Juicy Air Fryer Roast Pork With Crispy Crackling

36

Sharing is caring!

If you are looking for a healthier way to cook your pork roast, then our Air Fryer Roast Pork with Crispy Crackling recipe may be what you need.

We’re crazy about our roast pork – Shannon and I fight over who gets to cook it in the Weber Q. But when I need my pork fix fast, I turn to my trusty Phillips XXL Air Fryer.

It may not have a fancy name, but it cooks up juicy, tender pork with crackling so crispy you’ll think it went to a spa retreat.

How to cook roast pork in an air fryer?

Cooking air fryer roast pork is a piece of cake (well, pork). It’s a lifesaver if you’re juggling oven time too. Just grab a boneless pork leg, some sea salt, salt flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil, and voila!

You’ve got a succulent roast pork that’ll make your taste buds sing.

To ensure a perfect crispy crackle on your air fryer roast pork every time, there are a few important steps to prep your pork roast.

1. Score the skin.  Sometimes when you buy roast pork, the skin is not scored well. Make sure you check and cut with a very sharp knife, but do not cut too far down; about halfway through the skin is enough.
   
2. Dry and salt the skin.   Very important, especially if you are using a vacuum-sealed one from your local supermarket. Pat the pork down with a paper towel, then rub a generous amount of table salt over the skin. Then cover it with a tea towel and let it sit overnight in the refrigerator. The salt soaks up moisture from the skin, drying it out. 
   
   Note – For the best results, follow the above step, but if you have to do this the day of cooking your pork, dry and salt your pork first thing in the morning and sit covered on the bench.
   
3. Bring Your pork to room temperature.  For an excellent, even cook, allow your pork to sit covered on your bench so that it warms up to room temperature.

Method:

When it’s time to cook air fryer roast pork, give it a good rubdown with olive oil and sea salt flakes, making sure to get every nook and cranny, including the score marks.

Repeat the process with a little more oil and salt, but this time, just sprinkle it over the top and sides. Don’t go overboard with the salt, or you’ll end up with a salty disaster.

If there’s excess salt on top, scrape it off. And don’t forget to oil up the sides and underside of the pork.

If you have an iGrill 2 meat thermometer, insert the probe into the thickest part of the pork. This will help you keep track of its internal temperature.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 200°C for two minutes. Once it’s ready, spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray and carefully place the pork inside.

Ensure that you position the probe in a way that allows you to close the air fryer properly.

To achieve a good crackle, set your air fryer to 200°C on the roast setting and cook for 20 minutes.

Then lower the heat to 180°C and cook for 25 minutes per 500g or until the internal temperature reaches 68°C.

After your pork reaches an internal temperature of 68°C, remove it from the air fryer and allow it to rest until the temperature rises to 71°C. This is the recommended safe temperature for consuming pork.

Do not overcook your pork in the air fryer to reach this temperature, as it can result in dry meat. Remember, the meat continues to cook while resting, and removing it at 68°C will yield juicy roast pork with a crispy crackle.

Using an instant-read meat thermometer during cooking is useful to monitor the meat’s temperature and know when to take it out of the air fryer.

What cut and size pork to use in your air fryer?

When it comes to using an air fryer to cook pork, the size of your pork is limited compared to an oven or Weber Q, so make sure you know the size of your air fryer basket before buying your meat.

Boneless cuts work best, but if you do decide to cook with a bone-in roast, please share your experience in the comments box below.

Additionally, the thickness of the skin is an important consideration.

Thin-skinned pork roast works best in the air fryer, as the skin can swell during cooking and touch the top of the air fryer, potentially causing it to burn and prevent the basket drawer from opening.

As for the cut of pork, that depends on your preference. We personally enjoy roasting a leg.

What to serve with your air fryer roast pork?

The sky is the limit with what to serve. Here are just some ideas that we have alongside our air fryer roast pork with crispy crackling.

• The Ultimate Honey Gravy For Roast Lamb, Chicken and Pork
• Simple Homemade Potato Salad with Egg and Bacon
• Winter Weber Q Roast Vegetables With Herbs

Other options are:

• Roast or creamy mashed potatoes
• Steamed green vegetables, such as broccoli or beans
• Corn, carrots, asparagus and peas.
• Roast or mashed pumpkin
• Other salads, such as garden, coleslaw or caesar. 

We’re an affiliate
We hope you love the products we recommend! Just so you know, we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Thank you if you use our links, we really appreciate it!