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Air Fryer Pork Belly

Air Fryer Pork Belly

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Air fryer pork belly delivers crispy, blistered skin with juicy, tender meat in under an hour. Scoring the skin shallowly and drying it well before cooking at high heat ensures a perfect crackling texture. This quick method yields restaurant-quality pork belly without deep-frying or slow roasting.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Asian-Inspired
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5-2 lbs pork belly skin-on, about 1.5-2 inches thick
  • 1 tablespoon salt coarse salt preferred
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon five-spice powder Chinese blend of star anise, cloves, cinnamon, Sichuan pepper, and fennel
  • 1 teaspoon neutral oil such as canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce optional glaze; use low-sodium if desired
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar optional glaze; apply in last 10 mins to avoid burning
  • 1 teaspoon vinegar rice vinegar or white vinegar, optional glaze

Equipment

  • Air fryer Used for cooking the pork belly at high heat to crisp skin.
  • Sharp knife For scoring pork belly skin in a crosshatch pattern.
  • Tongs To flip pork belly halfway through cooking.
  • Paper towels To dry the skin thoroughly before cooking.

Method
 

  1. Use a sharp knife to score the pork belly skin in a crosshatch pattern, cutting ⅛ inch deep without cutting into the meat. Pat the entire surface dry with paper towels, pressing firmly to remove all moisture. Let pork belly sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
    1.5-2 lbs pork belly
  2. Rub 1 teaspoon of neutral oil evenly over the skin. Sprinkle salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and five-spice powder evenly on the skin side. Flip and lightly season the meat side with the remaining spices.
    1.5-2 lbs pork belly, 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp five-spice powder, 1 tsp neutral oil
  3. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes to help start crisping the skin immediately.
  4. Place pork belly pieces skin-side up in the air fryer basket, leaving at least 1 inch of space between each piece to allow air circulation.
    1.5-2 lbs pork belly
  5. Cook pork belly at 400°F for 20 minutes. Carefully flip each piece using tongs, then continue cooking for another 15 to 20 minutes until the skin blisters and becomes golden brown and crispy. Check internal temperature at 35 minutes; it should reach 165-175°F.
    1.5-2 lbs pork belly
  6. Remove pork belly from air fryer and let rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes to redistribute juices. Slice into ½-inch thick pieces against the grain and serve immediately while skin is still crispy.
    1.5-2 lbs pork belly

Notes

  • Pat skin completely dry before cooking for best crackling results.
  • Leave space between pork belly pieces in air fryer to ensure even crisping.
  • Rest the meat after cooking to keep it juicy and tender.

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