How to Cook Steak in a Toaster Oven

Not everyone has a conventional oven in their home. If you are living in a small apartment, you might not have room for one either! Whether you have a toaster oven at home in the meantime as a solution for the meanwhile or your toaster oven is your permanent cooking solution, it is always handy to learn how to make your favorite meals with the tools you have.

I have some tips and tricks to share with you that will help you cook a steak to perfection in a toaster oven. You will also learn more general cooking information regarding cooking meat in a toaster oven. Enjoy!

Table of Contents

About Cooking Steak in a Toaster Oven

Why cook steak in a convection toaster oven? After all, we usually cook steak on a frying pan or occasionally in a regular oven. Hence, it is only natural that cooking steak in a toaster oven sounds strange to you.

Although unconventional and somewhat strange, cooking steak in a toaster oven is totally doable, and you might not even taste the difference! Thick, meaty cuts of steak are ideal for cooking in a toaster oven as you can get a lot of the oven’s heat into the meat without burning the outside of the steak.

Before cooking, be sure to clean your toaster oven so that the steak cooks properly and tastes delicious.

Choosing a Cut of Beef Steak

Steak can be any slice of cow cut from its carcass. As you can imagine, every part of the carcass will have a different flavor and texture, so it is essential to understand what steak you are purchasing. Here are some examples of steaks for you to look at that are easy to cook in a toaster oven.

1. Filet Mignon

Filet mignon is one of the finest, most tender cuts of steak (see also ‘25 Easy Leftover Steak Recipes For Midweek Meals‘). Some say it is the creme de la creme of all steaks. If you are a steak lover, you have probably ordered filet mignon at a fancy restaurant, but who says you can’t cook it just as well at home?

2. T-Bone

T-bone steak is packed with succulent meaty flavors that speak for themselves. Most people like to lightly season this cut of meat to complement the steak’s natural flavors instead of making them with heavy sauces.

3. Bone-in Strip Steak

Bone-in strip steak still has a bone in the meat, which makes it extra tender and juicy. I particularly like to cook this steak in a toaster oven as the bone causes the beef taste exceptional.

4. Bone-in Rib Eye Steak

This is another piece of meat that has the bone still intact. Packed with juicy flavor, this is another perfect slice of meat for cooking in a toaster oven. You only need to be careful of getting the cooking times right as this is a massive piece of meat that must be cooked carefully.

The following instructions can be followed for cooking most medium cuts of steak. Smaller or larger cuts will have varying cooking times.

1. Prepare the Steak

Remove the steak from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature. The steak must be cooked at room temperature and not when it is cold, as this will change its texture and cooking times.

Season the steak to taste. You can do this by rubbing oil and rosemary on the steak and leaving it to rest for an hour, or you can season it with more potent flavors; the choice is yours! Ensure you rub the seasoning all over the steak, not forgetting the underside and sides.

2. Prepare the Oven

You will need a baking tray and three pieces of aluminum foil for this part. Take two pieces of foil and place them one on top of the other onto the baking tray. Next, you must shape the third piece of foil into a boat or a bowl. The steak should be placed into the boat-shaped foil on the tray.

Preheat the oven and wait for it to reach the right temperature before proceeding. You must set the toaster oven to ‘broiling’ or a similar setting.

Top Tip: Do not underestimate the importance of making a bowl or boat out of foil to sit the steak in. It will catch all pan drippings and keep them near the steak, preventing it from drying out and stopping the fluids from spilling over and making a mess.

3. Broil

Melt butter in the aluminum foil bowl and put the steak on top. Rub butter onto the top side of the steak so it is covered in butter on all sides.

Season the steak and cook it on either side for five to seven minutes. I suggest removing the steak from the toaster oven just before it is ready as it will continue cooking out of the oven.

4. Rest

You should let your steak rest for five minutes before cutting it or serving it in thin slices. This will allow the juices and flavors to soak back into the meat.

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Is it Safe to Cook Raw Meat in a Toaster Oven?

Cooking raw meat in a toaster oven is excellent! Think of it as cooking in a tiny conventional oven. The most important thing to remember when cooking raw meat is to clean the oven well before and after cooking to keep everything sterile and hygienic.

What Goes Well With Steak?

Plenty of side dishes go brilliantly with steak, but if you are in a rush or lacking inspiration, the following suggestions should help you. Here are my favorite side dishes to serve with succulent steak.

1. Mashed Potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a quick, easy, and very filling side dish with steak. I like to make the mashed potatoes extra buttery to compliment the steak and serve it with gravy or light sauce. If you are watching your calorie intake, I suggest adding a splash of milk to the mash instead of butter.

2. Thick Fries

They aren’t called ‘steak cut’ fries for nothing! Thick, crispy fries are a juicy steak’s best friend. If you don’t have much time to prepare your dish, you can buy frozen fries that are just as good. Deep fry them in a medium pan if you want to replicate a restaurant meal. This might not be the healthiest option, but this is undoubtedly the side to go for if you need comfort food.

3. Al Dente Vegetables

Soft and tender cuts of steak go well with al dente veggies like celery or peppers! The contrast in textures is very refreshing, especially if you don’t want the meal to be too heavy.

4. Garlic Bread

Beautiful bread you can toast in the oven and even make a steak sandwich!

5. Asparagus

Steamed asparagus with butter and salt is one of the most straightforward sides for steak, and it just works! It takes less than five minutes to make, is super healthy, and is very hard to get wrong. Perfect!

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Steak Temperature Guide

Set the temperature to 125 degrees Fahrenheit if you want your steak to be cooked to juicy rare. For a medium cook on your steak, set the temperature to 135; for well-done, set the oven to 145 degrees. Simple right?

Using a meat thermometer will help you get the steak cooked perfectly. Insert the meat thermometer into the steak and assess the internal temperature. Use this as a guide to remove the steak from heat: