Air-Fryer Scrapple: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Scrapple is a traditional American food that originated in Pennsylvania and is often described as a type of pork-based meatloaf or sausage patty. It is made from pork scraps, cornmeal, and spices, and is known for its crispy exterior and soft, savoury interior. Cooking scrapple in an air fryer is a convenient and healthier way to enjoy this delicacy without compromising on taste and texture. It also reduces mess and cooking time.

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in making scrapple, as it ensures that the appliance reaches the desired temperature for cooking. Here is a detailed guide on preheating your air fryer for making scrapple:

Step 1: Understand the Importance of Preheating

Preheating your air fryer ensures that the cooking process starts immediately at the right temperature. This is crucial for achieving the desired crispy texture of your scrapple. It also helps to reduce the overall cooking time, as your appliance is already at the optimal temperature when you begin cooking.

Step 2: Set the Temperature and Time

Set your air fryer to a temperature between 375 degrees Fahrenheit (as suggested by Fork to Spoon) and 400 degrees Fahrenheit (as suggested by Jawns I Cooked and The Top Meal). The ideal temperature may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model and personal preference for crispiness. Set the timer for around 3 to 5 minutes for preheating.

Step 3: Wait for the Air Fryer to Heat Up

Once you've set the temperature and time, simply wait for your air fryer to heat up. Most modern air fryers will have an indicator light or a notification that lets you know when it's ready. You can also check the temperature with an air fryer-safe thermometer if you want to be precise.

Step 4: Prepare the Scrapple While Preheating

To make the most of your time, you can use the preheating period to prepare your scrapple. Cut the scrapple into slices of your desired thickness. Slices that are around 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick generally work well. You can also cut the scrapple into scrapple fries if you prefer.

Step 5: Arrange the Scrapple in the Air Fryer Basket

Once your air fryer is preheated, it's time to arrange the scrapple slices in the air fryer basket. Place the slices in a single layer, ensuring that they don't overlap and have some space between them. This arrangement allows for even cooking and helps achieve the desired crispiness.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to making delicious, crispy scrapple in your air fryer!

Slice the scrapple

To make scrapple in an air fryer, you'll need to start by slicing the scrapple evenly. The recommended thickness is around 1/4 to 1/2 inch, but you can adjust this to your preference. If you like your scrapple thinner, you can go as low as 1/4" thick slices, which will yield about 14 slices from a 1-pound brick of scrapple. Thicker slices, such as 1/2" thick, will give you about 8 slices per pound.

When slicing the scrapple, it's important to ensure that the pieces are even so that they cook uniformly. You can easily cut the scrapple block into equal pieces by first cutting it in half, then cutting each half again in the middle, and finally cutting each quarter in half again.

Once you have your desired number of slices, you can place them in the air fryer. It's recommended to cook only a few slices at a time to avoid overcrowding the air fryer, which can affect the cooking quality. Make sure the slices are in a single layer and not touching each other to allow for even cooking.

If you're using an air fryer liner, there's no need to grease the air fryer basket. However, if you don't have a liner, you can lightly spray or brush the scrapple slices with cooking oil before placing them in the air fryer to enhance crispiness.

Now you're ready to cook your scrapple in the air fryer! Set the temperature and timer according to your preferred level of crispiness and doneness, and enjoy the delicious, crispy scrapple when it's done.

Arrange in the air fryer basket

When arranging the scrapple in the air fryer basket, it's important to place the slices in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap or touch. This allows for even cooking and helps achieve the desired crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the scrapple in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.

For optimal results, it is recommended to use air fryer liners, as they prevent the scrapple from sticking to the basket. Additionally, spacing out the scrapple slices allows the hot air to circulate effectively, ensuring they cook evenly and attain a crispy texture.

While some recipes suggest preheating the air fryer, others advise setting it directly to the desired temperature and placing the scrapple in the basket immediately. The cooking temperature varies across recipes, with suggestions ranging from 375°F to 400°F.

