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    Home » Recipes » Recipes by Cuisine » American Recipes

    Air Fryer Pork Roast

    Published by: Adina September 14, 2021 · Last modified: June 18, 2024 2 Comments
    Jump to Recipe

    The air fryer pork roast is a tender and juicy piece of meat. It's easy to make, and perfect for Sunday lunch or any day of the week.

    large platter with sliced air fried pork roast, peas and roast potatoes.

    Cooking a pork roast is not particularly difficult, but making an air fryer pork roast is even easier. Basically, all you must do is coat the meat with spices and put it in the air fryer. Flip once halfway, and that's about it.

    Ingredients: 2 + spices and oil

    Working time: 5 minutes

    Cooking time: 1 hour

    The results? With tender, flavorful meat and a spicy crust, this is one of the most comforting air-fried meals you could possibly make; your entire family will love this recipe. Because the roast doesn't require much attention and because the oven is free, you can take the time to make some roast potatoes to go with the main dish.

    I love air-frying! Not only meat but veggies as well. Have a look at this delicious, bright Air Fryer Asparagus or the Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes, for instance. And for more meat, try the Air Fryer Lamb Chops, Meatloaf, or Turkey Burgers; you will love them!

    Jump to:
    • 📋Recipe ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳How to roast pork in the air fryer?
    • ⌛How long to air fry a pork shoulder roast?
    • 🌡️What is the correct internal temperature for pork?
    • 🔊Tips
    • ❄️How to store and reheat?
    • 🍽️What to serve with pork roast?
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    📋Recipe ingredients

    Pork shoulder is also known as pork butt or Boston butt. In case you are worried, they are the same cut. Boston is the shoulder's name in the US, and despite the word "butt," the cut comes from the animal's shoulder.

    The roast can weigh between 2 lbs (900 g) and 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg), any bigger, and it will probably not fit into the air fryer's basket. Make sure to check. The cooking time depends very much on the size of the roast; that is why using a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat is essential.

    Spices: I like mixing my dry rub, but actually, you can use any homemade or bought meat dry rub you want. My mixture contains coarse sea salt, brown sugar, sweet and smoked paprika, onion and garlic powder, cum, black pepper, and chili flakes.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    👩‍🍳How to roast pork in the air fryer?

    • Preheat the machine according to its instructions; some need it, some don't so make sure to check. For example, I need to preheat mine for 3 minutes to 390 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
    • In the meantime, mix all the spices in a small bowl.
    • Rub the meat with the oil and then with the spice mixture. Rub well to coat all over.
    collage of two pictures of raw meat and spices and the meat coated in spices.
    • Cook: Place the shoulder in the basket of the machine and cook for 15 minutes. Flip, reduce the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius), and cook for another 35-45 minutes until the recommended internal temperature is reached.
    • Rest: Cover loosely with aluminum foil and let rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting and serving.
    collage of two pictures of large spiced piece of meat in the basket of the air fryer.

    ⌛How long to air fry a pork shoulder roast?

    • The cooking time will depend on your machine and the size and shape of the piece of meat. For example, a thicker piece needs a bit longer than a wider but flatter piece, weighing exactly the same. That is why checking the internal temperature with a meat thermometer is essential.
    • Mine weighed slightly less than 3 lbs (1.3 kg) and needed 60 minutes.

    🌡️What is the correct internal temperature for pork?

    • 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).
    • Check it with a digital meat thermometer. Insert it in the middle of the roast, but don't go all the way through.
    • If the desired temperature is not reached yet, continue cooking the meat and check again after 4-5 minutes.
    pork roast, roast potates, green peas and a bowl of apple sauce.

    🔊Tips

    Spices: If you don't want to use any spice mixture, fine salt and pepper would be fine as well.

    Marinate: Should you have some extra time, rub the meat either with only salt and pepper or the other spices (and the oil) and leave it to marinate in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight.

    Oil: Use oil with a high smoking point to prevent smoking in the air fryer.

    ❄️How to store and reheat?

    • Refrigerator: keep in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
    • Freezer: wrap well, place in freezer bags or containers, and freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge.
    • Reheat: you can reheat the slices in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat frozen slices; it will take a few minutes longer. Make sure to check that they are heated through.
    • Stovetop or oven: The pieces can also be reheated in a pan on the stovetop (flipping several times in between) or in the oven at about 320 degrees Fahrenheit (160 degrees Celsius)

    It is preferable to reheat the sliced meat rather than one large piece; the slices will reheat faster and are thus less likely to dry out.

    While tenderloin or loin can be served cold in a sandwich (thinly sliced), I don't recommend serving cold pork shoulder. It is too fatty, and you will definitely not enjoy biting on those streaks of solid fat. Always reheat before serving.

    slice of pork roast sprikled with parsley and served with potaotes and peas.

    🍽️What to serve with pork roast?

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    📖 Recipe

    overhead view of air fryer pork roast with potatoes and apple sauce.

    Air Fryer Pork Roast

    Tender and delicious air fryer pork roast. So easy to make, perfect for a comforting Sunday lunch or any day of the week. Just three ingredients: meat, spices, and oil.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Air Fryer Recipes
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 260kcal
    Author: Adina

    Equipment

    • Air fryer
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients 
     

    • 3 lb pork shoulder Note 1
    • 2 tablespoons oil Note 2
    • 1 tablespoon brown sugar Note 3
    • ½ tablespoon medium-coarse sea salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 2 teaspoons sweet paprika
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • ⅛ teaspoon red chili flakes more to taste

    Instructions

    • Preheat the air fryer according to its instructions. For example, I preheated mine for 3 minutes to 390 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
    • Mix spices in a small bowl. Rub the meat all over with the oil and then with the spice mix.
      3 lb pork shoulder/ 1.3 kg + 2 tablespoons oil + 1 tablespoon brown sugar + ½ tablespoon medium-coarse sea salt + ½ teaspoon ground black pepper + 2 teaspoons sweet paprika + 1 teaspoon smoked paprika + 1 teaspoon onion powder + ½ teaspoon garlic powder + ½ teaspoon ground cumin + ⅛ teaspoon red chili flakes
    • Place pork in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes.
    • Flip, reduce the temperature to 360 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) and cook for another 35-45 minutes until the recommended internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius) is reached. The cooking time depends on the size and shape of the meat and the air fryer.
    • Remove from the basket, place on a warm platter, and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Let rest for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

    Notes

    1. The roast can weigh between 2 lbs (900 g) and 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg); the cooking time will depend on its size and shape. Always check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer; it should be 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius).
    2. Oil choice: To prevent the air fryer from smoking, use oil with a higher smoking point. I usually use sunflower or canola oil.
    3. You can use your favorite meat rub or just salt and pepper.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 260kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 698mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Pin it today!Mention @thefastrecipe or tag #thefastrecipe!

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      5 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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    1. Heather says

      April 11, 2022 at 11:24 pm

      For me I have a Ninja and I wasnt sure to use the roast setting or air fry setting I went with roast but just a helpful thing for me if someone would start to add setting choice to recipe please I'm a beginner with the air fryer but love your recipes so far and am excited to see this one come out good I did add a few different things however I surely do hope it works.

      Reply
      • Adina says

        April 12, 2022 at 5:03 am

        Hi Heather. I cannot say about the settings because I don't use them. If you just follow the instructions, the roast should come out good, despite not using the settings.

        Reply

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    Adina Beck the recipe writer, creator, and photographer behind The Fast Recipe Food Blog.

    Hi, I'm Adina! I am a foodie, creator, writer, and photographer, creating and photographing recipes for my blogs and clients.

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