Emilie Meyer
Cooking diced pork in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a tasty meal. The cooking time will depend on the size of the pork pieces and the desired level of doneness, but on average, it takes around 12-20 minutes to cook diced pork in an air fryer. The key to getting juicy and tender pork is to ensure that the internal temperature reaches 145°F. This can be achieved by using a meat thermometer to check the temperature at the thickest part of the meat.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pork | Pork chops, pork tenderloin, pork roast, pork loin, pork shoulder |
| Size of pork | 1-1.5 lbs, 1.5kgs / 3 lbs, 2.87 lbs |
| Air fryer temperature | 360-400°F, 200°C, 210°C, 180°C / 350°F |
| Preheat temperature | 360-400°F |
| Preheat time | 5 minutes |
| Cooking time | 12 minutes, 20-22 minutes, 40 minutes, 15 minutes per pound, 3 minutes, 380°F for 3 minutes, then 2 minutes |
| Internal temperature | 140-145°F, 155-165°F, 70-75°C |
| Resting time | 2 minutes, 3-5 minutes, 10-20 minutes, 20 minutes |
| Oil | Olive oil |
| Seasoning | Brown sugar, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, ground mustard, salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, coarse salt |
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What You'll Learn
Air fryer pork chops
Ingredients
- Thick, center-cut, bone-in pork chops (1 ½ – 2 inches thick)
- Olive oil
- Brown sugar
- Paprika
- Ground mustard
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt and pepper
- (Optional: Cayenne for a little heat)
Method
- Rinse the pork chops and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Prepare a rub seasoning mix with the remaining ingredients and coat the pork chops liberally.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Place the pork chops in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space around each one. You may need to cook in batches.
- Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. For thicker pork chops, you may need to add a few minutes.
- Check the internal temperature with an instant-read food thermometer. Aim for 140°F, which will increase to 145°F as the meat rests.
- Remove the pork chops from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
Tips
- Thick pork chops are recommended for the best char and to prevent overcooking.
- You can also use boneless pork chops, which will cook faster than bone-in chops.
- For extra moisture, lightly spray the pork chops with olive oil before reheating.
- Serve with sides like mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a salad.
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Air fryer pork tenderloin
Ingredients
- Pork tenderloin
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Pepper
- Brown sugar
- Smoked paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Ground mustard
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
- Dried thyme
Method
- Remove any silver skin or excess fat from the pork tenderloin.
- Pat the pork dry with a paper towel.
- Rub olive oil over the pork.
- Mix your chosen seasonings in a bowl.
- Coat the pork tenderloin with the spice mixture.
- Set your air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 5 minutes.
- Place the pork tenderloin in the air fryer and cook for 20-25 minutes, flipping once.
- Check the internal temperature of the pork with a meat thermometer. It should be at least 145°F.
- Remove the pork from the air fryer and let it rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing.
Tips
- You can experiment with different seasonings to find your favourite flavour combinations.
- For crispy crackling, leave the meat uncovered in the fridge overnight to dry out the rind.
- If your tenderloin is too big for your air fryer, slice it in half and cook in two batches.
- Save any juices from the cooked pork to serve over the sliced meat.
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Air fryer roast pork
Ingredients
- Boneless pork loin roast
- Olive oil
- Coarse salt (sea salt, cooking salt, or kosher salt)
- Coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
- Paprika
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Ground mustard
- Cayenne pepper
Method
- Dry the pork with a paper towel.
- Remove the pork from the fridge 20-30 minutes before cooking.
- Score the rind/skin with a sharp knife in a diamond pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat.
- Rub the pork all over with olive oil.
- Generously sprinkle coarse salt onto the rind/skin, rubbing it into the scores.
- Prepare the dry rub by mixing the coconut sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, ground mustard, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl.
- Coat all sides of the pork loin with the dry rub, using your hands to press it in.
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F for 5 minutes.
- Place the pork in the air fryer basket with the rind/skin side up.
- Cook for 15 minutes per pound, adjusting the cooking time based on the size of your roast. For example, a 2.87 lb roast will take about 40 minutes to reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Check the doneness with an instant-read thermometer.
- Remove the pork from the air fryer and let it rest tented with foil for a few minutes before slicing and serving.
Tips
- If time allows, leave the meat uncovered in the fridge overnight to help dry the rind and ensure crispy crackling.
- The height of the pork roast should not be too tall, or it may touch the heating element. A roast of about 1.5 kg or 3 lbs is ideal for a 5.5L air fryer.
- You can serve the roast pork with sides like mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, or any kind of potato.
