How to Cook Pork Belly Slices

Oven:

1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking tray with baking paper or aluminum foil.
2. Rub the meat with all the spices.
3. Bake 30 - 40 minutes (depending on the thickness of the meat and your oven) until crispy and golden brown, flipping halfway through. Check the internal temperature (74 degrees Celsius/ 165 degrees Fahrenheit).

Pan-fried:

1. Heat a large skillet. Don't add fat; the belly will render a lot of fat. Instead, place the seasoned slices in the pan.
2. Cook, often flipping with tongs. If there is too much splatter, use a splatter screen. The pieces should be golden brown and crispy on both sides. Cooking will take about 5-7 minutes per side. You can slice the meat thinner for a shorter cooking time. Check the internal temperature (74 degrees Celsius/ 165 degrees Fahrenheit).
3. Glaze: Should you want to glaze the meat, discard the rendered fat first, or the dish will be too fatty. Add the sauce during the last 2-3 minutes of the cooking time. Lower the temperature and flip the slices frequently to coat them all over.

Air-fried:

1. Preheat the air fryer if necessary; mine needs 3 minutes preheating.
2. Place the seasoned pork in the basket in a single layer.
3. Cook at 200 degrees Celsius/ 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes, flipping twice in between. The cooking time depends on the thickness of the slices. Check the internal temperature (74 degrees Celsius/ 165 degrees Fahrenheit).
4. Glaze the pieces (if desired) with your favorite BBQ or Asian sweet chili sauce before serving.

Grill:

1. Slice: When grilling pork belly slices, I prefer to use thinner slices, about ¼ - ½ inch/ 6-12 mm thick.
2. Rub the meat with the spices or your favorite dry rub at least 30 minutes before cooking. You can also marinate the meat in your favorite marinade for at least 3 and up to 12 hours. When grilling, let any excess marinade drip off.
3. Heat the grill. Grill the meat until slightly charred but not burnt, about 2 minutes per side, depending on the thickness. Check the internal temperature (74 degrees Celsius/ 165 degrees Fahrenheit) or cut one piece in the middle to see if it's cooked through.
4. Grill pan: You can cook the sliced pork belly in the grill pan the same way. It might need a few minutes longer but check.