Home - Delicious, Easy & Fun Recipes by CookingAtNoon.com

Pork chops refer to a strip of pig meat that runs down from the shoulder to the spine. As such, pork chops are juicy, fat-filled, and easy to cook, making them perfect for an air fryer. An air fryer is an unconventional oven known for its instigation of deep-frying in fatty meats. Air-fried pork chops are thus crisp on the outside but tender on the inside. Before we go there, though, let's first ensure that you get the right pork chops for your needs. You are, therefore, best off knowing the different kinds of chops along with their sizes. Photo by Pexels Types of Pork Chops Beef Chops As their title suggests, these are chops cut from the loin. They are supported by a T-shaped bone, thus adding an extra dimension of thickness. Rib Chops These are the meatier chops and are usually full of fat. Pork Loin Center Chop Sirloin chops can be very gamey if not prepared properly. They are therefore cheap and used for tediously long grilling. Now that you know the different kinds of pork chops, you are better suited to pick what best fits your needs. The size of a pork chop determines how it will cook. If it is too light, then the chops will become chewy. However, if it's thick, then it is less likely to overcook. The secret to a perfect pork chop recipe involves a pepper-based rub and some garnish. It is also important to rinse and dry the pork chops. That said, let's see how to cook pork chops. How to Cook Pork Chops The only ingredient you need is a couple of pork chops. The cook time of the chops will depend on the thickness of the pork chops you select. Photo by Pexels Ingredients For The Rub Chilli powderCoconut sugarOne tablespoon of minced chivesSaltOnion flakesMarjoramBasil Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 10 to 15 minutes Directions Follow these steps in order to make sure you make the delicious pork chops. Let's begin: If you're taking your pork chops out of the freezer, let them thaw first. I recommend letting them sit out in the open for about 25 minutes.Mix the chili powder, coconut sugar, minced chives, salt, onion flakes, marjoram, and basil into one bowl.Apply the mixed ingredients onto the pork chops. Ensure you rub the spices into the chops until it is well marinated on both sides.Preheat the air fryer at a temperature of between 350 to 400 degrees. Preheating ensures that the meat cooks through slowly without charring.Put the chops into the air fryer and ensure they all have sufficient space to cook through. When you give space, you allow an evenness in how they cook without either side being overcooked or undercooked.Let the meat cook at the temperature you preheated it for around 10 minutes. After that, flip the chops and observe them until you feel they are ready. At this point, make a call based on what you see.Take the pork chops out of the air fryer and cover them with foil. Pork chops do not do well when reheated. Therefore, ensure all the other side dishes are ready to serve when the pork chops are also ready. Best Side Dishes For Pork Chops Pork chops go down well with a variety of side dishes. If you don't have a side dish to go with the delicious pork chops you just made, we have some ideas for you. Photo by Pixabay Pork chops with butternut squash and spinach Butternut squash is a vegetable full of starch content. As such, it possesses nutty qualities despite looking like a pumpkin. The spinach will provide some fiber thus, rounding off a well-balanced diet. Pork Chops and Fried Peaches There is a delicate balance of sweet and tangy in this combination. The unconventional blend works surprisingly well - a treat for the taste buds. Baked Cauliflower and Pork Chops Cauliflowers take less than 20 minutes to prep and bake. So if you're looking for an easy, tasty, and healthy meal, you might have just hit the jackpot. It gets better. Baked Cauliflower is an apt substitute for potato salad which is higher in carbs. Cauliflower is also better for your cholesterol, and they have a higher protein and vitamin content. You are guaranteed a fast meal with this cauliflower and pork chop combo. Roasted Asparagus and Pork Chops Asparagus can't stand by itself although, it serves as a great sidekick to the pork chops. The tricky part here is to cook them at the same time. Asparagus is very light so, it can get charred pretty quickly. Therefore, you have to accurately gauge when the chops are about to be properly cooked through. Then right before the meat is done, dump the asparagus into the air fryer. Let them roast together with the pork chops till they turn golden. Note: If you pick on this meal as your side dish, opt for lean pork chops. Slimmer pork chops allow you to roast the meat and asparagus at the same time. Fried Rice and Pork Chops Fried rice is deeply rooted in Asian culture, despite having swept the world over. The charm of fried rice is that it's simple to make, versatile and tasty at the same time. Therefore when you combine it with the pork chops, you get a balanced, filling meal. Roasted Parsnips, Potato and Apple Salad with Pork Chops The unique balance between sugary and nutty is what makes this side dish so good. It is also a very airy salad which eases the pork chops down the throat. Generally, any salad-based dish will go well with pork chops. Buttery Corn Grits and Pork Chops When you hear the word pork chops, I know grits aren't necessarily the first pairing that comes to mind. Thick, uneven consistency doesn't sound appealing at all when paired with baked meat. However, the trick lies in making the grits buttery. That means adding cheese or actual butter to your grits to give it that even consistency. Drizzle some butter onto your grits while stirring it, and you will achieve a nice even texture. So now you know about all the different kinds of chops and what to get, plus you have the recipe to make succulent pork chops and how to serve them. All that remains is getting your air fryer out and going to town on the pork chops. That said - are you sold on the idea of making pork chops but don't have an air fryer yet. Types of Air Fryers and Features Available There are two kinds of air fryers - the large oven air fryer and the smaller basket air fryer. How much free space you have will determine what type of air fryer you should get. Therefore if you have a tiny space, opt for the basket air fryer. However, if you have a lot of room to work with, then an oven air fryer would be a viable option for you. Since we are awesome, we added some other tidbits on air fryers to help you choose what best suits your needs and means: The basket air fryer cooks the pork chops faster than the oven air fryer due to its better preheating functionality. However, the oven air fryer can hold more food which makes up for the lost time.The basket air fryer has a simple interface making it easier to use than the oven air fryer. However, the oven air fryer performs many tasks such as roasting meat and baking cakes, unlike the basket air fryer that bakes meat dishes only.The oven air fryer allows you more freedom while cooking due to its translucent oven doors that enable you to track your food's progress from a distance. Basket air fryers are restricting as you have to observe your food's progress from a close distance.The power generated by an oven air fryer also spawns heat within a room, making it uncomfortable. How To Cook Pork Chops In An Air Fryer - Conclusion In conclusion, the process of cooking pork chops in an air fryer is a simple one that takes a short time. However, your success will be dependent on making the right choices before you even step into the kitchen. You have to buy the right kind of pork chop for your needs, cook the meat in the way your air fryer demands, be mindful of the time and avoid reheating. Follow these condensed steps, and you're well on your way to making delicious pork chops. It's important to remember that cooking should be fun and experimental, so don't be afraid to try new things.

Recent Posts