This Air Fryer Silverside Beef Roasting Joint recipe cooks this lean cut to juicy perfection. It’s fast roasted for tonnes of flavour and best served between rare and medium-well. Air fryers might not have been invented with the intention of perfectly roasting meats but it’s certainly one of their best uses!
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To address any concerns straight away, the beef in my photos looks far more rare in the photos than it actually was! It is cooked medium-rare and was hot all the way through with no raw texture at all. My photography is poor, my beef cooking and recipe isn’t! Plus I’ve included cooking times in this recipe to air fry the beef to various levels of doneness.
Along with topside, silverside is a cut of beef that is often considered to be for slow-cooking only. But pick up any cut labelled “beef roasting joint” in a UK supermarket, look closely at the label and you’ll find that they’re all one of these two cuts. What I find is that if you’re going to roast silverside, you need to do it high and fast. Which is exactly an air fryer’s forte.
I’ve included instructions for how to make a simple, extremely tasty gravy using the beef drippings that collect in the bottom of the air fryer as the beef roasts. You can make this while the meat rests after cooking and just before slicing and serving up. This is a real from-scratch gravy so it’s naturally coloured and not black like bisto gravy. Don’t be put off, real gravy is packed with natural flavour and complements the rest of the meal rather than overpowering it.
How to Serve
This roast beef joint is actually great served hot or cold. Unusually I’m going to discuss the cold option first.
If you allow the cooked beef to cool and then chill it overnight in the fridge, you can use a very sharp knife, or even better, an electric meat slicer, to cut very thin slices. Just think how much sliced roast beef costs from a deli counter and compare it to the cost of doing it yourself. You’ll see that it is well worth it. Use in sandwiches, salads, buffets, picnics etc etc.
As for for eating it hot, obviously it’s natural home is on a traditional roast dinner. Roast beef is the ultimate roast dinner – not even the weirdos can try to argue that you shouldn’t serve a mountain of yorkshire puddings on this one. Although those same people would probably get their knickers in a twist that I don’t actually like horseradish with beef but do serve stuffing with it!
You can find all of my roast dinner recipes in my collection index. Pick a potato or two, add some veg, choose your sides and sauces and you’ll have a perfect roast dinner put together in no time. To recreate the meal in my photos, add the following to the beef, gravy and Yorkshires:-
Ingredients
Beef
Silverside is a cut of beef cut from just above the hind legs. It’s naturally quite lean and boneless. As I’ve mentioned at the beginning of this post, nowadays it is often not labelled as silverside when buying it prepacked from supermarkets – look for a “beef roasting joint”. And then look closely at the label to see if it is silverside or topside. You will often find a mixture of both cuts in the same packaging.
I usually try to look for a piece that’s the same thickness from one end to the other. This ensures that the beef cooks evenly. Other than that, and making sure that the beef is nice and fresh, there isn’t an awful lot more to look for when choosing…
Except when you’re air frying you must take into account the size and shape of the beef. Don’t forget to consider height as a factor and bear in mind that the beef tends to “puff up” as it cooks. So what looks like an easy fit when the meat is raw can turn out to be a problem 10 or 15 minutes into cooking.
Oil
Beef silverside is so lean, the oil in this recipe is absolutely essential. It prevents the outer edges from drying out and of course adds a little fat/flavour to proceedings. And it helps to stick the seasoning to the meat which is also very helpful.
I’ve simply used a neutral vegetable oil. You can use any oil or fat you choose. But make sure to consider that the flavour of the oil will inform the flavour of the finished dish and gravy. You might not want to use something strong like coconut oil when making a traditional roast dinner for example. But if you were planning to add thinly sliced roast beef to a Thai inspired soup, that might be exactly what you want to choose.
Seasonings
I like to simply use sea salt flakes when roasting joints of meat. This keeps the flavour enhanced but neutral so the cooked meat, and especially any leftovers can be used in any dish or cuisine without causing a flavour clash.
But you can of course use any seasonings that you like. A herb and spice blend perhaps or a flavourful paste. Mustard is a natural flavour pairing with beef so that shouldn’t be overlooked as an option. Do take into account that dry spices can catch and burn in the air fryer – oil is your friend to help prevent this.
Allergen Information
This recipe is free from egg, dairy, gluten and nuts.
