Ella Walter
Cooking pork butt in an air fryer is an easy way to make a hearty, tasty meal. It's a simple dish that's perfect for a family dinner and can be served with a variety of sides. The air fryer ensures the pork is cooked to tender, juicy perfection with a nice, crispy outside coating. The cooking time will depend on the weight of the pork butt, but it's important to ensure the internal temperature reaches 145°F.
How to cook a pork butt in the air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of pork | Pork shoulder or butt roast |
| Weight | 1.14 lbs – 3.7 lbs |
| Temperature | 300°F – 400°F |
| Timing | 20 minutes – 90 minutes |
| Marinade | Brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, pineapple juice, lime juice, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic powder, fennel, sugar, salt, mixed herbs, and spices |
| Sides | Mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, any kind of potato, rice, and vegetables |
| Storage | Leftover pork roast can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3–4 days in the refrigerator or up to 3 months in the freezer |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of pork butt
Type of Cut
When it comes to air frying, boneless pork butt or shoulder is an excellent choice. This cut of meat becomes incredibly tender when cooked slowly at a low temperature. It's perfect for pulled pork, as the meat shreds easily, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth texture. Boneless pork butt or shoulder also provides a good amount of fat marbling, which adds flavour and moisture to the dish.
Weight and Size
The weight and size of the pork butt will impact the cooking time and temperature. For air frying, choose a pork butt that fits comfortably in your air fryer with some space around it. A roast that is too large may require a longer cooking time and could result in uneven cooking. As a general rule, for a 3-pound pork butt, you can expect a cooking time of about an hour at 360°F. If your roast is larger, consider increasing the cooking time by approximately 15-20 minutes per pound.
Quality and Freshness
Always opt for high-quality, fresh pork butt from a reputable source. Look for meat with a healthy pink colour and avoid any cuts with excessive moisture or discolouration. Fresh pork will not only taste better but also ensure food safety.
Rind and Scoring
When choosing a pork butt, consider whether it has the rind attached. Most pork roasts are sold with the rind already scored, but if it's not, you can use a sharp knife to create a crisscross pattern on the fat layer, being careful not to cut into the meat. Scoring the rind helps render the fat and creates a crispy texture during cooking.
Personal Preference
Finally, consider your personal preferences. If you prefer a leaner cut of meat, you might opt for a pork loin roast instead of a pork butt. Pork loin is tender and flavourful, but keep in mind that it requires different cooking temperatures and times compared to pork butt. Pork loin roasts are also typically larger, so ensure your air fryer can accommodate the size.
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Preparing the meat
Firstly, ensure you have the right cut of meat. Pork butt, also known as pork shoulder, is perfect for pulled pork. It is a boneless cut of meat that is tender and flavourful.
Before seasoning the meat, it is important to pat it dry with a paper towel. This will help the seasonings stick to the meat. If your pork has a rind, use a sharp knife to score it in a crisscross pattern, being careful not to cut into the meat itself. If your pork does not have a scored rind, you can ask your butcher to do this for you, or you can purchase a pork roast with the rind already scored.
Next, it's time to season the meat. You can use a variety of seasonings to create a dry rub. A simple combination of salt and pepper can be used, or you can experiment with other seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, ground mustard, brown sugar, or cayenne pepper. Combine your chosen seasonings in a small bowl and mix well. You can make this dry rub up to three days in advance if you want to get ahead. Once your seasoning is ready, coat all sides of the pork generously with the dry rub, using your hands to press it into the meat.
If you have time, you can marinate the pork overnight in the refrigerator after applying the dry rub. This step is not essential, but it can add extra flavour to the meat. One option for a marinade is to mix the pork with the dry rub and pineapple juice, or lemon or lime juice if you prefer.
Now your pork butt is prepared and ready to be cooked in your air fryer!
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for pork butt in an air fryer will depend on the weight of the meat and the desired level of doneness. For example, a 3-pound piece of pork butt will require a different cooking time than a 1.14-pound roast.
In general, it is recommended to cook pork butt in the air fryer at a temperature between 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes initially, and then adjust the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for an additional 35 minutes. The total cooking time for pork butt in an air fryer can range from 40 to 60 minutes, depending on the weight of the meat. It is recommended to cook pork butt for about 12-15 minutes per pound of meat.
It is important to ensure that the internal temperature of the pork reaches a safe 145-160 degrees Fahrenheit before consuming it. This can be checked with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature has not reached the desired level, the pork can be cooked for an additional 5-10 minutes, or however long is required, depending on the weight of the roast.
Additionally, it is recommended to let the pork rest for at least 5-10 minutes after removing it from the air fryer. This allows the juices to redistribute and gives the meat a stronger juiciness. During this time, the internal temperature of the meat will continue to rise several degrees.
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Resting the meat
Firstly, after the pork butt has finished cooking in the air fryer, gently remove it from the air fryer basket. Place the meat on a plate or cutting board. It is important to use caution when handling hot meat to avoid any burns.
Next, cover the pork butt loosely with foil. The foil helps to retain heat and keep the meat warm during the resting process. Do not wrap the foil too tightly, as this can affect the airflow and moisture around the meat.
The resting time will depend on the size of your pork butt roast. For smaller roasts, a resting time of 5 minutes is usually sufficient. However, for larger roasts, such as those over 2.5 lbs, it is recommended to rest the meat for at least 10 minutes. During this time, the internal temperature of the meat will continue to rise, so it is important to take this into account when planning your cooking time.
While the meat is resting, you can prepare any side dishes or sauces to accompany your pork butt. This could include roasting vegetables, making mashed potatoes, or preparing a gravy using the juices collected from the resting meat and the air fryer pan.
Finally, after the resting time is complete, you can carve or slice the pork butt and serve it with your chosen sides. The resting process ensures that the meat is juicy, tender, and flavourful, creating a delicious meal for you and your guests.
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Serving suggestions
Sides
You can serve your pork butt with a variety of side dishes. Vegetables such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans, baby carrots, and baby potatoes are great options. Any kind of potato—baked, mashed, or roasted—would also be a delicious choice. If you want to get fancy, you can make Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes or Air Fryer Asparagus as a side.
Gravy
Making a gravy to go with your pork butt is simple. Use the juices that have collected on the plate the roast was resting on, as well as any juices in the air fryer pan. Add these to a saucepan along with a cup of chicken or beef broth and any remaining seasoning rub. You can also add a cornstarch slurry (mix two tablespoons of cornstarch with four tablespoons of cold water) to thicken the gravy.
Leftovers
If you have any leftover pork butt, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days or in the freezer for up to three months. Leftover roast pork can be served in sandwiches, or used in fried rice, stir-fry recipes, or even as a salad topping.
Pulled Pork
If you want to switch up your leftovers, you can make pulled pork by shredding the leftover pork butt and mixing it with barbecue sauce in the air fryer. Serve it piled on bread rolls, in quesadillas, tacos, over nachos, or in a salad bowl.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 12-14 minutes per pound when cooked in the air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The internal temperature should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Dry the pork with a paper towel. Coat all sides of the pork with oil and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and steak seasoning.
Some side dishes that go well with air fryer pork butt include mashed sweet potatoes, green beans, broccoli, asparagus, and any kind of potato.
