Super Easy Pork Schnitzel Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when pork schnitzel is cooked? ›

Add 2 pork chops and cook, flipping once, until golden brown on each side and no longer pink in the center, 2 to 3 minutes per side. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

The oil needs to be hot enough (it should be shimmering but not smoking) so that the chicken will cook well and crisp up. If the oil is not hot enough, the chicken will absorb too much oil and give you soggy, oily schnitzel. I use quality extra virgin olive oil, which has a high enough smoke point to fry the schnitzel.

Preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit. Once heated, add your schnitzel and cook for 10-12 minutes. Next, flip each piece of schnitzel over and continue cooking. Once your pieces are browned, they're ready to eat.

Heat 1.5cm / 3/5" oil in a heavy based deep skillet over medium high heat. Dip the end of a schnitzel in to check if the oil is hot enough - it should sizzle straight away (see video). Carefully place 2 schnitzels in the oil and cook for 3 minutes until deep golden, turn then cook the other side for 3 minutes.

Since the cutlets are quite thin and the focus on cooking is the crust, they're easy to overcook.

Just as important as the first patting down of the chicken's surface, the final pat down of your meat after covering it with breading helps every piece of crunchy coating adhere. After coating chicken in an egg and breading layer, gently pat all sides.

Ingredients You'll Need

Flour – Flour is a must for this recipe. With the egg, it will bind those breadcrumbs to your chicken for a nice crispy schnitzel. You can use gluten-free flour if you want.

To keep schnitzel, or any fried food (like churros!), crispy, place it on a cooling rack over a baking sheet after frying, instead of on a paper towel. Crazy, right?! The air circulation (this is KEY!) underneath the food keeps the bottom from getting soggy while you're finishing up cooking.

Overcooked Pork Chops Are Tough

This is partly due to carry-over cooking. Even when you take the chops out of the oven or off the stovetop, they still continue to cook a tiny bit due to the retained heat. And it's often this little bit that can take them from tender to tough.

Garlic: Garlic contains a natural compound called allicin, which can help to break down meat fibers. Rosemary: Rosemary contains a natural acid called rosmarinic acid, which can help to break down meat fibers. Thyme: Thyme contains natural acids that can help to break down meat fibers and make the meat more tender.

What is the difference between pork schnitzel and Wiener Schnitzel? ›

Basically, all schnitzels are breaded and fried thin pieces of meat, but only wiener schnitzel is made with veal. Cooking term: Schnitzel is a cooking term used to describe any meat pounded thin, then breaded and fried. Key ingredient: Schnitzel is made with pork, chicken, beef, or veal.

Place into the fridge, uncovered, for one hour before cooking. This step dries the breading and ensures it will stick perfectly to the meat during the frying process. As long as you fry in hot oil, it will come out perfectly crispy with all of its breading intact!

“When you crumb just before cooking, the crumbs bubble up nicely and won't stick to the meat, which is how it should be,” he says. “Once the crumbed meat goes in the fridge overnight it tends to go soggy, won't fry up nicely, and won't be as golden and crisp.”

Cook all raw ground pork to an internal temperature of 160°F (71.1 °C) as measured with a food thermometer. If fresh pork has reached 145°F (62.8 °C) throughout, even though it may still be pink in the center, it should be safe.

Another good tip is to keep an eye on the juices of the meat as you're preparing it. If the liquid is clear, the meat is probably fully cooked. A little pinkness to the pork will leave the meat juicy and tender, as long as it has hit that ideal 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

After you let the meat rest for at least 5 minutes, slice into it; it should be pale white with a hint of pink. That color doesn't indicate anything nefarious—at 145°F, your pork is at a “medium rare” temperature.

Raw meat can carry bacteria which cause food poisoning and, accordingly, eating undercooked pork or chicken may result in food poisoning. If you experience symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and fever after eating undercooked meat, seek a diagnosis from a medical institution immediately.