How To Cook Pork Loin in the Air Fryer So Each Slice Is Juicy, Tender and Full of Flavor

As amazing as my air fryer is, I tend to only use it for snacks and to cook sides like baked potatoes. (Once you air fry those spuds, it’s hard to go back to baking them the usual way.) But, when I learned that you could cook a meat like pork loin in this appliance I was immediately intrigued. The air fryer helps the pork cook evenly so it’s juicy and browned in under an hour, which is less time than it takes to roast for most recipes. Our Woman’s World test kitchen also shares a delicious air fried pork loin recipe that dresses up the succulent roast with a tangy blood orange glaze. Read on for tips on cooking pork loin in the air fryer as a simple yet wow-worthy main!

Is pork loin the same as pork tenderloin?

First thing’s first: pork loin and pork tenderloin are two different cuts. The loin comes from the back of the pig, while the tenderloin is a cut from the backbone. This difference affects the size of each cut as the pork loin is larger than a standard tenderloin. Because of these qualities, you should avoid using them interchangeably in recipes as it could result in the meat overcooking or undercooking. 

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The benefits of cooking pork loin in the air fryer

Pork loin is the clear winner if you’re looking for a lean cut of meat that feeds a crowd. Plus, you can get it on the table much faster using your air fryer. Since this appliance rapidly circulates hot air around food, it kick-starts the process of cooking and browning. This is great news when it comes to pork loin as the meat can be cooked in less than an hour, while becoming moist and tender. Also, you don’t have to clean up a roasting pan afterwards if you line the air fryer basket with parchment paper to catch any juices.

How do you keep pork loin from drying out in an air fryer?

No one wants a dry, chewy piece of cooked pork loin. Luckily, you can avoid that by lightly coating the meat with a layer of olive oil or cooking spray. This helps the lock in the meat’s moisture and encourages the outside to brown evenly. From there, you can season the pork loin and get ready to cook it to mouthwatering perfection in your air fryer.

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Our test kitchen’s favorite air fryer pork loin recipe

This Pork Roast with Blood Orange Glaze recipe from our test kitchen cooks in 45 minutes thanks to the air fryer. Pair it with your favorite sides for your next hearty dinner!

Pork Roast with Blood Orange Glaze

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Citrus juice, zingy mustard, wine and fresh herbs reduce into a stunning glaze for a pork centerpiece that’s perfect for a special gathering.

Ingredients:

• 1 (3 lb.) boneless pork loin roast 
• 4 blood oranges, juiced, or 1 cup tangerine juice
• 1 cup dry white wine 
• ⅓ cup sugar
• ⅓ cup honey
• 1 Tbs. white wine vinegar
• 1 Tbs. chopped fresh rosemary
• 2 tsp. Dijon mustard

Directions:

• Active: 30 mins
• Total time: 2 hrs
• Yield: 8 servings

1. Heat 7-quart air fryer according to manufacturer’s directions for air fry at 360°F. Line bottom of air fryer basket with parchment paper. Lightly coat pork with cooking spray; season with ¼ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.
2. Place pork in air fryer basket; place basket in air fryer. Cook, flipping halfway through cooking, until meat thermometer inserted into thickest part registers 145°F, about 45 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, in small pot, combine remaining ingredients with 1 cup water; heat over medium-high heat, bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until thickened, 30 to 35 minutes. Brush pork with enough glaze to coat. Carve pork into ½-inch-thick slices. Serve with remaining glaze.