Roast Pork + AMAZING PORK CRACKLE

Summited by Paulene Christie

Roast Pork + AMAZING PORK CRACKLE

4.82 from 22 votes
Serving: 6
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 9 hours 30 minutes
Total Time 9 hours 45 minutes
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

  • 1-2kg roast pork cut of any kind you prefer with the rind/crackle attached
  • Pourable, fine, table salt
  • 2T oil

Instructions
 

  • Remove any netting from your roast pork and place pork directly into slow cooker. It’s ok to leave simple string on the roast but not the complex net that some have around them – it’s much easier to remove this netting now then at the end when it’s hot and takes all your crackle with it.
  • You don’t need to prep the pork in any other way. Straight in to the slow cooker nothing else added.
  • Cook on LOW for 8-9hrs. 8hrs for 1-1.5kg, 9hrs for 2kg
  • In the final 15mins of cooking time pre heat your oven to 220 degree Celcius
  • Carefully remove your pork and place it on a rimmed oven tray
  • Remove any string that remains at this point
  • GENEROUSLY salt all over the crackle area with the salt. Don’t miss any spots. Don’t be sparing on the salt as it’s important to cover it well. Rub in this salt into the scores of the rind and into it all over the rind area (not on the meat only on the rind) with your fingers. Note it’s hot but not usually so hot that you can’t touch this rind.
  • Then sprinkle oil over this salted rind. Again use your fingers to rub it in really well over all the rind.
  • Then salt a second time over the now oily rind, but only lighter this time, covering all the rind area in a light salt sprinkling - but this time do not rub it in.
  • Place pork in the extra hot oven for approximately 20-30mins, MAKE SURE checking it every so often to make sure it doesn’t burn.
  • Your crackle is done when it’s bubbled and hard/crisp to the tap all over.
  • Remove carefully from oven and cut off crackle – it will usually come away in one piece. Cut or break into strips to serve.
  • Slice pork and serve with your favourite roast vegetables and lashings of gravy.

Notes

  • I cook my roast vegetables either in another slow cooker or in the oven in the hour or so before the pork is finished cooking then remove them from the oven and keep them warm in their tray covered with foil and a tea towel during the crackle process as the high temps needed for the crackle would otherwise burn the vegetables. You can always add them back in for the final 5mins to make sure they are all piping hot again ?
  • We also like to serve with peas and also gravy made with a dash of the cooking juices added to the boiling water and instant gravy mix
  • If you salt and oil heavily and cover every surface of that crackle then be sure your oven is that super hot level you can’t go wrong. Everyone will be talking about your crackle from that night on!
  • If you have areas that don't crackle you've missed them with the salt and oil or didn't add enough in those spots or your oven isn't on super hot - all these things are easy for you to fix next time until you master it 🙂
  • This recipe is also in our new book READY SET SLOW

63 thoughts on “Roast Pork + AMAZING PORK CRACKLE”

  1. I followed this recipe for Christmas 2020, it was no hassle and perfect in every way- the best crackling I’ve ever achieved!! For the non pork eater- crackling is an expectation of pork eaters. Great crackling will make the meal!

  2. This recipe never fails me! Most tender pork I’ve ever tasted and let’s not forget the crackle 🙂 perfect every time!

  3. Sorry but big fail… meat burnt in oven trying to crisp crackle, cooked at 220degrees air forced for 30 minutes, still didn’t crackle…

  4. Even using the wrong cut of Pork, this dish was spot on. The crackling was top notch. The gravy was really delicious, I only added about 1/2 cup of water to stir in the gravy mix….

  5. AMAZING!!!
    Never cooked a pork roast before!
    Followed recipe exactly!
    Crackle was the best, very succulent meat!
    Husband a BIG FAN of the crackle!!!
    Thanks for Sharing- definitely adding to the regular dinner menu!!
    Tammy
    🙂

  6. Easy recipe for Roast Pork. You’d never know it was a meal from the slow cooker because it still has that crispy crackling!

  7. Amazing! It tasted as tender as pulled pork but I could slice it. I am no gluten and I just used the juices as they are as gravy. I took off the rind and blasted that in the oven and left the sliced pork sitting in the juices while it crisped up. The only other change was just rinsing the pork before putting it in the slow cooker.

  8. Morning Pauline I put a 3kg shoulder pork roast in my slow cooker would this take 10 hours to cook and still the same time frame for the crackling above thanks my first time doing a roast pork in slow cooker ?

  9. OMG i put my roast in the air fryer to do the crackling for 20mins OMG came out crackling and looks really good im so hooked on slow cooking ??

  10. Have cooked this recipe a couple of times now and what a wonderful easy way to cook a roast pork. Great crackling and tender meat. Enjoyed by everyone who ate it. Thank you a great recipe ?

  11. Hi Paulene Christie just wanted to let you know that I used this recipe last night and it was amazing! The meat was so tender, and everyone LOVED the crackling!! Winner, Winner, Roast Pork dinner?
    Tips for crackling: I wrapped the meat in foil with only the top skin part exposed before putting in the hot oven. Took it out after the 20 mins so meat didn’t overcook or dry out, removed skin & put on plate & back in hot oven to finish crackling while we carved meat & served up veges. Crackle was perfect after this!

  12. I loooooove slow cooked Roast Pork I won’t have it any other way. I use a boneless shoulder pork as it is the one I prefer and the crackling normally takes 25mins in the oven for me, I do however remove the rind and do the crackling by itself while I rest the roast.

  13. this was done today but I couldn’t seem to get the crackling to crash hot, feed was great but only got a portion of the rind made crackling..

  14. Easy peasy, the best roast pork and crackle I’ve ever cooked, tender and juicy meat and yummy crunchy crackle. ? The only way I’ll do roast pork now, thanks Pauline we loved it.

  15. This was the nicest roast pork I’ve had. I was sceptical that the pork would be dry but it was absolutely delicious. I followed the instructions until the pork had been in the oven for 20 minutes, then I cut the rind off and put back in the oven and covered the pork in foil to rest. Rave reviews!!!

  16. I just had that last night for tea & OMG. The pork just melted in our mouth & the crackling was spot on ?

  17. Lesley Perotti

    Absolutely DIVINE. I will take about 30 mins off the cooking time next time. The crackling was superb though! I put 4 large carrots under the pork too, & they were delish.

  18. Loved this recipe! I’ve never had much luck making good pork crackle but this was very successful and hubby was rather pleased.

  19. Fiona Hutchins

    Wow, this was amazing. Followed the recipe and perfection. Maybe a little heavy handed with the salt, but still polished it all off.

  20. This was awesome, I’ve never had such crunchy yummy crackle
    The meat was lovely as well… but let’s face it…. It’s all about the crackle, and this recipe certainly delivers!

  21. Yummy! Wasn’t sure if the crackle was going to work out as I checked it in the oven but it came good! Might go a little lighter on the salt next time though.

  22. Cooked this again tonight and as always was lovely. Have perfected the crackle now. I think, first time I went over board on the salt and couldn’t eat it as if was far too salty. Now it’s perfect. Thanks this is a winner in our household. Was served with roast potatoes, veg and gravy ?

  23. 5 stars
    For 55 years, my crackling has been hit and miss well, never again. All the crackling was perfect. One thing I did though, was leave the meat in the liquid, while I took the crackling off, and followed the recipe then. No burnt, cloud tender meat, and perfect crackling. I’m ssooooo excited!

  24. I tried this recipe a while ago, and it was the best roast pork I’ve ever cooked.
    Cooked another time and wasn’t so good. I think my pork wasn’t properly thawed and so had more of a steamed taste. Even crackle wasn’t so good.
    But am going to try again tomorrow!
    Thank you for this recipe ?

    1. Definitely ALWAYS need to be fully defrosted meat before slow cooking x
      I’d say that was why your second result wasn’t the same as your first huge success
      But also just for food safety please do always fully defrost first Patricia it’s so important x

  25. Has anyone ever made this pork in the slow cooker the day/night before and then done the crackling in the oven the next day. Recipe to me indicates you do it straight after but that would mean I have to ger up at 3.00 am to put the slow cooker on

  26. I’ve never cooked pork before and this was amazing
    Thank u Pauline for your help. Lovely & moist and great crackle. 10/10

  27. 5 stars
    Awesome! Yummy! After reading some comments I could have done a bit more salt and oil so it crackled quicker and I didn’t dry out the meat but it was still edible! Yummy and easy way to do roast pork ?

  28. 5 stars
    This morning at 6.30am before I ran out the door for work I thought crap what’s for dinner…?? I thought damn I don’t have enough time to prepare my pork. Then I remembered reading this recipe which involves nothing but placing it in the slow cooker. I grabbed scissors cut off the packaging threw it in and turned it on low for 8 hours before running off to work. I got home at 4pm and left it on keep warm so I could do a sport practice with my daughter. Came in salted, oiled, salted then threw in the airfryer for 20 minutes and continued on with kids stuff. It turned out amazingly and was easier than all my other recipes!!! This recipe has been saved so thank you for sharing and creating an awesome roast pork recipe for busy people ??

