Pork loin is one of the easiest and most forgiving cuts of pork to cook. Given this, it is also one of the most popular cuts of pork, so it’s not surprise you may be looking to find out how long to cook pork loin in an air fryer.
Pork loin should be cooked in an air fryer at 400 degrees Farenheit. If your fryer needs to preheat, then preheat it for 5 minutes. Once the air fryer has preheated, keep the temperature at 400 degrees, select air fry, and then set the cook time for 20-22 minutes. As a rule of thumb, most pork loins are usually between 1.25 lbs. and 2lbs. Wherever you’ve purchased your cut of meat from, it should include the weight on the packaging. For pork loin closer to 1 lb, go with 20 minutes. For cuts closer to 2 lbs or larger, cook for closer to 22 minutes. Pork loin should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145° F – 160° F. If you do not own a meat thermometer, we recommend this affordable one.
Pork Loin Cooking Times Per Pound
Most pork loins weigh between 1.25 pounds and 2 pounds. The weight should be listed on the packaging. As a general rule of thumb, this equates to 16 minutes of cook time per pound. However, this method is not necessarily the best for cooking in an air fryer. When cooking cuts between 1-2 pounds, you should target between 20-22 minutes of cook time. Rather than cooking by time per pound, you should cook for internal temperature. The internal temperature should be between 145° F – 160° F. After the it has reached the appropriate internal temperature, carefully remove the pork loin from the air fryer and place on a plate or cutting board. The meat should rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing.
One item worth mentioning that not all are aware of is the fact that pork loin and pork tenderloin are not the same thing. They are cut from different parts of the animal and appear much different. Tenderloin is smaller and thinner versus loin, which is larger and can be cut into larger pieces, which often result in pork chops.
Roast Pork Internal Temperature – Temperature To Cook Pork To
Pork loin, and all cuts of pork, should be cooked to an internal temperature of 145° F – 160° F. The larger the cut of meat, the longer it will take to reach this internal temperature.
Can Pork Tenderloin Be Pink
As mentioned above, the recommended internal temperature for a cut of pork loin is between 145° F – 160° F. This internal temperature can be used to gauge any cut of pork. With this temperature, the pork loin might look a little pink in the middle, which is completely fine. Your pork loin should be moist and tender still at this temperature. Cooking it too long or to an internal temperature above 160 degrees will leave your pork dry and could actually make it less flavorful.
How To Make Dry Meat Moist Again
To return the moisture to a cut of over-cooked dry meat, it is recommended to simmer the meat in a sauce pain over low heat. Cut the meat into smaller pieces and add a few tablespoons of water, broth or other liquid. Simmering for a few minutes will allow the liquid to penetrate back into the meat. If you are hoping to tenderize the meat, try simmering in an acidic liquid, such as a vinegar or citrus juice such as lemon or lime – which will also help add flavor and moisture.
Pork Loin Price
Pork loin will be priced differently depending on where you are getting your meat from. It will typically be cheaper at a big box store than at a local butcher shop, but you may be sacrificing a bit of quality in purchasing at the former. Average prices will typically be around $8 per pound. You can see the price to buy pork loin from Whole Foods through Amazon Fresh here.
How Many Calories In Pork Tenderloin
There are 122 calories in a cooked 3 ounce piece of pork tenderloin. This equates to just under 651 calories per 1 pound of cooked pork tenderloin. Pork loin on the other hand is a bit more caloric as 3 ounces of cooked pork loin has 206 calories, or just under 1,100 calories in a pound. This does not account for any seasonings or marinades on the cooked meat, which may also include calories and should be taken into account.
How To Brine Pork Loin
Brining can be done to many cuts of meat and is a great way to upgrade your cooking. If you’re not sure what brining is, brining acts like a marinade that not only gives the meat flavor, but also keeps food moist and tender. Brining or salting a cut of meat is a way of increasing the moisture holding capacity of it, which results in a more moist cut of meat after cooking.
Brine is typically made of .75 pounds of salt (either table salt without iodine or kosher salt) per gallon of water. However, this ratio doesn’t need to be super accurate as it is not designed to be an attempt at preserving the meat. If you’re not going for that exact ratio, err on the side of less salt versus more salt.
Air Fryer Pork Loin Chops
We like this simple and easy to follow video on how to make air fryer pork chops. Note that the meat used in this video is boneless. See below: