Air-Fryer Hog Jowl: A Quick, Crispy Delight

Hog jowl is a delicious cut of meat that can be cooked in an air fryer. It can be served with cornbread, collard greens, and black-eyed peas or Hopin John. To cook hog jowl in an air fryer, you will need to cook the meat at medium heat for 10-15 minutes, flipping it halfway through. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket or tray, you may need to cook the meat in multiple batches. If you prefer a softer texture, air-fry the meat for eight minutes, and if you prefer a crunchier bite, air-fry it for nine minutes.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for hog jowl in an air fryer will depend on whether you want your meat to be tender or crispy. If you want a softer texture, air fry the hog jowl for eight minutes. If you prefer a crunchier bite, air fry your meat for nine minutes.

If you are cooking the hog jowl as bacon, cook it at medium heat for 10-15 minutes, flipping the bacon halfway through. You may need to cook the bacon in more than one round, depending on the size of your air fryer basket or tray.

If you are baking the hog jowl, cook the bacon for 20 minutes at 350 degrees F, flipping halfway through.

Flipping the jowl bacon

Flipping the bacon halfway through the cooking process will help to ensure even cooking and prevent the sugar from burning. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the bacon in more than one batch. Once the bacon is done, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a paper towel-lined or parchment paper-lined baking sheet to cool for about five minutes. The bacon will continue to get crispy as it cools. Repeat the above steps until all the bacon is cooked.

Watching the bacon to prevent burning

When cooking hog jowl in an air fryer, it's important to watch the bacon closely near the end to prevent the sugar from burning. The difference between tender and crispy jowl is a matter of seconds, so it's crucial to keep an eye on the bacon to achieve your desired texture.

If you're aiming for a softer texture, air fry the hog jowl for around eight minutes. For a crunchier bite, increase the cooking time to nine minutes. However, keep in mind that the size of the hog jowl slices may require multiple batches in the air fryer.

To ensure even cooking, flip the jowl bacon during the cooking process. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket or tray, you may need more than one round of air frying to cook all the bacon.

Once the desired cooking time is reached, remove the jowl strips from the air fryer and place them on a paper towel-lined or parchment paper-lined baking sheet or cooling rack to cool for about five minutes. The bacon will continue to crisp up as it cools. Repeat the cooking and cooling process until all the bacon is air-fried.

Serving suggestions

Hog jowl is a delicious treat, and cooking it in an air fryer is a great way to get a crispy texture. Once cooked, you can serve it with cornbread, collard greens, and black-eyed peas, or try a soul food Hopin John recipe.

If you're cooking for a crowd, it's worth noting that you'll likely need to make multiple batches in the air fryer, as the slices won't all fit in at once.

When it comes to serving, you can place the cooked hog jowl on a paper towel-lined or parchment paper-lined baking sheet or cooling rack to cool for about five minutes. The bacon will continue to crisp up as it cools, so don't worry if it's not as crunchy as you'd like when it first comes out of the fryer.

If you're looking for a softer texture, you can air-fry the hog jowl for eight minutes. For a crunchier bite, increase the cooking time to nine minutes.

Tender vs crispy jowl

The difference between tender and crispy jowl in an air fryer is a matter of seconds. If you want a softer texture to your meat, air fry it for eight minutes. If you prefer a crunchier bite, then air fry your meat for nine minutes.

The size of your air fryer basket or tray may also affect the cooking time. Depending on the size, you may need more than one round of air frying to cook all the bacon. You should cook the jowl bacon at medium heat for 10-15 minutes, flipping them as they cook.

Once your meat is done, place the cooked bacon on a paper towel-lined or parchment paper-lined baking sheet or cooling rack to cool for about five minutes. The bacon will continue to get crispy as it cools.

Frequently asked questions