as much as you need for serving. Wrap the leftovers in foil and keep in the fridge for up to three days.

More Air Fryer Recipes

• Salt and Pepper Chips
• 18 Air Fryer Recipes
• Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
• Salty Kale Chips
• Crispy Air-Fried Tofu Bites
• Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wings
• Tempura Chicken Nuggets
• Chicken and Sweet Potato Dog Chews

Corned Beef Variations

For this recipe, I have made a spicy mixture, though you can also:

• Make a glaze using ¼ cup honey or brown sugar, ¼  cup dijon mustard and 1 TBSP apple cider vinegar for a 4 lb beef brisket
• Sprinkle brown sugar on the meat before cooking.

Storing This Beef

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

To freeze the leftovers, place cooled, cooked corn beef in freezer safe bags or containers for up to three months.

To use, thaw overnight in the fridge.

A large, uncut piece of corned beef can be reheated in the air fryer at 177˚C (350˚F) for around 8 minutes.

Slices can be reheated at the same temperature for around 1 – 2 minutes.

Recipe Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need: 

• Corned Beef Brisket around 700g (1.5lbs)
• Olive Oil
• Ground Black Pepper
• Garlic Powder
• Onion Powder
• Paprika
• Dried Thyme

Making Air Fryer Corned Beef

Preheat the air fryer to 190˚C (375˚F).

Rub the surface of the beef with the olive oil.

In a small bowl, add the black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and dried thyme. Mix well to create a spice rub.

Rub the spice mixture evenly over the corned beef, ensuring all of the sides are coated.

Wrap the corned beef in foil and place in the air fryer basket with the fat side facing upwards.

Cook for 30 minutes at 190˚C (375˚F).

Flip the corned beef over and cook for another 20 minutes at the same temperature.

Flip the corned beef over again and pull the top of the foil back and cook for another 10 minutes.

Check the internal temperature of the beef with a meat thermometer. For medium done, the temperature should reach 63˚C (145˚F).

If needed, cook for an additional 5 to 10 minutes.

Remove the corned beef from the air fryer and let rest for 5 minutes.

Slice against the grain. Served with root vegetables.