As a busy mom always looking for ways to get a tasty, home-cooked meal on the table fast, I was thrilled when I got my hands on the Ninja Foodi. This multi-cooker makes whipping up delicious dinners a breeze, even when I’m starting with frozen meat straight from the freezer.
After putting the Ninja Foodi to the test with all kinds of dishes, I’m excited to share the exact steps I use to make a mouthwatering frozen pork roast without any waiting or fuss With my simple method, you can skip thawing and still enjoy incredibly moist, flavorful pork roast any night of the week!
Why Cook Frozen Pork Roast in the Ninja Foodi?
First, let’s look at why using the Ninja Foodi is a game-changer for cooking up frozen pork roast. For starters, it eliminates the usual 24-48 hours of thawing time. The Ninja Foodi’s combination of pressure cooking, air frying and other functions means you can start cooking immediately. No more remembering to move meat from freezer to fridge!
The Ninja Foodi also locks in juices and moisture exceptionally well. Pressure cooking followed by a quick crisping guarantees pork roast that’s fall-apart tender on the inside with a delicious browned exterior. No dry, bland roast here!
Finally it’s fast. Thanks to the Ninja Foodi’s ability to heat up quickly and cook at higher temperatures your frozen pork roast can go from freezer to table in under an hour. Simply set it and forget it!
Step 1: Choose Your Pork Roast
Obviously, you’ll need to start with a frozen pork roast. I recommend a boneless pork loin roast that’s 3-4 pounds. Make sure it is completely frozen through before cooking.
For best results, choose a roast with decent marbling and fat cap as this keeps the meat tender and adds flavor. Once you’ve got your frozen pork roast, it’s time to season it up.
Step 2: Season Your Roast
One of the keys to flavorful pork roast is getting seasoning evenly distributed from edge to edge. With the roast frozen, this step takes a bit more work.
First, I gently massage herb rub all over the exterior to get a light coating. Next, I use a fork to deeply prick holes all over the roast and get the seasoning inside. I make sure to really work the seasonings into any crevices and in between the fat cap.
My go-to Ninja Foodi pork roast rub contains:
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
- 1⁄2 teaspoon pepper
Experiment with your own herb and spice blends to find your perfect match. The key is thoroughly covering all surfaces of the frozen roast before cooking.
Step 3: Prepare the Ninja Foodi
Preheating the Ninja Foodi is a necessary step that seals in moisture and cooks the roast evenly.
I begin by selecting the Pressure Cook setting and high temperature. While it builds pressure, I add 1 cup chicken broth and a cooking rack to the pot. The liquid helps flavor the meat and stops it from drying out.
Once the unit has pressurized, I carefully place the seasoned pork roast directly on the rack,frozen side down first.
Step 4: Pressure Cook
Next comes pressure cooking to quickly thaw and tenderize the pork in one step. I lock the lid and set the Ninja Foodi to pressure cook on high for 25 minutes.
For a 3-4 pound roast, adding 5 minutes per pound is ideal—so cook frozen roasts up to 5 pounds for 25-45 minutes max. The Ninja Foodi will take 10-15 minutes to build pressure before cooking begins.
As the pork roast cooks under pressure, the boiling liquid accelerates the thawing. The moist heat starts breaking down collagen to make the meat deliciously tender. Just like that, your frozen roast is ready for the next phase!
Step 5: Crisping the Exterior
Once pressure cooking is complete, I carefully switch the Ninja Foodi to air crisp mode. I remove the lid, liberally brush the pork roast with barbecue sauce, and air crisp skin-side up for 10-15 minutes.
Flipping halfway through ensures the roast browns evenly. I brush on another coating of sauce before serving for extra glaze and shine.
Thanks to air crisping, the fatty outer layer transforms into an incredible caramelized crust that looks and tastes amazing!
Step 6: Rest and Slice
I find that letting the pork roast rest for at least 5 minutes before slicing is crucial for perfectly juicy results. This allows the juices to redistribute evenly throughout the meat after cooking.
Once rested, I carve the roast into thin slices, making sure to get plenty of the browned exterior in each serving. Drizzling any collected pan juices over the top keeps each bite nice and moist.
And just like that, I’ve turned a frozen pork roast into a mouthwatering restaurant-worthy meal in under an hour with the Ninja Foodi!
Helpful Tips and Variations
Now that you’ve got the basic method down, here are some of my tips and tweaks for getting the most out of cooking frozen pork roast in the Ninja Foodi:
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For more flavor, add garlic, onion, or other aromatics to the cooking liquid.
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Try different seasoning blends like garlic-rosemary or chili-lime.
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Brush with honey, jam or maple syrup instead of BBQ sauce.
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For a crisper top crust, air crisp for longer or use broil mode.
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Make sandwiches by slicing and piling pork onto rolls with sauce.
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Shred leftovers for pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, pizza and more.
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Cook 2 smaller roasts stacked on the rack to feed a crowd.
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Use apple juice, stock or wine instead of water in the pressure cook cycle.
The options are endless, so get creative with flavors, sauces and servings!
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to using the Ninja Foodi for frozen pork roast, chances are you have a few questions. Here I’ll tackle some of the most common ones:
Should I thaw the roast even a little before cooking?
No, one of the best perks of the Ninja Foodi is that you can cook pork roast directly frozen! No tedious thawing required.
Is it ok to cook more than one roast at once?
Yes, the Ninja Foodi can accommodate two smaller roasts stacked on the cooking rack. Just add a bit more liquid and increase cook times.
Do I need to adjust timing for different sizes?
For the most part, adding 5 minutes per pound to the 25 minute base time works perfectly.
What temperature should the roast reach internally?
Always cook until it hits at least 145°F internally before resting and serving.
Can I use Ninja Foodi automatic programs?
Yes, you can use the pork setting but may need to add time. Manual control works best.
Enjoy Your Juicy, Flavor-Loaded Roast
As you can see, the Ninja Foodi is a game-changer when it comes to cooking up tender, delicious pork roast straight from frozen. Ditch the tedious thawing and long roasting times. With just a few easy steps, you’ll have an incredible family meal ready in under an hour!
I hope my step-by-step instructions and pointers for seasoning, pressure cooking, air crisping and more give you everything you need to start enjoying this handy shortcut. The Ninja Foodi opens up a whole new world of quick, weeknight-friendly meals.