It is worth noting that the thickness of the scrapple slices will influence the cooking time. Thinner slices, such as those around 1/4" thick, may require a shorter cooking time, while thicker slices, such as those cut at 1/2" thick, may need a few extra minutes.

In summary, arranging the scrapple in the air fryer basket involves placing the slices in a single layer, ensuring they are spaced out adequately, and using air fryer liners if possible to prevent sticking. By following these steps, you can achieve the perfect crispy scrapple texture that this traditional dish is known for.

Air fry

Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer

Start by preheating your air fryer to the desired temperature. The ideal temperature for cooking scrapple is between 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (about 190 to 200 degrees Celsius). Preheat your air fryer for around 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 2: Prepare the Scrapple

Open the package of scrapple and transfer it to a cutting board. Cut the scrapple into slices of your desired thickness. For even cooking and browning, slices between 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick are recommended. You can also cut the scrapple into scrapple fries if you prefer.

Step 3: Arrange the Scrapple in the Air Fryer Basket

Place the scrapple slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap and are not crowded. This allows for even cooking and helps achieve the desired crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the scrapple in batches.

Step 4: Air Fry the Scrapple

Set the air fryer temperature between 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the scrapple for 8 to 10 minutes. For thicker slices or a crispier texture, you may need to increase the cooking time. Halfway through the cooking process, consider flipping the scrapple slices to ensure even browning and crispness on both sides.

Step 5: Check for Doneness

Keep an eye on the scrapple during the last few minutes of cooking. The scrapple is done when it turns golden brown and crispy. The total cooking time may vary slightly depending on the thickness of the slices and the model of your air fryer.

Step 6: Serve the Scrapple

Once the scrapple has reached your desired level of crispiness, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for a minute or two. Then, serve it hot with your favourite breakfast sides. Scrapple goes well with eggs, toast, pancakes, or as part of a breakfast sandwich. It can be enjoyed with condiments such as ketchup, maple syrup, apple butter, or jelly.

Tips for Air Frying Scrapple:

• Preheat the air fryer to ensure the scrapple starts cooking immediately and achieves a crispy texture.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Place the scrapple slices in a single layer with space between them for even cooking.
• Spray the scrapple slices with cooking oil before placing them in the air fryer for enhanced crispiness.
• Flip the scrapple slices halfway through the cooking process for even browning and crispness on both sides.
• Keep an eye on the scrapple during the final minutes of cooking and remove it from the air fryer when it reaches your desired level of crispiness.
• Experiment with different condiments and seasonings to suit your taste preferences.

Check for doneness

Checking for doneness is an important step in the process of making scrapple in an air fryer. Here are some detailed instructions to ensure your scrapple is cooked to perfection:

Firstly, it is crucial to understand the desired level of doneness for scrapple. Ideally, you want the scrapple to be golden brown and crispy on the outside, while still retaining a soft and tender interior. This combination of textures is what makes air-fried scrapple so appealing.

Secondly, the timing of when you check for doneness is important. Most recipes recommend cooking the scrapple for around 10 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and then flipping it over and cooking for an additional 3-5 minutes. However, it is advisable to keep a close eye on the scrapple during the last few minutes of cooking. The exact cooking time may vary depending on factors such as the thickness of the scrapple slices and the model of your air fryer. Therefore, checking the scrapple frequently towards the end of the cooking process is essential to prevent overcooking or burning.

When checking for doneness, look for visual cues such as the colour and texture of the scrapple. The exterior should be golden brown and crispy, indicating that it is cooked through. You can also use a thermometer to check the internal temperature of the scrapple to ensure it has reached a safe temperature. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends cooking pork products to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, followed by a 3-minute rest.

Additionally, it is important to note that the doneness of scrapple is a matter of personal preference. Some people prefer their scrapple to be well-done and crispy throughout, while others may prefer it slightly softer and less browned. Adjust the cooking time accordingly to suit your taste.

Finally, if you are cooking a large batch of scrapple, it is advisable to check the doneness of multiple pieces, as the cooking time may vary slightly between pieces due to differences in size or shape.

Frequently asked questions