Air-Fried Pork Loin: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Cooking pork loin in an air fryer is a great way to enjoy a roast dinner any day of the week. The air fryer's high heat cooks the meat quickly, reducing the risk of it drying out, and giving it a browned crust. You'll want to use a boneless pork loin, and the size of the roast will depend on the size of your air fryer. It's a good idea to brine the pork loin first to add flavour and moisture.

How to get a crisp golden crust on your pork loin

Yes, you can cook pork loin in an air fryer. To get a crisp golden crust on your pork loin, you'll want to use a boneless pork loin and heat your air fryer to 370°F. Trim away any excess fat from the outside of the pork loin. The high heat of the air fryer will allow the meat to cook quickly, reducing the chance of it drying out, and will give it a browned crust. You can also brine the pork loin to add flavour and moisture. A standard brine recipe is 4 tablespoons of kosher salt to 4 cups of cold water.

What size pork loin to use

Yes, you can cook pork loin in an air fryer. The size of the pork loin roast you use will depend on the size of your air fryer. For example, a 3-pound roast will fit perfectly in a 2.6-quart air fryer. A larger cut of meat, such as a pork butt or pork shoulder, is not recommended for an air fryer as it will be too big.

Pork loin is a lean cut of meat, which means it can dry out if it's overcooked. The air fryer circulates high heat around the pork, cooking it more quickly and reducing the chance of it drying out. The high heat will also give the meat a browned crust.

What to serve with pork loin

Yes, you can cook pork loin in an air fryer. The high heat of the air fryer means the meat is cooked more quickly, reducing the risk of it drying out. It also forms a browned crust.

• Mashed potatoes and a green vegetable, such as asparagus, broccoli or cauliflower
• Roasted yellow squash and zucchini with parsley thyme and garlic
• Pickles
• Cabbage-based sides, such as red pickled or white fried cabbage
• A warm sauté of sweetcorn, peppers and onion, enriched with heavy cream and topped with crispy bacon
• Savoy cabbage leaves sautéed in butter
• Spring asparagus baked under creamy Alfredo sauce

How to brine pork loin

Yes, you can cook pork loin in an air fryer. Pork loin is a lean cut of meat, so it benefits from being cooked in an air fryer as it cooks quickly and doesn't dry out.

Brining pork loin is a great way to add flavour and moisture to the meat. To make a standard brine, mix four tablespoons of kosher salt with four cups of cold water. You can also add other ingredients to the brine, such as maple syrup, garlic, ginger, black pepper, rosemary, and red pepper flakes.

Dissolve the salt in the water, either in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add the remaining ingredients and stir. Allow the brine to cool completely before using it. You can make the brine up to a week in advance.

Place the pork loin and brine in a zip-top bag and put the bag in a bowl in case of leaks. Refrigerate for at least eight hours and up to 12 hours. After brining, remove the pork loin from the bag and discard the brine. Let the pork loin sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking.

How to avoid drying out the meat

Yes, you can cook pork loin in an air fryer. Pork loin is a lean cut of meat, which means it can dry out if it's overcooked. To avoid this, the air fryer circulates high heat around the pork, cooking it more quickly and reducing the amount of time it has to dry out. The high heat also gives the roast a nice brown crust, locking in the juices for tender meat.

To ensure your pork loin doesn't dry out, it's important to choose the right size of roast for your air fryer. A 3-pound roast fits perfectly in a 2.6-quart air fryer. You can also brine the pork loin to add flavour and moisture. To make a standard brine, use 4 tablespoons of kosher salt to 4 cups of cold water.

Another way to prevent your pork loin from drying out is to trim away any excess fat from the outside before cooking. This will help ensure even cooking and prevent the fat from drying out the meat.

Finally, it's important to cook the pork loin at the right temperature. Heat your air fryer to 370°F to ensure the meat cooks evenly and doesn't dry out.

Frequently asked questions