Air Fried Jamaican Jerk Pork Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep pork from drying out in an air fryer? ›

Using oil

Using oil in an air fryer is perfectly fine and helps the meat to remain moist and come out looking golden brown. However, a little oil in an air fryer does go a long way. With most cuts of pork, simply rubbing some oil into the meat will be all you need. You can use either regular olive oil or a spray oil.

As a general guideline, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the pork shoulder for approximately 25-30 minutes per pound. Ensure it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) for medium-rare or 160°F (71°C) for medium doneness.

Rice and peas: A classic Caribbean side dish, rice and peas perfectly complements jerk chicken or jerk pork. The rice is cooked with coconut milk, kidney beans, and aromatic spices, adding a creamy and flavorful element to your meal. You'll find rice and peas at every Little Brixton food event!

There's a simple solution to combat this: add a little extra oil or butter before heating. It may seem counter-intuitive to add something wet to the air fryer, which is traditionally a dry-heat cooking appliance, but that bit of moisture and fat will keep the meat basted and prevent it from losing its flavor.

Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop. Even a quick 30-minute brine (or up to four hours) makes a big difference. It's not strictly necessary — you can still use this method to make great pork chops even without brining — but if you have some extra time, I recommend it.

The reason I love cooking pork tenderloin in the air fryer is because of the crispy "crust" that forms around the outside edges. If you cover the tenderloin, it will keep the delicious crust from forming. So for maximum flavor, you should leave your tenderloin uncovered when air frying.

Moist, tender, and juicy every time – Making pork chops in the air fryer is a lot more foolproof than baked pork chops or cast iron pork chops. It's quite hard to dry them out with this method, because the small size of the air fryer doesn't let the juices evaporate as easily.

The great news about air fryers is that you can use foil along with parchment paper to cook your food in an air fryer. Just remember that if it's safe and effective to use in a conventional oven, it will work just fine in an air fryer.

Unlike the more lean tenderloin and chops, pork shoulder is an incredibly forgiving cut of meat. It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cook time, so even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long, you won't suddenly end up with something dry or rubbery.

Pork shoulder benefits from long, slow cooking that tenderizes the meat and melts the fat. The best cooking methods for pork shoulder are braising or stewing, but it may also be fried, baked, or made into ground pork.

What temperature do you cook pork shoulder in the air fryer? ›

Place in a 180° (360°F) preheated air fryer and cook for 90-120 minutes (note: this is dependent on the weight of your pork). Check the internal temperature of your pork roast by inserting a meat thermometer in the middle of the meat (from the side, avoiding the crackling). It should be nearing 90°C (195°F).

While there is some overlap between the two, there are a few distinctions worth noting: Origin: Jamaican jerk sauce originates specifically from Jamaica, while Caribbean jerk sauce refers to a broader style of jerk seasoning used across various Caribbean islands.

Jerk refers to a style of cooking in which the main ingredient—which most often is chicken but may also be beef, pork, goat, boar, seafood, or vegetables—is coated in spices and slow-cooked over a fire or grill traditionally composed of green pimento wood positioned over burning coals; the resulting smoke is key to the ...

The word jerk is said to come from charqui, a Spanish term of Quechua origin for jerked or dried meat, which eventually became the word jerky in English.

" How can I make my pork juicy and not dry? "

less fat marbled throughout the meat to help keep it moist. And secondly, the temperature to which pork should be cooked, has been lowered from well done or 170 (77C) to medium 160 F (70 C).

Salt will help your meat retain moisture. You can add salt directly, or use a salty liquid like soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. And aromatics like garlic, shallots, herbs, and spices will impart flavor. When your marinade is ready, place your pork chops in a zipper bag and pour the marinade over top.