Crispy Outside, Tender Inside Air Fryer Pork Belly
Achieve Perfect Crispy Outside, Tender Inside Pork Belly with Your Air Fryer: The Golden Time and Temperature
This recipe guides you through making incredibly delicious pork belly in your air fryer, rendering out excess fat for a crispy exterior and juicy interior. Discover the optimal time and temperature for foolproof results every time.
Ingredients
- Pork Belly 250g
- Salt 1 tsp
- Black Pepper 1 tsp
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
Begin by preparing your pork belly. (Example: Ordered from Hipork Mall) For air frying, it’s best to use a cut with a good balance of fat, as this ensures a moist and tender result, preventing it from becoming dry and tough.
Step 2
Score the surface of the pork belly with diamond-shaped cuts, about 1cm deep, spaced out evenly. This scoring helps the heat penetrate evenly, ensuring thorough cooking and a more appealing presentation when served.
Step 3
Season the pork belly generously with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Alternatively, you can use 1 teaspoon of herb salt, which I prefer as it eliminates the need for other aromatics and imparts a wonderful fragrance.
Step 4
While you can cook the pork belly immediately, I like to let it rest for about 15 minutes to allow the seasonings to penetrate. This piece weighs approximately 250g, which is a good portion for one person.
Step 5
Preheat your air fryer to 170°C (338°F) and cook for the first 15 minutes. Since we’re not preheating the air fryer itself, starting at a slightly lower temperature like 160-170°C is ideal. This prevents the exterior from burning before the inside is cooked through.
Step 6
After 15 minutes, carefully flip the pork belly over. Increase the temperature to 180°C (356°F) and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
Step 7
You’ll notice the pork belly is turning golden brown and looks almost done after 10 minutes. For the final cooking stage, flip it one more time and cook at 180°C (356°F) for an additional 10 minutes. If you’re adding vegetables like whole garlic cloves or onions, now is the perfect time to add them to the air fryer basket.
Step 8
Once the final 10 minutes are up, your pork belly should look beautifully golden and appetizing! To check for doneness, insert a skewer or fork deep into the thickest part. If no pink juices run out, it’s perfectly cooked. If there’s any sign of pinkness, cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
Step 9
Transfer the cooked pork belly to a cutting board and slice it into your desired pieces. Slicing it to about 0.5cm thickness results in the best texture – not too thin and not too thick.
