Air-Fried Pork Roast: A Quick, Easy, And Delicious Recipe

Air fryers are a convenient way to cook pork roast, which is a great meal for any day of the week and perfect for Sunday dinner. The air fryer keeps the meat juicy and tender while crisping up the skin to perfection. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make pork roast in an air fryer, including tips on ingredients, preparation, and cooking instructions.

Choosing the right cut of pork

Pork Loin

Pork loin is a versatile cut that can be roasted on or off the bone. It has a good balance of flavour and texture, but it is not as tender as the tenderloin cut. Pork loin is usually wider and larger, weighing between 3 to 5 pounds per roast. It often comes with a cap of fat along its top, which helps keep the meat moist during cooking. This cut is ideal if you're feeding a crowd, as it typically yields plenty of meat for sandwiches or leftovers.

Pork Tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is a leaner and thinner cut compared to pork loin. It has a darker colour and very little fat. Due to its leanness, it requires careful handling to prevent drying out during cooking. It is a good option for a quick and delicious meal, but be sure to remove the silver skin and add oil to seal in moisture before placing it in the air fryer.

Pork Shoulder

Pork shoulder, also known as pork butt, Boston butt, shoulder arm picnic, or picnic shoulder, is a fatty, flavourful, and budget-friendly option. These cuts typically range from 4 to 10 pounds and are often sold boneless. Pork shoulder benefits from slow cooking to allow the fat to render and penetrate the meat, resulting in a tender and flavourful roast.

Pork Belly

Pork belly is a popular choice for roasting due to its leanness. However, it can be challenging to achieve good crackling with this cut. It is usually boned out and divided into more manageable-sized joints before roasting.

Pork Leg

Pork leg, also known as ham, is ideal for roasting. The best cuts include fresh or uncured ham and spiral-sliced bone-in half ham. The shank end is typically recommended over the sirloin end due to its thicker layer of skin and fat, making it ideal for brining.

When selecting your pork cut, always opt for fresh-looking meat with a thick layer of fat. Free-range and organic pork will typically have more delicious pork fat. Remember to plan the amount of meat needed accordingly, allowing for about 2 pounds (1 kilogram) of meat, including fat, for four to six people.

Preparing the pork

Firstly, select the right cut of pork. A pork shoulder butt roast or a pork loin is an excellent choice for this recipe. Ensure that the pork fits into your air fryer comfortably.

Then, remove the pork from its packaging and pat it dry with a paper towel. This step is important to get a crispy exterior. If the pork has a netting, you can remove it, but this is optional. Scoring the fat layer or rind is the next step. Use a sharp knife to make shallow cuts in a diamond pattern across the fat. Be careful not to cut into the meat. This process helps create a crispy exterior and is essential for the crackling.

After scoring, rub the pork generously with olive oil. Ensure the oil coats all surfaces, including the scored fat layer. Then, it's time to season the pork. You can use a variety of seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, Montreal steak seasoning, paprika, or dried sage. Rub the seasonings into the meat, ensuring an even coating. Don't be shy with the salt, as it will enhance the crackling. You can also add some coarse salt to the scored fat layer.

If you have time, let the pork rest in the refrigerator, uncovered, for a few hours or even overnight. This step helps dry out the rind, ensuring a crispier crackling. However, if you're short on time, you can proceed to the next step.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. This step ensures your air fryer is ready to go and will help you achieve the desired cooking temperature.

Once preheated, place the pork in the air fryer basket, fat side up. Set the temperature to 350°F to 400°F and cook for 20-25 minutes per pound of meat. For a crispier exterior, you can increase the temperature to 400°F for the last 15-30 minutes of cooking.

The pork is ready when its internal temperature reaches 145°F to 160°F. Use a meat thermometer to check, as this is the safest way to ensure your pork is cooked through.

Finally, remove the pork from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 10 minutes before carving. This resting period allows the juices to redistribute, ensuring a juicy and tender roast.

Now you know the steps to prepare a mouthwatering air fryer pork roast!

Cooking the pork

The first step in cooking your pork roast is to prep the meat. Take the pork out of the fridge about half an hour before you plan to cook it. If your pork has a rind, score the rind with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut into the meat. You can ask your butcher to do this for you. Then, pat the pork skin dry with a paper towel. This step is important as it helps to draw out moisture from the skin, which will improve the crackling.

Next, season the pork. Rub the pork all over with olive oil and then add a generous amount of salt to the rind, rubbing it into the scores. You can also add other seasonings, such as black pepper, garlic, paprika, or dried sage. Make sure the pork is well coated.

Now it's time to cook the pork. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes. Then, place the seasoned pork into the air fryer basket with the rind side up. Set the air fryer to 320°F/160°C for 50 minutes, and then increase the temperature to 400°F/200°C for 15-30 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145°F-160°F. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of your pork roast and the wattage of your air fryer. As a guide, estimate about 25 minutes per pound of meat.

Once the pork is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 15 minutes before carving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in juicier meat. Don't worry, the crackling won't soften during this time.

Tips for the Perfect Pork Roast

• If you have time, leave the meat uncovered in the fridge overnight to help dry out the rind, which will improve the crackling. Even an hour or two will make a difference.
• Be generous with the salt, as this will help to create crispy crackling.
• Use a meat thermometer to check that the pork is cooked to the correct temperature.
• Don't rush to carve the meat—let it rest for at least 15 minutes so that the juices can redistribute.
• Don't waste the pan drippings! Use them to make gravy.

Resting the pork

During the resting period, the juices that have been drawn to the surface of the meat during cooking are reabsorbed into the centre, enhancing the flavour and texture of the pork. This process ensures that the meat is moist and succulent, rather than dry and tough.

Additionally, resting the pork gives the internal temperature a chance to equalise. This means that the meat will continue to cook slightly, and the temperature will rise a few degrees, ensuring that it is safe to eat.

If you are cooking other components of your meal while the pork rests, such as vegetables, it is a good idea to cover the meat with tin foil to keep it warm. This will also help to retain moisture and ensure that the pork doesn't dry out.

Finally, resting the pork gives you time to make a gravy from the pan drippings, adding even more flavour to your dish.

Serving suggestions

• Mashed potatoes: Ricotta mashed potatoes, creamy garlic mashed potatoes, or Boursin mashed potatoes.
• Roasted potatoes: Ranch potatoes, Parmentier potatoes, perfect roast potatoes, Hasselback potatoes, scalloped potatoes, or seasoned wedges.
• Boiled potatoes: Herby boiled potatoes or buttery boiled potatoes.
• Roasted vegetables: Roasted rainbow carrots or roasted root vegetables.
• Air-fried vegetables: Air fryer cubed potatoes or air fryer baby potatoes.
• Sautéed vegetables: Sautéed green peas, zucchini, broccoli, or buttered leeks.
• Yorkshire pudding, gravy, chip curry sauce, jollof rice, or chimichurri rice.
• Instant Pot mashed potatoes, Air Fryer roasted carrots, or Air Fryer dinner rolls.
• Vegetables and ingredients: Potatoes, carrots, onions, parsnips, or squash.

Frequently asked questions