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How to make Pork Rinds in an Air Fryer

Pork Rinds made in an Air Fryer is a perfect idea to make a great Puffy and Curly Keto Snack with your movie night. This ever so popular 0 carb substitution is greatly used in a low carb cuisine instead of your regular breadcrumbs. Fully Gluten-Free and Grain-Free full of collagen, this is a genius food choice to enjoy our lifestyle.  

Pork Rinds in a metal cup
How To make Pork Rinds in an Air Fryer

The idea to make Pork Rinds in the Air Fryer came to me when I was researching a recipe I was writing for all of you about the Sweet Churro like Chicharrones Pork Rinds with beautiful cinnamon flavor. As I was researching and looking at the questions people are asking, I have realized, some of them asked about frying those in an Air Fryer. 

And since I own the Air Fryer, there was nothing else to stop me with my trials.

I have in the process made a Pork Lard Scratchings, as one of the packages I bought, was by a mistake a pure Raw Pig Fat. 

chicharron ready to snack on in bowl
Homemade Pork Rinds

Trials of making the best Air Fryer Pork Rinds

My idea did not work perfectly on the first run.

I have tried to make a few shortcuts, off not cooking the pork skin beforehand. 

I have also tried to make a shortcut by just placing a raw pig skin cut into pieces directly into an Air Fryer assuming it will all work. 

How wrong was I?

As I have realized the same process here is as with our Cheese Pops or Keto Popcorn. The Cheese needs to be fully dry, otherwise, you will not get that proper pops. 

And, therefore, I have decided to make this recipe for you with all of the additional tips and tricks I went through until I got the perfect crunchy bar greens ready to be used on any of the low-carb lifestyle dishes.

Crackling snack in a bowl
Pork Rinds made at home
What is the difference between pork rinds and cracklings?

The difference between Pork Rinds and Cracklings is very minimal to the look.

Pork Rinds have no fat at all on the skin. 
Once they’re deep-fried or Air Fried,  they will pop into this beautiful puffy curls.

Cracklings on the other site have got a little bit of fat on the skin and they’re a bit different in taste. 
They do not puff as much, but are in return more flavorful and have got a bit more crunch in them from the meat.

How do you easily get rid of the fat from the pig skin?

The easiest way to get rid of the fat from the pigskin is by boiling it. 
Once the skin is boiled, it is much softer and therefore easier to scrape. With a sharp knife, you can scrape the extra fat very easily.

Can you deep fry Pork Rinds?

You can certainly deep fry Pork Rinds, and that is what I have done for our Keto Churro Pork Rinds Recipe
An advantage of the deep-fried Pork Rinds is that they will not double or triple in size but sometimes even quadruple.

What can you use Pork Rinds for?

Pork Rinds are a great substitution for breadcrumbs in our keto or low-carb lifestyle. 
Use them whenever you normally used use breadcrumbs, add them to your dishes instead of bacon bits, or eat them as a perfect Keto Snack for your movie night.

They are perfect for our TikTok Viral Crispy Twisted Bacon.

Do I need an Air Fryer for making Pork Rinds?

An Air Fryer is a great invention for all, who are trying to reduce the real deep frying in their kitchen. 
I got my air fryer about a year ago as a Christmas gift from my family and have to say that dishes made in this great kitchen gadget are really always crispy and tasty.

Using an air fryer is a much simpler option as deep-frying directly in one of the oils you choose. 
It is also a much healthier choice and therefore air fryers have become so popular in the last few years.

Making a Pork Rinds can be done in various different ways.

You do not really need an air fryer for this, and no worry if you do not own one, but it is a much healthier option. 

You can also deep fry the dehydrated pork skin or you can try and make those cracklings in the oven. 

Air Fryer Pork Rinds in a black bowl
Easy Keto Snack

How to make Pork Rinds in an Air Fryer

Kitchen Gadgets you need for this recipe:

  • Cooking Pot
  • Dehydrator
  • Air Fryer

Ingredients you need:

  • Pork Skin
  • Salt
Pork Rinds keto in a basket
perfect Air fryer snack

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO MAKE CRUNCHY AIR FRYER PORK RINDS

First step: Clean and Cook

First of all, make sure the pork skin you have bought is at its best quality and fully clean. 

If it is not clean just wash it properly and dry with a paper towel. 

Cut the pork skin into the blocks, which will fit into your cooking pot. 

Place all of the skin inside the cooking pot, add water and use a heavy subject to make sure the skin is always submerged under the water. Cook the skin for approximately an hour.

Keto Snack pork being boiled

Second Step: Extra Fat, Dry, and Cut

Once your pork skin is cooked, let it cool and make sure it is fully dry. With a sharp knife scrape the remaining fat which has been on. 

Less fat you have on the skin, the more your pork rinds will double in size once air frying.

Keto Churro preparation in cutting the cooked skin

Third Step: Dehydrate

When all of the pieces are fully dry, place them one by one on the dehydrator racks and switch on the dehydrator for approximately eight hours. 

It is good to swap the dehydrator trays from time to time, to make sure your pork skin is dehydrated fully and evenly.

Pork Rinds keto being dehydrated

Fourth step: Collect

After the pork skin is fully dehydrated, take them all and place them in a jar or a bowl. 

