Perfect Pork Loin Roast with Crackling

Inspired by a YouTube short for pork belly from Senpai Kai, this gives a brilliant crispy crackling with succulent meat.

Ingredients

  • A pork loin roast with crackling - around 1 to 2 kg
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp cider vinegar
  • freshly ground salt
  • 1 tsp sunflower oil

Method

  • The night before you intent to cook the roast, open up the joint package.
  • Poke holes or heavy score with a stanley knife.
  • Turn the joint over and lightly score the meat side.
  • Rub the kosher salt and granulated sugar into the meat.
  • Use aluminium foil, folded over to be double layered, to create a snug fitting tent over the meat. See picture above for an idea of what you're aiming for.
  • Turn the joint over and gently brush the vinegar into the skin side.
  • Season the skin with freshly ground salt from a salt grinder.
  • Place, uncovered, in the fridge and leave overnight.
  • The next day, remove the pork from the fridge 30 minutes before starting cooking. Keep the aluminium jacket throught all the next steps - removing it only when the meat is cooked and ready to carve.
  • When ready to cook, preheat the air fryer to 160 degrees Celsius.
  • Pat the skin dry if there's any sign of moisture on it.
  • Cook the meat in the air-fryer for 30 minutes per 500g or until the center is a temperature of 50 degrees Celsius (don't worry about this being so low, after the first rest it'll go up about 10 degrees and then a further 15 degrees or so from the final 30 minutes in the air fryer and second rest).
  • Remove from the air fryer and let rest for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, set the air fryer to 205 degrees Celsius.
  • Once the meat has rested, brush the skin with the sunflower oil and place in the hot air fryer.
  • Cook for 30 minutes.
  • Leave to rest for at least 15 minutes before removing the aluminium jacket and carving.
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