Please note that this recipe may contain other allergens not referred to above and any variations suggested have not been tested unless otherwise stated. For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
How Long to Air Fry Beef Silverside Joint
I cook the beef upside down for just over half the total cooking time and then the right way up for the remainder. That ensures that the cooking is nice and even.
For the 1.8kg/4lb piece of silverside that I air fried to medium-rare, the total cooking time is 45 minutes. Add 5 minutes for medium and a further 5 for medium well. If you prefer beef any more cooked than that, this isn’t the right cut and cooking method of beef – it will just be tough.
It is worth remembering that the meat will continue to cook slightly as it rests and the internal heat and juices even out as the muscle relaxes.
For smaller or larger joints you will need to adjust the cooking times accordingly. The thickness of the piece is almost more important than the overall weight. A small but very thick cut might actually require longer cooking than a very thin piece that’s twice the weight.
How to Air Fry Beef Silverside From Frozen
I do not recommend cooking joints of meat from frozen. Unlike with single portions of meat, there simply isn’t any way for the middle of the meat to thaw and cook before the outside is simply a shrivelled mess.
It is best to allow a frozen silverside to fully thaw and then come to room temperature before air frying.
Leftovers – Storage & Reheating
I’ve already mentioned above that I love to put any leftovers onto my deli meat slicer the next day and make myself a big pile of cold cuts. If you don’t have an electric slicer like most normal people don’t and you are confident with a knife, you can slice it as thin as you can by hand. Slices will freeze and can be eaten or reheated as soon as they’re thawed.
There are plenty of other ways to use leftovers however. The beef will sit in the fridge in an air tight container for a couple of days. I love to make hot sandwiches with leftovers including the gravy – add some slow cooked onions for something akin to a French Dip Sandwich. You can also use slices of beef as a substitute for the corned beef in my corned beef & potato bake.
To reheat the beef, I like to do this by microwaving it with a very small amount of water. This effectively steams it and prevents it from drying out or overcooking. To replicate this in an air fryer, you can loosely wrap the meat in foil along with a dash of water and then cook until the meat is piping hot – probably 5 minutes or so depending on how much you’re reheating.
Common Air Fryer Questions – A Brief Guide to Air Frying
- What exactly is an air fryer?
- What are the benefits of using an air fryer?
- Are all air fryers the same?
- Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
- Do air fryers need to be pre-heated?
- What is the best temperature to air fry at?
- What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
- Can food be cooked from frozen in an air fryer?
- Can I reheat food in an air fryer?
- Are air fryer liners a good idea?
The Air Fried Feast Community
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What Exactly is an Air Fryer?
Very simply, an air fryer is a small convection (fan) oven. The benefit is that the hot air is circulated all around the food being cooked which speeds up the cooking time and cooks the food more evenly.
What are the Benefits of Using an Air Fryer?
Size, time and energy usage. Air fryers are ideal for cooking smaller quantities. Heating up a space that the food just fits into requires less energy and means that the heat source is much closer to the food. Combining these two things can speed up the cooking time.
Are all air fryers the same?
Nope! The term air fryer is now used very broadly. I consider there to be 4 main types:
Basket Air Fryers
These are what I would consider to be the most common, especially in the UK. A boxy type unit has a pull out drawer/basket. Food isn’t usually visible whilst cooking.
Some larger models have two drawers so different items can be cooked at different temperatures or for different times.
This is the type that you’ll see in the images in this recipe. I mostly use a Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) with a 3.8 litre capacity. The square(ish) shaped basket is 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal. It isn’t an overly expensive or fancy model.
I’ve also recommended to several friends and family the model with a slightly larger basket. This is the Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501) with a 4.7 litre basket. The unit is no larger than the 3.8 litre model on the outside but does have a larger internal basket capacity. I’ve since bought this version to use for some recipes where my smaller model was just too small. I’ll always note this in the recipe.
Rotary Air Fryers
Round air fryers with a paddle in the centre that rotates to move the food. This is the type I used for years – the most common is a Tefal Actifry.
Rotary types are not usually good for recipes where the food is breaded, glazed, likely to break up or in a tray/container. They do however make the best chips and roasted veg.
My 2 in 1 version like the one I’ve linked also has a rotating tray for things that could be broken up by a paddle, but the height clearance with the lid isn’t deep enough to use it to cook some items like sausage rolls. I’ve now actually retired by Actifry in favour of having my two basket type fryers.
