Are Pork Chops Good For You
Pork chops are on the healthier end of meat when it comes to calories and protein. According to Food Diary, 4 ounces of boneless pork chops contain 180 calories and 20 grams of protein!
Pork chops tend to be on the fattier side with 5 grams of saturated fat. This makes for the perfect combination for a low-carb keto-friendly diet looking for extra fat.
If youre on any other diet that eats meat, pork chops are okay to eat in moderation.
You typically use less oil when cooking them in an air fryer, making them even healthier than cooking them in a saute pan on the stove or even in the oven.
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How To Make Pork Chops In An Air Fryer
First, take your pork chops and season them with salt and pepper. I like to use a ratio of 3:1, double the salt, and a little pepper.
When I first started cooking, I used to try to remove as much salt as possible from all recipes. Sometimes I just wouldnt even add it!
While I do still like to make things lower in sodium, I realized salt is needed to create flavor and thats exactly what the salt does here.
So please, do not make the mistake I did, and just add the salt in.
Once you season your pork chops, place them in a single layer in your air fryer. Its important to keep things in one layer to ensure the pork cooks evenly on all sides.
Placing them on top of each other will get you half raw and half overcooked pork and who wants that?
If you need to cook more pork chops than can fit in your air fryer, youll have to cook in batches. This is the main reason I recommend people buy a larger air fryer from the start.
I cant tell you how many times Ive heard people say theyve upgraded their small air fryer for that reason. Myself included.
This recipe typically is a no-oil air fryer recipe.
Now, if youre air fryer tends to stick, spray the basket with a little oil using an oil mister before placing them inside. Here is a list of oils you can use in an air fryer.
Just make sure you are spraying the basket and not the pork chops.
If you have thicker pieces of pork chops, they will take longer to cook. Thinner pieces will take less time.
Can You Put Frozen Pork Chops In An Air Fryer
If youre in a hurry, you can cook pork chops from frozen in the air fryer by first cooking them for 4 minutes at 380°F. This will defrost the chops . From there, you can coat them in the seasoning and breadcrumbs and follow the recipe as instructed, cooking another 5 minutes before flipping, then completing the cooking time at another 4-6 minutes. Make sure to measure the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and cook for longer if it is not 140°F.
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Which Pork Chops Should I Use
For this air fryer pork chops recipe I like to use a boneless pork chop. I also prefer that it is at least 1 inch in thickness.
You can substitute bone in pork chops if that is what you have available. If using bone in pork chops, increase the cooking time 3-4 minutes as bone in will take a bit longer to cook.
Air Fryer Pork Chops Two Ways Marinated And Breaded Recipe
Pork chops may be one of the most difficult proteins to cook properly. It is quite easy to overcook and dry them out, especially lean chops. One way to remedy this is to braise the chops in a good amount of liquid on the stove. This is time consuming and can still overcook the chops and rob them of their natural pork flavor.
While I am still experimenting with several pork recipes in my air fryer, I am finding that this method of cooking pork chops is super easy and gives me some really good results without the excess fat and liquid that other cooking methods rely on. I am definitely a fan of cooking pork chops in an air fryer. The only problem I have is that as soon as I put the chops on the cutting board I want to dig in. I must resist so that all the juices dont run out. Resting the meat is a very important step.
When you are cooking pork chops in an air fryer, have a digital meat thermometer ready to check the internal temperature of the meat. You are looking for approximately 150°F. When looking at air fryer pork chop recipes I have found that the cook times and temperature settings vary quite a bit. The recipes here are for an air fryer with a crisper plate. The crisper plate gets pretty hot, so my timing might be a little less than the timing of the air fryers that only have a basket. This is why you need a thermometer. Tweak the recipes as needed.
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How To Make Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops
Air Fryer Pork Chops Faqs
How do you know when pork chops are done in an air fryer?
After air frying the pork chops for at least 9 minutes total, check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer to tell if they are done cooking. The temperature should read 140°F. Once they reach this temperature, remove the pork chops from the air fryer and allow them to rest 5 minutes. The temperature will rise slightly as they rest.
Can you air fry pork chops with bone?
You can air fry bone-in pork chops, though thicker pork chops will take slightly longer to cook than thin boneless chops. Air fry thick bone-in pork chops for a total of 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Can you air fry pork chops with flour?
