Wondering what it takes to get pork chops done quickly? Learn the answer to the question in our guide, “How to Cook Pork Chops in an Air Fryer?
To cook pork chops in an air fryer, first, preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees. Then, after drying the pork chops with a towel, apply olive oil and seasoning. Put the pork at least one inch apart in the fryer and cook for 5 minutes, clip, and cook again for 7 minutes before serving.
In this article, we’ll provide a guide on cooking pork chops in an air fryer!
How to Cook Pork Chops in an Air Fryer?
There can be a lot of considerations when cooking anything, but meat may seem especially overwhelming. Add to this the fact that you may be using an air fryer for the first time, and it can all feel like a very daunting chore instead of a fun cooking experience.
Luckily, we’ve got you covered with the step by step guide below to cooking pork chops in an air fryer!
- Preheat the Air Fryer – Preheating the air fryer will save you time, though most air fryer models heat up fairly quickly! Remember, the best temperature to set your air fryer to is about 400 degrees. While the warmup process is started, the prep of your meat can begin!
- Dry Pork Chops – There isn’t much to this part of the process; simply remove the pork chops from whatever packaging they came in and use a dry paper towel to pat them dry. Don’t forget to flip each pork chop over and dry each side! If there is any residual moisture on the meat, the olive oil won’t stay on the pork chops.
- Brush Pork Chops With Olive Oil – Brushing the pork chops with olive oil is a particularly important step in making sure not only the moisture, but the flavor of each piece of meat stays with the pork chops. You can use a meat brush or even place some olive oil in a bowl and roll the pork chops in this. The idea is to cover every bit of the pork chop!
- Add Seasoning – What is dinner without a little seasoning? The olive oil that you were careful to use on your pork chops will make it easy to get the seasoning to stick to the meat, leaving you with a more flavorful meal! We recommend spices like garlic powder or even some paprika in addition to salt and pepper, which are a must-have.
- Place Pork Chops an Even Width Apart – Now that the meat is prepped, it is time to make sure your pork chops are placed in the fryer carefully. Use tongs for safety, and make sure that the pork chops are at least half an inch apart; no pork chops should be touching! This ensures that each piece of meat cooks evenly.
- Cook in Air Fryer – All that is left to do now is let your pork chops cook! Depending on whether or not you have bones in your pork chops, this may take one to two minutes longer. However, for boneless pork chops, the first stretch of cooking time should be five minutes at 400 degrees.
- Flip Pork Chops – Though air fryers are great at evenly cooking all of an item of food, we still recommend opening the oven after five minutes and using your tongs to carefully flip the pork chops over so that the side that has been face-up is now face-down. This will ensure crispiness across the whole piece of pork.
- Cook Again – Cooking your pork chops the rest of the way through is, again, dependent on whether or not you have the bone in your pork chops. If you do not, leave them in the air fryer for another 7 minutes after flipping. If the bone is present, once you’re done flipping them, leave the pork chops in the oven for 10 more minutes!
- Remove From Fryer and Check Temperature – For the safest results, we recommend removing your pork chops from the fryer after the cooking time is up with the tongs. Then, take a meat thermometer and insert the business end into the biggest pork chop. If it reads 165 degrees F or higher, you’re safe to enjoy your meal!
- Serve and Enjoy! – Now that your pork chops have been dried, seasoned, and cooked thoroughly with the help of your air fryer, go ahead and divvy them up on dinner plates. You can also sprinkle each piece of pork chop with a little parsley at this stage for a nice touch of greenery or add any dipping sauces or extra seasoning to taste.
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What to Serve With Pork Chops
After you’re done air frying your pork chops, they would go nicely with some side dishes! One option is to take the free oven space your air fryer provides to roast veggies.
Some great pairings with pork chops include broccoli, asparagus, or even roasted tomatoes!
Many also enjoy mashed potatoes with pork chops, or rice as an extra carb. However, a sauce is a great way to add an element of flavor and fancy to your pork chops.
Consider using a dipping sauce based in parmesan and garlic, or even Dijon sauce for an extra kick!
Read also >> How Long to Roast Vegetables at 400°F (Helpful Tips…)
How to Store Leftovers
Storing leftovers is important not just so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labor later and prevent waste, but also so that you can avoid any food poisoning that could come from improper storage.
Let’s go over how to store your leftover pork chops! First, you’ll need to find an airtight container. Plastic, sealed bags can work, but the best option is a glass container with an airtight sealing lid. Tupperware also works, too!
Once this is found, you should simply put your pork chops into the refrigerator, where they’ll last for a total of about four days before going bad.
If you would like for your pork chops to last even longer than this, there is a way to accomplish it. Simply place them in a freezer bag and make sure there is no oxygen in the bag, then freeze the meat instead of just refrigerating it.
When this is accomplished, you’ll have pork chops that should last for as long as 3 months.
Ingredients
Let’s go over our recommended ingredients for this pork chop dish. Not to worry; there aren’t many, as pork chops are generally flavorful on their own!
- Olive Oil
- Pork Chops
- Salt
- Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
Nutrition Facts Per Serving
Let’s take a quick look at the nutrition facts per each serving of pork chop in the table below:
| Ingredients | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Calories | 247 |
| Fat | 15 Grams |
| Protein | 29 Grams |
| Carbohydrates | 5 grams |
| Saturated Fat | 4 Grams |
| Sodium | 648 Grams |
Pork chops are a great source of protein, like most meats, and can help give your body the building blocks it needs to produce healthy cells and stronger muscles.
However, overindulging in pork chops can lead to heart disease thanks to the high levels of sodium that are found within.
The recommended serving size in one sitting is three ounces of this meat.
AIR FRYER Pork Chops Simple Recipe in under 10 minutes >> Check out the video below:
In Conclusion
To sum everything we’ve learned up, the way to cook pork chops in an air fryer is to first make sure they don’t lose their moisture and increase their flavor with an olive oil rub.
Then, after preheating the fryer to 400 degrees, cook each pork chop an inch apart for 5 minutes, flip them, and cook for the remaining 7 minutes.
We recommend a nice spread of roasted vegetables or a dipping sauce with these pork chops. Don’t forget to also add a carbohydrate, like mashed potatoes or even rice!
When it’s all said and done, enjoy your delicious meal!