Step 4: Wrap the pork belly
Place the pork belly on a large piece of kitchen foil skin side up, and wrap the sides up to form an open container that fits the pork belly snuggly, leaving the skin exposed. Fold the corners tightly to seal them to keep the juices close to the pork while it cooks.
Alternatively, you can cook the pork belly in a small pan, but choose one that fits the pork belly closely so that the pork cooks in the fat rather than losing it all to the pan. A small loaf tin is ideal.
Step 4: Air fry pork belly
Preheat the air fryer 320°F/160°C. Place the salted pork belly in the air fryer skin side up, and air fry for 30 minutes.
When the time is up, turn the temperature up to 390°F/ 195°C, and air fry pork belly for an additional 10 minutes, until the crackling is crispy.
Check it after 5 minutes to see whether the crackling is done to your liking and prevent burning. See section below for more details on cook times.
Note: you can also use this recipe for roasting pork belly in a regular oven use the fan forced setting.
How long to cook pork belly in an air fryer?
The exact time required will depend on a few factors including exactly how large and thick your piece of pork belly is, and how efficient your air fryer is.
When cooking pork belly the best way to get it really tender and succulent is slow roasting at a low temperature until the meat is succulent, followed by a short blast at a high temperature to get the skin really crispy.
Pork is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/ 74°C. However, for fall-apart-tender meat we are aiming for a much higher internal temperature of around 195-200°F/ 90-95°C.
The best way to be sure that you have achieved this is to use a meat thermometer. I’d recommend either an instant read meat thermometer, or a wireless leave-in meat thermometer like the
Tip: Use an instant read thermometer to measure the temperature in the center of the thickest part of the meat for an accurate temperature reading.
Serving ideas
To slice the roasted pork belly, turn it upside down on a chopping board and cut through with a sharp knife. This is the best way to get perfect pork belly slices and to cut through the crispy crackling without shattering it.
I like to serve pork belly as an appetizer, sliced into pork belly bites. A simple dipping sauce is all you need, try:
BBQ sauce
Hoisin sauce
Plum sauce
Sweet soy sauce
Storing and reheating
Store any leftover pork belly in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, and use within 3 days.
You can reheat the pork belly in the air fryer, air fry for 3-4 minutes until warmed through.
Crispy Air Fryer Pork Belly
How to cook crispy pork belly in an air fryer.
Author: Julia
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 4 1x
Category: Main dish
Cuisine: British
Ingredients
1½ lb/ 700g pork belly
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons of kosher/flaked salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
Score the rind of the pork belly with a sharp knife. Ensure you only cut through into the fat, not into the meat.
Rub 1 teaspoon of salt into the skin, ensuring it goes into the scores. Set aside for ten minutes. Then blot the moisture from the surface of the pork belly using paper towels.
Preheat air fryer to 320°F (160°C).
Drizzle the pork belly with oil and rub in, flip the pork belly skin side down and season with the remaining salt, and the pepper.
Place the pork belly skin side up on a large piece of kitchen foil, and wrap the sides of the foil up to enclose the meat. Leave the skin uncovered. Make sure the corners are folded tightly together so it does not leave during cooking.
Place pork belly in the air fryer basket, and air fry at 320°F/160°C for 30 minutes.
When the time is up, turn the temperature up to 390°F/ 195°C, and air fry pork belly for an additional 10 minutes. Check it after 5 minutes to see whether the crackling is done to your liking and prevent burning. [Note 1]
Remove from the air fryer and leave to rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to reabsorb.
Once rested, remove from the foil, then use a sharp knife to slice the pork belly (skin-side down) on a cutting board.
Serve with dipping sauce and enjoy!
Notes
Air frying times are an estimate only. The target internal temperature of the pork is 195°F / 90°C. Pork needs to be at least 145°F/ 65°C for safe consumption. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature.
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