You can air fry pork chops with flour if you like. Pork chops dredged in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs work well in the air fryer just as panko pork chops do following the same instructions. Spray them liberally with olive oil spray so they do not stick to the tray.
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Ingredients For Air Fryer Pork Chops
This breaded pork chop recipe is truly a weeknight lifesaver, using only a handful of basic pantry ingredients.
- Pork Chops this recipe calls for boneless pork chops that are 1/2-inch thick.
- Seasoning kosher salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder come together for a simple, but delicious seasoning mixture.
- Breading eggs, water, flour, Parmesan cheese, and Italian breadcrumbs make up the outer crust.
How To Cook Breaded Pork Chops In The Air Fryer
This easy boneless pork chop recipe in the air fryer cooks much quicker than they do in the oven.
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How Long Does It Take Pork Chops To Cook At 350
They required about 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Bone-In pork chops require about 10% MORE cooking time, so make sure you factor that into your planning if you bought pork chops with bones. Thinner pork chops will take approximately 25-35 minutes, while VERY thin *under 1/4 inch* will be even less.
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What Are The Best Air Fryers For Pork Chops
What are the Best Air Fryers?
Heres our extensive write up on Air Fryer Worlds Best Air Fryer Guide. Theres so many on the market now. You just need to research and find the ones that fits your needs, capacity and style. We group the basket style air fryers into 2 main size groups: 3-4 qt. range & the 5-6 qt. range. Theres oven style and basket style. With so many to choose from, we highlight the ones that are most popular for small to medium sized families. Heres our favorites:
Good Mid-Sized Air Fryers
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Are Air Fryer Pork Chops Good For You
Pork chops are on the healthier end of meat when it comes to calories and protein. According to Food Diary, 4 ounces of boneless pork chops contain 180 calories and 20 grams of protein!
Pork chops tend to be on the fattier side with 5 grams of saturated fat. This makes for the perfect combination for a low carb keto-friendly diet looking for the extra fat.
If youre on any other diet that eats meat, pork chops are okay to eat in moderation.
You typically use less oil when cooking them in an air fryer, making them even healthier than cooking them in a saute pan on the stove or even in the oven.
What To Serve With Juicy Pork Chops
The magic of this air-fried pork chops recipe is that it already tastes delicious, but the simplicity of the seasonings means you can serve it with virtually any side dish.
Pair it with some greens for a well-rounded meal such as sautéed spinach, roasted broccoli, or your favorite salad. Theyre also great with spuds like baked potatoes or sweet potato mash. Grains and pasta are a winning combination too!
Here are a few of our recommendations:
- Also, they pair really well with bacon cheddar ranch mashed potatoes.
- However, if you prefer sweet potatoes instead, try these sweet potato fries.
- Actually, if you make them for a picnic or bbq party, a coleslaw salad is what you need.
- However, to keep this recipe low-carb, pair it with some boiled cabbage.
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How Long Do You Cook Frozen Pork Chops
That depends on what method youre using. In the oven they take upwards of 40 minutes. In a Ninja Foodi, Cosori or any other brand of air fryer its closer to 20.
Believe it or not you can even cook air fryer frozen chicken wings and breasts now too! You should really try them all so you can be a believer too.
How To Know When Your Pork Chops Are Fully Cooked
Your pork chops are officially done when you stick an Instant Read meat thermometer inside them and the temperature hits 145 degrees.
Make sure you are checking the thickest part of the pork chop and check the temperature of each one you cook.
It is completely possible to undercook pork chops just as it is with other meats. I take temperatures of meat very seriously with a 3-year-old in the house.
No need to cause salmonella and get anyone sick because you couldnt wait an extra 5 minutes.
Once the pork chops are done, pull them out immediately. This means youll want to get them as close to 145 as possible.
Pork chops continue to cook for a few minutes outside of the air fryer, making them easy to overcook.
Overcooking pork chops is what makes them taste tough and dry instead of being tender and juicy like they should be.
Keep reading for tips on how to make air fryer pork chops even juicier.