  29. 5 stars
    Cooked this pork today. Followed the recipe as is. Amazing Crackle was fantastic. Could not fault. Thank you Pauline.

  30. Jodie McPherson

    4 stars
    I think my slow cooker cooks high as I had a 2.3kg and I cooked it for 9 hours and it nearly fell to pieces (maybe 30-1hour less next time) Took longer for crackle to crackle, (I think cos it was in pieces and fairly squishy) but eventually got there.
    Will have to tweak for the future, but family enjoyed it. Thanks Paulene.

  31. 5 stars
    I never managed to make a cracking in my whole life, and trust me, I tried. I followed the recipe to the T and it was AMAZING! I didn’t have the chance to even take a photo.

  32. I missed the bit where it said low for 9 hours so I did high for 5ish, air fryer for 30 mins – it was tender and oh so yum! My boys both loved it – younger son was never a fan of roast pork and he even had seconds!

  33. Jayne Dinwoodie

    5 stars
    Absolutely delicious, pork was beautiful and crackle was amazing, definitely cooking this way again , family loved it

  34. Michelle Pollard

    5 stars
    I cooked this on Monday night. My goodness, the meat was absolutely divine! I didn’t have great success with the crackling, only the edges really crisped up. I wasn’t too fussed about the crackle though because the meat exceeded expectations. Will be the only way I cook pork from now on.

  35. Theano Skarlatis

    5 stars
    Made this 2 nights ago & omg whole family loved it & asked me to make again could not believe there was none left by the end of it so it’s a for sure family fav will make again.

  36. 4 stars
    The slow cooking time was accurate for the weight of pork however my crackling took approximately 45 mins at 220°C. Taste & texture of both the meat & crackling was superb. I’ll never cook a pork roast any other way!

  37. 5 stars
    Had a very small rolled shoulder put on for about 5 hours on low ( in Breville), put lots root veg cut smallish under and around. Finished all in my poor old gas oven oven on 220c for about 30 mins ( did the oil salt thing on crackling). Made gravy from juices. Was amazing, husband can’t get over how the meat was still so succulent and crackling perfect, veg was all so caramelised and lovely. ps did par cook the parsnips in micro as they are hard to get right. Thank you.

  38. 5 stars
    I will never do roast pork any other way again! Turned out perfectly and crackled all over and the meat was so tender and succulent.

  39. Elizabeth Menolotto

    5 stars
    Made this recipe with a boneless leg yesterday. Family loved it. The crackling didn’t come together, but I believe that was user error as we tried a new and untested method. Will be ‘roasting’ the pork like this from now on!

  40. 5 stars
    Tried pork roast boneless shoulder this way last night, was 2.2 kgs so put it on for 9hrs, it fell apart!
    Dont get me wrong that was a great thing, but without something under it i had to think of a great way to get it out!

    My daughter loved it! She said it was a little dry so possibly could have cooked less in my slow cooker, but so simple, and amazing, and crackle was soooo good!

  41. 5 stars
    My husband and I bought some pork racks on sale and last week he did his in the bbq and today was my turn in the slow cooker. I cooked my pork rack plus some potatoes and pumpkin and it was amazing! I usually score my cooking quite harshly but this was a 10/10! I said to my husband that I think this is the best meal I have ever cooked. I even nailed the crackle which I have never been able to get right. (I did cook my crackle for 40 mins).
    I love the flavour, texture and goodness of the veggies done in the slow cooker and only cook them this way now. The pork was amazingly tender and juicy – you just can’t go wrong!

  42. 5 stars
    Made this on Christmas Day with a 1.8 kg loin roast. Was very sceptical when salting and oiling but 35 mins later I had the best crackle I’ve ever made. Meat was super tender. Used some juices to make gravy. Was soooo easy to make and sooo yummy! Don’t think I’ll ever go back to cooking another way.

  43. 5 stars
    made this for the first time for Christmas lunch (no pressure or anything lol)
    turned out amazing
    I’ve never managed to get crackle to work but this was on point!
    after taking from the slowcooker I finished the crackle in the airfryer.
    lots of excellent feedback from the guests who thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
    thanks for a straight forward but effective recipe x

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