Marianne Martinez
Air Fryer Pork Carnitas is a popular Mexican dish that is perfect for a quick, tasty, and healthy weeknight dinner. Carnitas, which translates to little meats in Spanish, are typically made by braising or slow-cooking pork, which is then shredded and often fried to add a crispy texture. Using an air fryer is a convenient way to achieve this beloved Mexican street food, which can be served in tacos, burritos, or tortas (sandwiches). The air fryer significantly reduces the cooking time while still producing tender, juicy, and flavorful meat with enticingly crisp edges.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Dish | Main Course |
| Cuisine | Mexican |
| Main Ingredient | Pork |
| Cut of Meat | Boneless Pork Shoulder or Butt |
| Marinade Ingredients | Orange Juice, Taco Seasoning, Olive Oil, Jalapeno, Cilantro, Garlic Cloves, Cumin, Oregano, Bay Leaves, Salt, and Pepper |
| Marinade Time | 6 hours or Overnight |
| Cooking Temperature | 350-400 °F |
| Cooking Time | 15-45 minutes |
| Internal Temperature | 145-170 °F |
| Resting Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Toppings | Sour Cream, Guacamole, Salsa, Poblano Sauce, Green Onions, Taco Sauce, Hot Sauce, Salsa, Lime Wedges |
| Serving Options | Tacos, Burritos, Burrito Bowls, Tortas (Sandwiches), Nachos, Enchiladas, Quesadillas, Rice Bowls, Salads, Pulled Pork Pizza |
| Storage | Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3-4 days or freeze for 2-3 months |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of pork
The best cut of pork for carnitas is the pork shoulder, also known as the pork butt. This is because it has the ideal ratio of fat to meat, which keeps the meat moist and tender as it cooks, and also gives it a superior flavour. Pork shoulder is also a good choice because it is inexpensive and easy to shred when cooked.
The cut of meat you choose for your carnitas is important because carnitas is made by braising pork, usually in lard, broth or stock. Braising requires a cut of meat with streaks of fat to keep it moist, and one that can benefit from a long cooking time at a low temperature. Pork shoulder fits the bill perfectly.
You can also use boneless pork shoulder or pork loin, but this is not recommended as it is a leaner cut of meat and will not create the same texture or flavour. It is more likely to dry out, and will not be as tender as pork butt.
When choosing your pork shoulder, look for a cut with visible streaks of fat. The fat will melt during the long cooking process and keep the meat moist and tender. It will also add flavour to the dish.
In summary, for the best pork carnitas, choose a pork shoulder or pork butt with visible streaks of fat. This will ensure your carnitas are juicy, tender and full of flavour.
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Marinating the meat
To prepare the marinade, you will need taco seasoning, olive oil, orange juice, jalapeño, and cilantro. For the orange juice, freshly squeeze an orange or use store-bought orange juice. If you don't like spicy food, you can omit the jalapeño pepper. For the taco seasoning, you can use a store-bought blend or make your own by mixing together chili powder, cumin, paprika, and garlic powder.
Place the pork in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it. Turn the pork in the bowl to ensure it is fully coated. Cover the bowl and place it in the refrigerator to marinate. For the best flavor, it is recommended to let the pork marinate for at least 6 hours or even overnight.
If you are in a hurry, you can marinate the pork for a minimum of one hour. However, the longer it sits in the marinade, the more tender and flavorful it will become.
Once the pork has finished marinating, you can move on to the next step of cooking it in the air fryer.
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Air-frying the meat
Once the pork has been marinated, it's time to cook it in the air fryer. First, create a foil basket or tray in the air fryer basket and place the pork inside, along with the remaining marinade. Set the air fryer to cook at 350-400 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes. After 30 minutes, flip the pork over and cook for the remaining 15 minutes.
The pork is ready when it is well-browned, crispy on the edges, and fully cooked with an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. If the meat doesn't easily fall apart when tested with a fork, it may need to be cooked for a further 15 minutes.
Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and shred it with a fork. It is recommended to let the pork rest for 10-15 minutes before shredding to allow the juices to reabsorb and make the meat easier to handle.
After shredding, the meat can be seasoned further with additional taco seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste. The shredded pork carnitas are now ready to be served in tacos, burritos, nachos, or any other desired dish.
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Serving options
There are many ways to serve air fryer pork carnitas. The most popular option is to use the meat as a filling for tacos. You can serve the carnitas in warm corn or flour tortillas with toppings such as diced red onions, pickled jalapeños, sour cream, guacamole, green onions, taco sauce, hot sauce, salsa, or your favourite nacho toppings.
You can also use the air fryer carnitas as a filling for burritos, taquitos, enchiladas, quesadillas, or sandwiches. For a low-carb option, you can serve the carnitas on a bed of salad or nachos, or as a topping for rice bowls. If you're looking for a non-Mexican option, you can also use the carnitas as a filling for a pulled pork sandwich or pizza.
Leftover carnitas can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or frozen for 2-3 months. To reheat, put the carnitas back in the air fryer and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes until warm and crispy.
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Storing and reheating
Storing your leftover air fryer carnitas is simple. Place the carnitas in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it for 2-3 months.
When you're ready to eat your frozen carnitas, thaw them overnight in the refrigerator. Then, reheat the carnitas in your air fryer at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 2-3 minutes. You can also reheat them in the microwave. Before reheating, toss the carnitas with a few tablespoons of olive oil or lime juice to prevent them from drying out.
To ensure your carnitas are tender and flavourful, it's best to let the pork marinate for at least 6 hours or overnight before cooking. Preparing the pork with the marinade the night before you plan to cook it will infuse it with flavour and make the cooking process quicker.
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Frequently asked questions
First, prepare the marinade by mixing taco seasoning, olive oil, orange juice, jalapeno, and cilantro in a bowl. Then, place the pork in a large bowl and pour the marinade over it, ensuring it is fully coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Next, line the air fryer basket with foil and place the pork inside. Pour the remaining marinade over the pork. Set the air fryer to cook at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, flipping the pork after 30 minutes. Once the pork is fork-tender, remove it from the air fryer and shred the meat. Finally, warm the tortillas and fill them with the shredded pork, onion, and cilantro.
The cooking time for pork carnitas in an air fryer depends on the thickness of the meat and your desired level of doneness. It is recommended to cook the pork at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, flipping it halfway through. However, you may need to adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of the meat. The pork is considered safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, but it will be easier to shred if it reaches 170 degrees Fahrenheit.
The ingredients you will need to make pork carnitas in an air fryer include pork (boneless pork shoulder or butt is recommended), orange juice, cilantro, oil (olive oil, canola oil, safflower oil, or avocado oil), jalapeno pepper, taco seasoning, salt, and pepper. You can also add other ingredients such as garlic, cumin, oregano, and bay leaves for additional flavor.
