How to Cook Crispy Pork Rashers in an Air Fryer

Air fryers have become an increasingly popular kitchen appliance for making quick, easy and healthy meals. One thing you can make in an air fryer is crispy pork rashers. Cooking rashers in an air fryer gives them a crispy exterior while keeping the inside juicy and tender. It’s also a healthier cooking method compared to frying in oil or butter on the stove.

If you want to make delicious crispy pork rashers in your air fryer, follow this simple guide.

Benefits of Cooking Rashers in an Air Fryer

There are several benefits to cooking pork rashers in an air fryer rather than using traditional frying methods:

• Uses less oil – Air fryers require just a small amount of oil to crisp up the rashers, much less than pan frying. This makes it a healthier cooking method.

• Quick cooking time – Rashers cook fast in an air fryer, usually 10-15 minutes. Much faster than baking in the oven.

• Crispy exterior – The moving hot air circulates around the rashers, crisping up the edges beautifully.

• Tender and juicy inside – The inside of the rashers stays nice and moist while the outside gets crisp.

• Less mess – With minimal oil needed, there’s less splattering and messy clean up.

• Versatile – Air fryers can cook a batch of rashers, perfect for meal prepping.

How to Choose Rashers for Air Frying

When selecting rashers to cook in your air fryer, opt for thick-cut rashers rather than thin-cut. Thicker rashers will crisp up better in the air fryer, while thin rashers can overcook and dry out faster.

Look for good quality pork rashers that have nice marbling of fat running through them. The fat helps keep them tender and adds flavor. Stay away from rashers that look very lean and don’t have much fat.

Pork belly rashers are a great choice for air frying. Pork belly is well-marbled with fat which keeps the rashers juicy. Other good options are center-cut rashers or thick-cut bacon rashers.

Buy rashers in packs or slices them yourself from a pork belly slab for the perfect thick-cut size. Around 1/4 to 1/2 inch is ideal.

Step-By-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps for crispy, juicy air fried pork rashers:

1. Prepare the Rashers

• Take the rashers out of the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 15-30 minutes before cooking. This helps them cook more evenly.

• Pat the rashers dry with paper towels. Make sure no excess moisture is on them before air frying.

• Trim off any uneven edges or excess fat. This helps them cook evenly.

2. Brush with a Little Oil

• Brush both sides of the rashers lightly with oil. This helps crisp up the exterior.

• Use an oil with a high smoke point like avocado, grapeseed or light olive oil. About 1-2 tsp oil is needed for 4 rashers.

3. Season the Rashers

• Season the rashers on both sides with desired seasonings. Keep it simple with just salt and pepper or get creative.

• Good seasoning options include garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano or thyme.

4. Preheat Air Fryer

• Preheating helps ensure the rashers cook up nice and crispy.

• Preheat at 370°F for 3-5 minutes. Air fryers heat up fast.

5. Cook the Rashers

• Place the seasoned rashers in the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping.

• Cook at 370°F for 6-8 minutes, then flip and cook another 6-8 minutes. Thicker rashers take 10-12 minutes per side.

• Check frequently and cook until desired crispiness is reached.

6. Rest and Serve

• Remove the rashers from the air fryer and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.

• This allows the juices to redistribute so they stay moist and tender.

• Serve the hot crispy rashers on their own or in breakfast sandwiches, with eggs, etc. Enjoy!

Tips for the Best Air Fried Rashers

• Don’t overlap rashers – This prevents them from crisping properly. Cook in batches if needed.

• Flip halfway through – Flipping ensures even cooking and crisping on both sides.

• Brush with oil before seasoning – Oil helps the seasoning stick and evenly coat the rashers.

• Cook thicker rashers – They’ll crisp up better than thin-cut rashers in an air fryer.

• Let rest before eating – Resting locks in the juices for tender, mouthwatering rashers.

• Play with seasoning – Get creative with spices, herbs and rubs on the rashers.

How Long to Cook Rashers in an Air Fryer

The air fryer cooking time can vary slightly depending on thickness. Here are general guidelines:

• Thin-cut rashers: 8-10 minutes total

• Medium-cut rashers: 10-12 minutes total

• Thick-cut rashers: 12-15 minutes total

Check frequently and adjust cook time if needed. Thicker rashers over 1/2 inch may take a couple minutes longer.

Air Fryer Temperature for Rashers

The best temperature range for air frying pork rashers is 360°F to 380°F. This gives you:

• Crispy exterior

• Tender, juicy interior

• Cooks faster than lower temps

• Less likely to overdry than higher temps

I recommend preheating your air fryer to 370°F which is ideal for getting rashers perfectly crispy.

Pairings for Air Fried Rashers

Crispy air fried rashers make a tasty addition to:

• Breakfast sandwiches – Add an egg, cheese and rashers between bread or a bagel.

• Full breakfast – Serve alongside eggs, baked beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast.

• Eggs Benedict – Top poached eggs and hollandaise sauce on an English muffin.

• Salad – Toss crispy rashers into a fresh salad for a protein boost.

• Potatoes – Chop and mix into home fries or top baked potatoes.

• Soup – Garnish bowls of bean, pea or potato soup.

• Pizza – Crisp up rashers and serve on top of pizza.

So next time you’re looking for an easy way to cook up quick and tasty pork rashers, give your air fryer a try! Follow this guide for crispy, juicy rashers in just 15 minutes or less.