How To Cook Fatback In Air Fryer For A Tasty Snack

Curious about cooking fatback in an air fryer? If your answer is affirmative, then this article is specifically aimed at you. In this session, we’ll thoroughly explore fatback, understand its essence, and guide you step-by-step to achieve that perfect crispiness using an air fryer. Let’s dive in!

Fatback: What Is It?

Typically, fatback is fat from the backside of a pig. There is no meat attached to the white, hard fat. When dried this makes a delicious Southern snack or a flavor enhancer for other foods.

How Long Does It Take For Fatback To Go Bad?

Raw fatback can (and does) go bad, unfortunately.

Fatback, once cooked, lasts much longer. In addition to rendering fatback into lard, fatback can be sliced and cooked like bacon. You can also cut it into small pieces to be fried into scrunchions (which is a Newfoundland expression for meat with a greasy texture). Lard can last for months in the refrigerator (but cooked fatback will last for months).

Is Cooking Fatback The Same As Cooking Bacon

It pains me to admit this, but sometimes I avoid cooking bacon due to the process of getting it from the fridge to the plate. My reasons are not based on dislike of any kind or concern. Bacon is my favorite food.

Rather than eating it plain, I usually use it in recipes, so it is usually a part of the cooking process rather than the end product all by itself.

After getting my air fryer, I played around with it and thought about what I could cook in it. As my brain stopped working on bacon, I asked myself, “What if?” I am sure I can confidently say that I realized my bacon-filled dreams, and I have never looked back since.

Cooking Bacon In An Air Fryer

You can cook bacon in an air fryer because it is enclosed. You don’t end up with spits or spatters on your counter or floor when it cooks. A reservoir below collects the rendered fat.

Since I can cook a lot at once in the oven when I cook for a large crowd, I often cook my bacon there. When I cook it for a smaller crowd, I use an air fryer instead. I am confident that you will adopt a similar routine after you try it.

Types of Bacon

Knowing what to do is important, but you might still be asking what kind of bacon to buy. The following list might not be your favorites, but it gives you an idea of some varieties:

Among bacon types, side bacon is the most popular. It has a thick layer of fat that runs parallel to the rind. You can buy it cured or not cured, smoked or not smoked.

The ratio of meat to fat in slab bacon is typically between medium and high. This product is composed of belly, side, and fatback cuts. Bacon with the fat ends removed makes up center-cut bacon.

Air fryers are a great way to cook bacon no matter what you’re making.

How To Cook Fatback In Air Fryer

Step 1

For thick slabs of fatback that you need to slice thinly, freeze them first. Cutting is easier this way.

Step 2

If you want to reduce the saltiness of cured fatback, boil it in water for a few minutes before using it for cooking.

Step 3

Set the air fryer to 390 degrees and place the pork in it. Since fatback has an extremely high fat content, it does not require additional oil in the basket. The timer should be set for 20 minutes, with the 10-minute mark marking the halfway mark. The fatback needs to be flipped at the 10 minute mark.

Step 4

Continue cooking the pork for another five minutes until the outside is crispy (mine took 27 minutes total).

Step 5

The cooked slices should be placed on a paper towel to absorb some of the excess oil while they are cooling. Serve hot.

Tips To Cook Fatback In Air Fryer

Make sure to empty the pork fat from the reservoir before starting another batch of fatback if you plan to cook more than one batch.

If your fatback is extra thick, you may need to cook it longer. Alternatively, thin slices of fatback will take one to two minutes less.

Don’t stack your fatback on top of each other. Your basket size determines the amount that can be done at once.

Delicious Air Fryer Recipes That Use Bacon Or Fatback

Fatback and Egg Bread Cups

Prep time : 10 minutes | Cook time: 8 to 12 minutes | Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 thin slices of Gouda or Swiss cheese mini wedges
• 5 eggs
• 4 (3-by-4-inch) crusty rolls
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 3 strips of precooked fatback, chopped
• ½ teaspoon dried thyme
• Pinch salt
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions

1. On a clean work surface, cut the tops off the rolls. Using your fingers, remove the insides of the rolls to make bread cups, leaving a ½-inch shell. Place a slice of cheese onto each roll bottom.
2. Whisk together the eggs and heavy cream in a medium bowl until well combined. Fold in the fatback, thyme, salt, and pepper and stir well.
3. Scrape the egg mixture into the prepared bread cups.
4. Transfer the bread cups to the basket and bake at 330ºF (166ºC) for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked to your preference.
5. Serve warm.

Canadian Bacon Muffin Sandwiches

Prep time : 5 minutes | Cook time: 8 minutes | Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 English muffins, split
• 8 slices Canadian bacon
• 4 slices cheese
• Cooking spray

Directions

1. Make the sandwiches: Top each of 4 muffin halves with 2 slices of Canadian bacon, 1 slice of cheese, and finish with the remaining muffin half.
2. Put the sandwiches in the air fryer basket and spritz the tops with cooking spray.
3. Bake at 370ºF (188ºC) for 4 minutes. Flip the sandwiches and bake for another 4 minutes.
4. Divide the sandwiches among four plates and serve warm.

Conclusion

Typically, fatback is fat from the backside of a pig. There is no meat attached to the white, hard fat. When dried this makes a delicious Southern snack or a flavor enhancer for other foods.