Mini Oven Air Fryers
These usually have a glass door, shelves and overall are really quite large. You can cook quite a decent quantity of food in them so are best if regularly cooking for multiple people. They often come with extra features like a rotisserie spit or kebab skewers.
Multicookers with Air Fryer Functions
Some like Ninja 11 in 1 and some of the earlier versions with a few less functions, have an air fryer option. They mostly operate the same as a basket fryer but the basket drops in the top rather than sliding in like a drawer.
Some electric pressure cookers like Instant Pots can also air fry when used with a specific lid.
Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
As much as I do love air frying, the honest answer to this is no. And the more detailed answer is that it will always depend on what you’re cooking, how much of it you’re cooking and what type and size of air fryer you have.
Once you need to cook in more than 2 batches, it often makes more sense to use an oven. If you already have the oven on to cook other items, it may make more sense to throw one more item in rather than using an additional appliance.
I don’t think either method is often necessarily better than the other. The important point to note is that there is absolutely no difference in the finished product.
Do Air Fryers Need to Be Pre-Heated?
The answer to this is rather annoying – it depends. It depends entirely on your model and type of air fryer. The best advice I can offer is to check your manual and follow their guidance. My Cosori models have a preheat function. I press a button and it heats at 205c/400f for 4 minutes.
It’s also worth noting that regardless of whether you are supposed to pre-heat or not, if you are cooking in batches, it is quite likely that anything after the first batch will cook a little quicker because of the retained heat. It is best to check on them before the cooking time is completed.
What is the best temperature to Air Fry at?
It will always depend on what you are cooking and from what state. All of my air fryer recipes don’t use temperatures above 200c/390f because many of the most common fryers in the UK don’t go above this. Mine goes to 230c/450f and I use this temperature a lot but it is no help for me to share recipes which many people can’t use.
What setting is best to use? Air fry, bake, dehydrate, etc…
Not all air fryers have different settings like this. When they do it usually relates to the fan speed. The default setting to use will always be “air fry” so unless something else is specifically stated in the recipe, always use the air fry option.
There are other air fryers that have an additional heating element which cooks from underneath rather than just the top. Just as with the other settings, unless you are using a recipe which states to use a second heating element, stick with just using the top down air fry option.
Of course if and when you become more confident with air frying, using recipes and the settings of your air fryer, you can start adapting them to suit.
Can Food Be Cooked From Frozen In An Air Fryer?
Absolutely! To cook from frozen you usually will need to reduce the cooking temperature and increase the time to make sure your food is cooked right through to the middle.
It is best to check my individual recipes for cooking from frozen advice as some items are a little different. And there are occasionally exceptions to the rule.
Can I Reheat Food In An Air Fryer?
Yes. As a general rule I reheat food for roughly 1/3 of the original cooking time at the same temperature. Or at 10 degrees lower for half the time for larger items.
Are Air Fryer Liners a Good Idea?
Unless otherwise stated, I do not use liners when air frying. Basket and rotary type air fryers are designed to be used without liners. Mini oven types will generally require some kind of tray like with a regular large oven although most come with crisper racks to use.
There are many air fryer liners available including quite thick silicone ones. These will affect the cooking times and possibly temperatures of your cooking/baking. I also don’t like how cooking juices are prevented from dripping through the basket rack. This can stop food from crisping all the way around.
When I do want to collect the juices, I mostly use some foil, or occasionally a foil tray which can be washed and reused.
If you do prefer to use them, once you have got a feel for how they affect your cooking and baking, you may need to make adjustments to the recipe accordingly.
More Air Fryer Recipes
All my recipes with instructions for how to cook or bake them in the air fryer can be found in my Air Fryer Recipe Index.
Don’t forget to let me know in the comments if you try making this recipe – I want to know what you think and if you made any substitutions, how did it turn out?
Still Have Questions?
Simple! Just contact me and I will do my best to help as quickly as I am able. Head over to my Contact Me page, any of my social media channels or post a comment at the bottom of this page and I’ll see what I can do.
