Instant Pot Crispy Pork Belly
User Reviews
5
99 reviews
Excellent
-
Total Time
1 hr 15 mins
-
Servings
4 - 6
-
Calories
610 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
Instant Pot Crispy Pork Belly
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This Instant Pot Crispy Pork Belly recipe uses pressure cooking to tenderize a well-seasoned pork belly before finishing with a crispy skin. The meat is infused with garlic, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and Shaoxing wine, resulting in a juicy, flavorful interior with a crackling, golden crust achieved using an oven or air fryer for crispness.
Description
The pork belly is scored in a crosshatch pattern on the meat side to allow seasoning penetration and even cooking. It is seasoned with salt, five-spice powder, sugar, white pepper, soy sauce, crushed garlic, and optional Shaoxing wine, then placed skin side up in the Instant Pot with water. Pressure cooking softens the meat over 19-22 minutes depending on thickness, followed by natural pressure release.
After pressure cooking, the pork is removed and its skin is prepped by applying a combination of fine salt, baking powder (not baking soda), and vegetable oil to promote crispness. The final crispy skin is best achieved by roasting or air frying, as the Instant Pot alone does not render the skin crispy. This results in tender pork with a flavorful seasoning and a crackly skin.
This pork belly is well suited for slicing and serving as a main dish or in slices with sides. If the pork belly is too large for the Instant Pot, it can be halved and cooked in sections. Using an oven or air fryer to crisp the skin yields the best results.
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Ingredients
- 1 (1.5lb - 2lb) pork belly , 1” - 1.25” thick
- 1 cup (250ml) water cold
- 6 (23.5g) garlic crushed, cloves
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) soy sauce regular
- 2 teaspoons (12g) fine sea salt or table salt
- 2 teaspoons (3.5g) five spice powder
- 1 teaspoon (5g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon (1.9g) white pepper
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) Shaoxing wine (optional)
For Pork Belly Skin:
- ½ teaspoon (3g) salt fine
- ½ teaspoon (2.5g) baking powder
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) vegetable oil
Instructions
- Score Pork Belly: Use a sharp knife to lightly cut (~2mm into the meat) lines diagonally across the meat side of the pork belly, then cut lines diagonally across in the opposite direction (see photo).
- Pressure Cook Pork Belly: Add 2 tsp (12g) fine salt, 2 tsp (3.5g) five spice powder, 1 tsp (5g) granulated sugar, ½ tsp (1.9g) white pepper, 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, 6 crushed garlic cloves, 2 tbsp (30ml) Shaoxing wine, and 1 cup (250ml) cold water in Instant Pot. Mix well. Add in pork belly (skin side up), then lightly sprinkle salt over the pork skin. Try to make sure the skin is not submerged in the cooking liquid. Close lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing position.1" Thick Pork Belly: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 19 minutes + 15 minutes Natural Release1.25" Thick Pork Belly: Pressure Cook at High Pressure for 22 minutes + 15 minutes Natural ReleaseTurn the Venting Knob to Venting Position. Open the lid.
- Prep Pork Belly Skin: Remove & place the pork belly on a chopping board. Pat pork skin really dry with paper towels. Use a fork to poke holes all over the pork skin. *Pro Tip: The holes should only penetrate the skin and the fat part of the pork belly. Poke as many holes as you can for maximum crunchy cracklings. Pat the skin really dry again with paper towels. Mix ½ tsp (3g) fine salt and ½ tsp (2.5g) baking powder together. Sprinkle the baking powder mixture all over the skin, then brush a few layers of vegetable oil on the skin.
- Broil in Oven/Air Fryer: *Pro Tip: It's best to broil the pork belly before cutting it into serving size, so the pork belly can retain more moisture.Option 1 - Oven/Toaster Oven: Place the pork belly (skin side up) on an oven tray, then place the oven tray on the top rack. Use the "Broil" function (or Airfry setting), set Temperature to 400°F - 425°F. Broil pork belly until the skin is golden brown, bubbly, very crunchy. *Note: Depending on your oven, this process will take roughly 18 - 25 minutes.Option 2 - Air Fryer Lid: Place the air fryer basket with the tray on the middle rack in Instant Pot. Layer the pork belly (skin side up) on the air fryer tray in Instant Pot. Place the Air Fryer Lid on Instant Pot. Press "Broil" button, set Temperature to 400°F and Cooking Time to 20 minutes.*Note: You'll need to broil for an extra 10 - 12 minutes, which means the total cooking time will take roughly 30 - 32 minutes. *Pro Tip: You can open the lid to check the progress. The pork belly skin should be golden brown, bubbly, and crispy.
- Serve Crispy Pork Belly: Place Crispy Pork Belly on a chopping board and let it cool down a bit. Chop it up into tasty bite sizes! You can serve them with rice, hoisin sauce, and yellow mustard on the side. Enjoy these addictively delicious Cantonese Roasted Pork~
Equipments used:
Notes
- Ensure baking powder, not baking soda, is used when crisping the pork skin to achieve the proper texture.
- If the pork belly is too long for your Instant Pot, cut it in half and arrange the pieces side by side for cooking.
- For optimal crispy skin, finish cooking in an oven, air fryer, or toaster oven rather than relying on the Instant Pot alone.
- Use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp or Air Fryer Lid if available, but be aware that skin crispness may not be as satisfactory as conventional ovens or air fryers.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Calories
610kcal
(31%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
11g
(22%)
Fat
60g
(92%)
Saturated Fat
22g
(110%)
Cholesterol
82mg
(27%)
Sodium
1176mg
(49%)
Potassium
285mg
(6%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
1g
(2%)
Vitamin A
11IU
(0%)
Vitamin C
2mg
(2%)
Calcium
36mg
(4%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4- 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories 610 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 610kcal | 31% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Protein | 11g | 22% |
| Fat | 60g | 92% |
| Saturated Fat | 22g | 110% |
| Cholesterol | 82mg | 27% |
| Sodium | 1176mg | 49% |
| Potassium | 285mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 1g | 2% |
| Vitamin A | 11IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 2mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 36mg | 4% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
99 reviews
Excellent
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