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Best Pork Chops For Air Fryer
Weve tried all different cuts of pork chops and they air fry super delicious. But not all pork chops are cut the same and not all air fryers cook the same. Even if its the same cut of pork chop, the size and thickness can still vary depending on the market that you buy it from. Best advice we can give you is to air fry one pork chop first. After your first attempt, you will know what the best timing is best for your specific pork chops and model of air fryer. The first air fried pork chop is always the test!
- bone-in pork shoulder steaks : These are our favorite because theyre super flavorful with dark meat and ribbons of fat. When air fried, these pork shoulder chops are tender and juicy. Even if theyre slightly cold, theyre still tender. Also because theyre usually thinner cooking times are less.
- Center cup loin chops : for the same reasons as mentioned in the bone-in pork shoulder steaks, these center cut loin chops always air fry to juicy perfection. We love the dark meat and bone-in cuts which always gives more flavor.
- rib chops: they still have an outer layer of dark meat and fat which makes them tender and juicy. They dont dry out as quick as regular loin chops.
- boneless chops : these are the most lean and less fatty of the cuts and are best if they are brined first. If you dont eat them right away they can get dry when cold. Also, boneless chops are often sold as thick chops so cooking times will definitely be longer.
Quick Primer On Pork Chops
There are several different kinds of pork chops and each one may called by a few different names. According to Pork.org, there are five kinds of pork chops: porterhouse, ribeye, sirloin, New York, and blade. Some are boneless and some are bone-in. For more information, check out their short video.
Wondering if pork fits into a healthy diet? Leaner cuts like sirloin and tenderloin have less fat than New York or ribeye cuts. All pork is high in good quality protein and contains important nutrients, especially selenium . Air frying is a healthy way to prepare pork because theres very little added fat and excess fat drains off while the meat cooks.
Ill get you started on this easy recipe and give you lots of helpful tips. As always, look for the printable recipe card near the end of the post. Youll find complete instructions, measurements, and nutrition information.
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How To Make Crispy Breaded Air Fryer Pork Chops Recipe
Make A Rub For Air Fryer Pork Chops
For this recipe for air fryer pork chops, we will not be breading the pork chops. Rather, we will be making a rub seasoning mix which we are going to very liberally apply to the meat. The rub is very simple too. Well use brown sugar, paprika, ground mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. We mix it together and rub it all in to pork chops that have been rinsed, dried, and coated with a little olive oil. Rinsing the pork chops and patting them dry with a paper towel is important so dont skip that step.
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Why Use Parchment In The Air Fryer
If using parchment paper in the air fryer, be sure to get the type that is perforated for air to circulate. You can make your own parchment liners by cutting a sheet of parchment paper and punching holes with a hole puncher. Parchment paper is optional but there are some benefits to using it:
- Protects air fryer basket from wear and scratches
- Protects delicate foods from breaking
What To Serve With Pork Chops
Air Fryer Bone In Pork Chops are best enjoyed as a hearty lunch or dinner entree.
If youre planning a summer barbecue potluck or dinner party menu pair Air Fryer Bone in Pork Chops with Cheesy Vegetarian Antojito, Healthy Keto Jalapeno Poppers and Guasacaca Sauce.
- Preheat air fryer to 400 F.
- Pat dry pork chops with paper towel.
- In a small bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients.
- Coat bone-in pork chops with olive oil and rub over the spice mix with your hands.
- Cook bone-in pork chops in air fryer for 12 minutes, flipping pork chops over after 6 minutes.
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How To Make Air Fryer Ranch Pork Chops:
In a large ziptop bag, combine all the ingredients.
Seal the top and shake it up till its well combined. Place in the refrigerator for one to two hours to marinate.
Place the pork chops into the basket of the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 375°F for 10 minutes.
Halfway through, flip the chops. Once the pork chops reach an internal temperature of 160°F they are, if its not getting the right temperature just set it for a few more minutes.
Remove the chops from the air fryer and allow them to rest for 3-4 minutes.
- They cook perfectly crispy on the outside, yet the inside stays super moist.
- They are made from affordable and simple pantry stapes.
- meal prep-friendly prep ahead for quick cooking or quick week night suppers or family lunches.
- Perfect for serving up at your big Mardi Gras celebration meal, these best pork chops areeverything that delicious pork chops should be.
