How to Cook Thick Pork Chops in an Air Fryer

Want to taste thick pork chops that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside at home? An air fryer can handle it. Without complicated steps, you can make mouthwatering delicacies in just a few easy steps.

Follow me to uncover the production method of thick pork chops in an air fryer, so that you can easily enjoy delicious food at home. Come and try it!

Ingredients Needed

Pork chops: The main ingredient, about 2 centimeters thick, provides protein and delicious taste, and is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside after cooking.
Ginger slices: Remove fishy smell and enhance fragrance. Remove the fishy smell of pork chops and add a unique fragrance.
Cooking wine: Remove fishy smell and resolve greasiness. Prevent pork chops from being greasy.
Soy sauce: Season and color. Add salty and fresh taste and make pork chops attractive in color.
Oyster sauce: Enhance freshness and flavor. Enrich the taste.
Pepper: Add flavor. Bring a slight spiciness and unique aroma.
Sea salt and black pepper: Sprinkle on at the end to add flavor layers.

Essential Tools

Air fryer: The air fryer is the core tool. It uses high-speed air circulation to make pork chops achieve a fried texture with no or little oil. If there is no air fryer, an oven can be used instead. Pay attention to adjusting the time and temperature.
Meat pounding tool: The meat pounding tool can pound pork chops to make the meat tender and easy to cook through. It can be replaced by a rolling pin or the back of a knife. Pay attention to the strength so as not to damage the shape of the pork chops.
Stirring spoon: The stirring spoon mixes the seasonings and pork chops evenly so that the pork chops are fully coated with seasonings. It can be replaced by a tool that is convenient for stirring, such as using hands to mix.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Uneven thickness of pork chops: The thickness of pork chops should be consistent. Otherwise, the air fryer will heat unevenly. The thin parts are easy to burn and the thick parts are difficult to cook through, affecting the taste and safety.
Not pounding the pork chops: Before marinating, use the back of a knife or a meat mallet to pound the pork chops to make them soft. The meat will be more tender and easy to cook.
Too short marinating time: The marinating time cannot be too short. Otherwise, it will not be flavorful. Generally, half an hour is appropriate.
Too much seasoning: Use an appropriate amount of seasonings, especially salty seasonings. Too much will be too salty and affect the taste.
Pork chops not dried: After marinating, there cannot be too much moisture on the surface of the pork chops. Otherwise, the frying effect will be poor. The skin will not be crispy and oil may splash.
Too long cooking time: The time cannot be too long and the temperature cannot be too high. Otherwise, the pork chops will be too dry or burned. Bake at 180℃ for about 20 minutes. Turn over in time during the process to ensure even heating.