20/10/2026
🥓 How to get pork belly strips beautifully tender AND crispy
Pork belly strips are packed with flavour, but how do you get that perfect combination of tender meat and deliciously crispy edges?
The secret is simple: boil them first, then crisp them up.
Tender & crispy pork belly strips
You’ll need:
🥩 Pork belly strips
🌶️ McInnes Meats Honey & Chipotle rub
🧂 Salt and pepper
1️⃣ Gently simmer
Place your pork belly strips in a saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer for around 30–40 minutes, depending on their thickness. This helps tenderise the meat and render some of the fat.
2️⃣ Get them really dry
Remove from the water and pat thoroughly dry with kitchen paper. Don’t rush this bit, removing the moisture helps you get those lovely crispy edges.
3️⃣ Add the flavour
Coat the strips with our homemade Honey & Chipotle rub. The combination of sweet and smoky flavours works brilliantly with rich pork belly and caramelises as it cooks.
4️⃣ Time to crisp them up
🔥 Air fryer: Cook at 200°C for around 12–18 minutes, turning halfway.
🔥 Oven: Cook at 220°C / 200°C fan for around 20–25 minutes, turning halfway.
Cooking times will vary depending on the thickness of your strips, so make sure the pork is piping hot and cooked through.
👨🍳 Butcher’s tip: Keep an eye on them towards the end. The sweetness in the Honey & Chipotle rub will caramelise beautifully, but you don’t want it to catch.
Serve with chips and slaw, slice over rice or noodles, or just tuck in!
And remember, you can pick up your pork belly AND the flavourings from us. We stock a selection of rubs, glazes and seasonings at our Saturday shop, so you can experiment with different combinations.
💬 Would you cook yours in the air fryer or the oven?