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The Recipe
Air Fryer Silverside Beef Roasting Joint Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1.8 kg Beef Silverside
- 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
- 1 tbsp Sea Salt Flakes
For the gravy
- 500 ml Water
- 4 tbsp Cornflour (Cornstarch)
- 4 tbsp Water
- Sea Salt Flakes
Instructions
Things to Consider
- Make sure that the joint has plenty of clearance in the air fryer with the drawer shut/lid on/door closed. Joints of meat have a tendency of expanding as they start to cook so bear this in mind.If you think there might be an issue, remove any string from the joint and unroll it as much as possible. You can also consider removing the crisper rack.
Air Fry The Beef
- If your air fryer requires pre-heating, start this setting now.
- Thoroughly dry a 1.8kg Beef Silverside Joint and remove any string/netting – it isn't needed.
- Drizzle with roughly 2 tbsp Vegetable Oil and rub all over the joint including the underneath and ends.
- Season well with roughly 1 tbsp Sea Salt Flakes. Again, don't miss all the sides and underneath.
- Place the beef into the air fryer basket with the top side down. If it is a preheated basket, use 2 forks to lower the meat in so you don't touch the hot metal with your hands.
- Air fry for 25 minutes at 180℃/350℉.
- Secure the beef with a fork and carefully pour out any juices into a heatproof bowl. Remove the joint entirely to do this if you prefer.
- Turn the beef so it's right side up in the basket.
- Air fry for a further 20 minutes at 180℃/350℉. This will cook to a medium rare. Add 5 minutes for medium and a further 5 for medium well. If you prefer beef any more cooked that that, this isn't the right cut and cooking method of beef – it will just be tough. Remember that the beef will continue cooking slightly as it rests.
- Allow the beef to rest for at least 15 minutes. You can either leave it in the air fryer turned off or wrap it in foil and cover with a towel. Use this time to make the gravy.
- Pour out the remaining juices and fat from the basket. Don't forget to add any juices from the resting period to the reserved juices/fat or gravy if its already made.
- Carve into thick or thin slices as preferred and serve.
To Make The Beef Gravy
- Tip all of the drained beef fat and juices into small saucepan and start heating over a high heat.
- Add 400ml Water to the pan. Freshly boiled from the kettle will speed up the process.
- Mix 4 tbsp Cornflour with roughly 4 tbsp Water until all the cornflour has dissolved.
- Once the juices and water have come to the boil, add the cornflour slurry with one hand while whisking with the other.
- Continue to boil until the gravy is thickened. If after a few minutes, it is not thick enough for your liking, make up and add more cornflour slurry – add a little at a time. If it is thicker than you would like, add a little water at a time.
- Taste the gravy and add Sea Salt Flakes a little at a time until the gravy is flavoursome. Don't be shy, salt is your friend with gravy.
- Pour into a jug and serve with the sliced beef.
Notes
- The air fryer version of this recipe is tested in a 4.7 litre capacity Cosori 4.7L (CAF-L501). I cannot fit a beef joint this size in my Cosori Lite 3.8L (CAF-LI401S) which has a square(ish) shaped basket of 21cm x 21cm and 24cm on the diagonal. The depth of the basket is more of an important consideration in this case.
- Not all models advise preheating is required. Please follow the recommended instructions for your model. Mine has a specific preheat setting which is 4 minutes at 205c.
- For this recipe, I could easily fit in up to a 2.5kg beef silverside in the basket. But only if I unfurl it and remove my crisper rack – which I am happy to do as it still cooks perfectly. A 1.8kg fit in my air fryer without issue.
- As all air fryer models are a little different, you may find that you can fit more or less in at a time.
- Required cooking times and temperatures can also vary between models and brands. If you know that your air fryer runs a little hotter than most recipes suggest, use a lower temperature. And vice versa. Equally if you find that food cooks more quickly in your machine than instructions usually state, reduce the cooking time (or check it earlier) and vice versa.
Wez says
I’ve read a entire encyclopedia set quicker than reading this recipe
Chloe says
Gosh that must have been a very very small encyclopedia.
Gill says
I’d not cooked a joint of beef in the air fryer before and now I won’t be using the oven again. Wonderfully juicy and delicious
Karen says
Followed your easy instruction and the beef was perfectly cooked -and the gravy tasted great too. I’ll be using this method again.
Dave says
Silverside is my favourite cut of beef for roasting. I’d never tried cooking it in the air fryer and was a bit wary, but it came out perfectly.
Sisley says
I’m going to need about 10 air fryers at this rate to make all your roast dinner recipes! This beef was delicious.