Sweet and Sour Pork — Ad-Free Recipe, Ingredients First

Pork shoulder holds enough fat to stay juicy inside a crackly fried shell, where lean loin dries into string. Taste and balance the sauce before the pork ever goes in. You want the vinegar's bite sitting right alongside the sugar, with neither one burying the other.

The Ingredients — and where to get them

Cook for 4 servings

Pork shoulder

Fatty cut stays tender through the fry; cut into 1-inch cubes.

1.5 lb

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Rice vinegar

The sour half of the sauce; unseasoned vinegar lets you control sugar.

5 tbsp

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Cane sugar

Balances the vinegar and helps the sauce lacquer.

5 tbsp

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Cornstarch & flour

A cornstarch-heavy dredge fries up glassy and stays crisp under sauce.

1 cup

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Soy sauce

A splash for the marinade and color in the sauce.

2 tbsp

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Pineapple, bell pepper & onion

Fresh chunks go in at the end so they stay snappy, not stewed.

2 cups total

Onion →

Using pork shoulder (boston butt / picnic)? It behaves the way it does for a reason — what this cut is for and how to cook it →

The Rundown

Greedometer ●●●●● A fair little treat

A reasonable little indulgence. · plan ahead — needs marinating, soaking, or resting time

EffortSome doing

Cook it with

Air fryerOne-pot

The Method

MarinateToss pork cubes with soy, a pinch of salt, and 1 tsp cornstarch; rest 15 minutes.
DredgeCoat each cube in a mix of 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part flour, pressing so it clings in dry ridges.
Double-fryFry at 340F until set, rest 3 minutes, then fry again at 375F until deep gold and crackly. Drain on a rack.
Build sauceSimmer vinegar, sugar, a spoon of soy and a little ketchup until it coats a spoon, then taste and adjust sweet vs sour.
Toss and serveStir in pineapple, pepper and onion for 1 minute, add the pork off heat, and toss fast so it glazes before the crust softens.

The Toolkit

Wok · Frying thermometer · Spider strainer · Wire rack

Straight Answers

Can you make Sweet and Sour Pork in an air fryer? — Yes

Yes — this is exactly what an air fryer does well. Work in a single layer so the air can move, and shake or flip halfway for even crisping. It runs a touch faster than the oven, so check early.

Can you freeze Sweet and Sour Pork? — Yes

Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.

Can you make Sweet and Sour Pork ahead of time? — Yes

Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.

Is Sweet and Sour Pork gluten-free? — Not as written

Not as written — it contains gluten. Make it gluten-free: swap in tamari instead of soy sauce (check the other labels too).

Is Sweet and Sour Pork vegan? — No

No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.

Community Notes

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© 2026 5best2buy.com · Recipe No.335

Sweet and Sour Pork, and where to source it