Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork

Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork is a healthier option than the deep fried version and is made at home in less than 30 minutes.

Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork

Sweet ‘N Sour Pork has always been one of my favorite dishes at Chinese restaurants; the good ones, the cheap Take-Out ones and even Chinese buffets.  There is just something about deep fried pieces of juicy pork, covered in Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce that always makes my mouth water. Yes, this Jewish girl loves Sweet ‘N Sour Pork. Actually, most of my Chinese Food choices are with pork. {Bowing head in shame}  Oy!

Cast of Ingredients for Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork

Using the Air Fryer has really opened up a new door for me. I am not one to deep fry food as I don’t like all the grease and fat in my home. Best of all, I know what is in my food. I know my ingredients are fresh and that there is never any standing oil.

Whisk together Eggs and Sesame Oil

In a Medium Mixing Bowl, whisk together eggs and a drop of Pure Sesame Oil. The Sesame Oil is optional. I just like the slight taste it gives to the pork.

Whisk together Potato Starch and Seasonings

In another Medium Bowl, mix together Potato Starch and the rest of the seasonings, which include Chinese Five Spice, Salt and Pepper.

Add Pork Pieces to Potato Starch

Add the Pork pieces to the Potato Starch and coat all pieces.

Dip Pork into Egg Mixture

Using a fork or tongs, pick up one piece of pork at a time and shake off any excess Potato Starch. The coating on the pork should be very light and translucent. Quickly dip the pork into the egg mixture and shake off excess. Dip the pork back into the Potato Starch for another very light coat.

Properly Seasoned Air Fryer Basket

Please see my article on How to Prepare and Properly Season Your Air Fryer Basket. Using this method will help to prevent your Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork from sticking to the basket.

Make sure never to use Pam when you season your Air Fryer Basket. It will leave behind a coating, that is impossible to remove. Coconut Oil, Crisco, Canola Oil, all work well.

Place Pork Pieces into Air Fryer

After thoroughly shaking off any excess Potato Starch from the pork, place into your prepared Air Fryer basket. Sometimes, I use Parchment Steaming Papers to keep food from sticking to the bottom of the basket. I spray that as well.

Spraying my Air Fryer basket with my favorite Oil, helps in the cooking process. Spray the top of the pork with your favorite oil. This Fine Life Oil Mister has made my life much easier, as it is a good performing Oil Mister. For this recipe, I like plain old Canola Oil. You will need to shake the Air Fryer Basket a few times during cooking.

Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe

While your Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork is cooking, whisk up a batch of my Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe. By the way, the above spoon is a Chinese soup spoon and there is a blue graphic on the spoon. It kind of looks like I used a dirty, nasty moldy spoon. 🙁  I promise, I did not. 🙂

Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork with Rice

I like to eat my Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork with Fried Rice or Pressure Cooker Seasoned Vegetable Ghee Rice. Some people pour their Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce over their Pork Nuggets and others dip. What do you do?

Try these incredible Air Fryer Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Wings and you will be hooked, for sure!

Kitchen Equipment and Essentials

• GoWISE USA 5.8 Quart Air Fryer
• J.A. Henckels Classic 7-inch Hollow Edge Santoku Knife
• Amco Advanced Performance 18/10 Stainless Steel Measuring Spoons
• Culina Stackable (Dry) Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
• Anchor Hocking Glass (Liquid) Measuring Cups
• Rösle Stainless Steel Flat Whisk– a MUST have, probably my most used utensil
• Cilio Olivewood Spatula
• Rachael Ray Stoneware EVOO Oil Dispensing Bottle
• Alpha Armour Salt Box with Spoon
• 3.5 Quart Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl
• Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe

Caring is sharing! If you would like to support This Old Gal, please share this recipe on Social Media, so that I can continue to bring you more wonderful recipes!

Here is the handy printable recipe:

Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet 'N Sour Pork

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Chinese

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 12 minutes

Total Time: 27 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Author: Jill Selkowitz

Ingredients

• 2 pounds Pork cut into chunks
• 2 large Eggs
• 1 teaspoon Pure Sesame Oil (optional)
• 1 cup Potato Starch (or cornstarch)
• 1/2 teaspoon Sea Salt
• 1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 1/16 teaspoon Chinese Five Spice
• 3 Tablespoons Canola Oil

Other

• Oil Mister
• 1 prepared Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe

Instructions

• In one mixing bowl, combine the potato starch, salt, pepper and Chinese Five Spice.
• In another mixing bowl, beat the eggs and add Sesame Oil.
• Dredge the pork pieces into the Potato Starch and shake off any excess.  Quickly dip each piece into the egg mixture, shake off excess and then back into the Potato Starch mixture.
• Coat Air Fryer Basket with oil.  Place pork pieces into basket and spray with oil.
• Cook at 340 degrees for approximately 8-12 minutes (or until pork is cooked),, shaking the basket a couple of times. 
• Serve with my Simple Sweet ‘N Sour Sauce Recipe.

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Air Fryer Chinese Take Out Sweet ‘N Sour Pork