You can store directly dehydrated skin and use it whenever you would like to make fresh air fryer pork rinds. 

Dehydrated pork skin will stay in an airtight container for a long time.

chicharron dehydrated and ready to bake

Fifth step: Air Fry

Once you’re ready to air fry, place a few pieces of the dehydrated pork skin into an air fryer. Bear in mind that the Pork Rinds will double in size and need a lot of space for them to pop up properly. 

Therefore use only a handful amount of pork skin. Switch on the air fryer on the highest temperature for approximately 7 to 10 minutes. 

The time and temperature depend really on the brand of an air fryer you have. Please read the full instructions on how to use it.

pork rinds being done in the Air Fryer

Sixth Step: Season

In about 10 minutes you should have a beautiful crunchy Cracklings or Pork Rinds done in an air fryer. 

While still warm, sprinkle them with salt or season with your favorite spices.

Crackling spreading with salt

Tips and Tricks

Cooking – Do not skip this step. While cooking, the skin will be much softer, will dehydrate better and you will be able to take out the excess fat easier.

Dehydrating – Another step not to be missed. For the Pork Rinds to pop and double in size, they need to be fully dehydrated. 

Air Frying – The time and temperature depend really on the brand of an air fryer you have. Please read the full instructions on how to use it.

Air Fryer Pork Rinds in a wooden bowl
Crunchy Pork Rinds

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

How to store Pork Rinds?

To keep the pork rinds crunchy at all times, you have to store them in an airtight container. 

If they stay at room temperature on your kitchen counter for a long time, they tend to soften a bit. 

You can store them either in a mason jar or in a Ziploc bag. 

If you know you’re going to use them as breadcrumbs you can directly grind them in a Magic Bullet or your kitchen Grinder and store them in the fridge.

You can also follow the steps up to the pork skin being dehydrated and store that in any of the containers. 

Every time you’re ready to make fresh warm Cracklings, just take a handful from your storage and place them into an air fryer.

Recipes That Pair Well:

Pin For Later:

Pork Cracklings in a metal cup
homemade Keto Pork Rinds 0 carbs

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Yield: 25 servings 6 pc each

Air Fryer Pork Rinds

Pork Rinds in a metal cup

Pork Rinds made in an Air Fryer is a perfect idea to make a great Puffy and Curly Keto Snack with your movie night. This ever so popular 0 carb substitution is greatly used in a low carb cuisine instead of your regular breadcrumbs. Fully Gluten-Free and Grain-Free full of collagen, this is a genius food choice to enjoy our lifestyle.

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Additional Time 8 hours
Total Time 9 hours 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 kg (approx 1,1 lb) Pork Skin
  • salt

Instructions

    1. First of all, make sure the pork skin you have bought is at its best quality and fully clean. If it is not clean just wash it properly and dry with a paper towel.
    2. Cut the pork skin into the blocks, which will fit into your cooking pot.
      Place all of the skin inside the cooking pot, add water and use a heavy subject to make sure the skin is always submerged under the water. Cook the skin for approximately an hour.
    3. Once your pork skin is cooked, let it cool and make sure it is fully dry. With a sharp knife scrape the remaining fat which has been on.
    4. When all of the pieces are fully dry, place them one by one on the dehydrator racks and switch on the dehydrator for approximately eight hours.
    5. After the pork skin is fully dehydrated, take them all and place them in a jar or a bowl.
    6. Once you’re ready to air fry, place a few pieces of the dehydrated pork skin into an air fryer. Bear in mind that the Pork Rinds will double in size and need a lot of space for them to pop up properly. Therefore use only a handful amount of pork skin. Switch on the air fryer on the highest temperature for approximately 7 to 10 minutes at 200C or 400F.
    7. In about 10 minutes you should have a beautiful crunchy Cracklings or Pork Rinds done in an air fryer.
    8. While still warm, sprinkle them with salt or season with your favorite spices.

Notes

Total Servings calculations - 150 pcs - 25 servings - each serving 6 pieces

Cooking - Do not skip this step. While cooking, the skin will be much softer, will dehydrate better and you will be able to take out the excess fat easier.


Dehydrating - Another step not to be missed. For the Pork Rinds to pop and double in size, they need to be fully dehydrated.


Air Frying - The time and temperature depend really on the brand of an air fryer you have. Please read the full instructions on how to use it.

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Nutrition Information

Yield

25

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 83Total Fat 7gCarbohydrates 0gProtein 4g

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Sabrina

Saturday 22nd of April 2023

Can I cook the skin in an InstaPot?

Zuzana

Saturday 22nd of April 2023

You sure can.

Paul Stevens

Wednesday 28th of December 2022

About 8 hours at what temperature in the dehydrator please? Mine does 40 - 70°C.

Zuzana

Sunday 1st of January 2023

Highest I would suggest.

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Joliza

Friday 20th of August 2021

Hi what can i do if i dont have dehydrator? Can i put the pork skin directly to airfryer if I removed the fats from boiling or instantpot? Thanks

Zuzana

Sunday 22nd of August 2021

I have tried it without dehydrator but did not really puffed and worked for me. Try drying them in the oven on a low heat. Same effect as dehydrator

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