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Air fryer pork joint
Cooking a pork joint in an air fryer is a great way to get a roast dinner without having to heat up your whole oven. It's also a good way to get crispy crackling without having to worry about losing heat every time you check on your roast.
Choosing your pork
The best cut of pork for roasting and crackling is the shoulder or leg joint. This has a good balance of fat and protein, which helps keep the meat juicy and succulent. It also has plenty of marbling, which helps to keep the meat moist and makes it easier to get the crackling right.
You'll want to buy a joint that fits in your air fryer. A roast that is 1.5kg/3lbs fits perfectly in a 5.5L/5.5 -5.8 Qt air fryer. If you have a bigger air fryer, you can buy a bigger roast.
Preparing your pork
If you have time, leave the meat uncovered in the fridge overnight. This helps dry out the rind, which will make it crisp up better when cooking. Even just an hour or a few hours will help the process.
If your pork comes tied with butcher's twine, you can keep it on or remove it before cooking. Tying the joint will help it cook evenly, but removing it will help the crackling.
Pat the pork skin dry with a paper towel before cooking. Score the rind at 1cm intervals with a small sharp knife, being careful not to cut into the meat. You can ask your butcher to do this for you. Rub the pork all over with olive oil and then add a generous amount of coarse salt (sea salt, cooking salt or kosher salt) to the rind, rubbing it into the scores.
Cooking your pork
Preheat your air fryer to 360°F/180°C for 5 minutes. Then place the roast inside the air fryer basket with the rind/fat cap side up. Set to air fry for 360°F/180°C for 45-55 minutes. Turn it halfway through cooking.
The internal temperature of the pork when cooked will depend on how well done you like your meat. For medium-well or well-done pork, you're looking for a temperature of 145°F-160°F. If you want your pork cooked through, you're looking for a temperature of 155°F-165°F in the thickest part of the meat. Use a meat thermometer to check.
When the pork is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest on a plate for at least 5 minutes. It will continue to cook and the internal temperature will rise a few degrees.
Serving your pork
You can make a simple gravy by adding a cup of chicken broth to a saucepan, along with any juices from the roast and the air fryer pan. Mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 4 tablespoons of cold water and slowly pour this into the broth to thicken it.
And there you have it: air fryer pork joint with crispy crackling and gravy!
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Air fryer sweet and sour pork
This recipe is a lightened-up version of a classic Chinese dish. Instead of deep-frying the pork, you can coat the pieces with panko (breadcrumbs) and then air-fry them. This method maintains the dish's classic flavor while reducing the hassle of deep-frying.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb pork shoulder (without bones)
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup panko (breadcrumbs)
- 1/2 cup sweet and sour sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- Rice, egg rolls, or broccoli and roasted baby potatoes to serve
Method:
- Trim off any thick layers of fat from the pork shoulder. Cut the pork into small, bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch by 1 inch. Ensure the pieces are not thicker than 3/4 inch.
- Rinse the pork pieces and pat them dry with a paper towel. This step is important, so don't skip it!
- Dredge the pork pieces in a mixture of flour and cornstarch, dip them in beaten egg, and then coat them with panko.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the pork pieces inside. Spray the top of the pork with more cooking spray.
- Set the air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 5 minutes. Then, air-fry the pork for 10-12 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the pork reaches your desired level of crispness.
- While the pork is cooking, prepare the sweet and sour sauce by combining sugar, vinegar, ketchup, and soy sauce in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture boils. Reduce the heat to low and keep the sauce warm until ready to use.
- Once the pork is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for a couple of minutes. Serve with rice, egg rolls, or your choice of vegetables and enjoy!
Tips:
- If you prefer a more traditional preparation, you can toss the pork with cornstarch and sesame oil before air frying, as described in a similar recipe.
- For a simple sweet and sour sauce, you can mix sugar, ketchup, and rice vinegar.
- To achieve the perfect crackling, rub the pork generously with coarse salt (sea salt, cooking salt, or kosher salt) before air frying.
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Frequently asked questions
The cooking time depends on the size of the pork pieces and the power of your air fryer. On average, it takes around 4 to 5 minutes at 380ºF for diced pork, and 12 to 20 minutes at 400ºF for pork chops.
To get crispy pork, you can coat the pork with panko or breadcrumbs before air frying. Additionally, leaving the meat uncovered in the fridge overnight helps dry the rind, resulting in crispy crackling.
The ideal temperature for cooking pork in an air fryer is between 360ºF and 400ºF. However, it's important to ensure that the internal temperature of the pork reaches at least 140ºF to 145ºF for food safety.
You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork. For pork shoulder, aim for a temperature of 160ºF or higher. Alternatively, you can look for visual cues, such as clear juices running from the meat.
