Salt And Moisture Are Key
Pork tenderloin is often coated in a marinade, but not all marinades are created equal. For a marinade to be effective at making meat more tender, it needs to actually seep into the cellular structure of the meat, and so many spices and flavorings we use in marinades dont actually achieve that.
The most important element is always salt. Salt can help break down protein fibers in meat so that the meat is more tender and is able to retain more moisture. Even just sprinkling salt on your tenderloin for 15 minutes before cooking can have a dramatic effect on the juiciness of your tenderloin.
But there is another secret weapon for tenderloin if you want to go further: plain yogurt. The lactic acid in yogurt also contributes to breaking down proteins, so when combined with salt, it packs a one-two punch. And when combined with other flavorings and ingredients, you can create a moist, delectable barrier to allow for browning on the exterior while locking juices in. Marinade in salt and yogurt for a few minutes or even overnight to give yourself a defense against dry meat.
How To Store Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloin keeps in your fridge for around 2 days prior to cooking. After cooking it, you shouldnt keep it in the fridge longer than 3 days. Should you still have leftovers around day 3, you should freeze them. One of my favorite ways to use leftover pork tenderloin is to make pork sandwiches. So quick and easy!
How Many Minutes Per Pound Do You Cook A Pork Tenderloin
Loin roasts dont need to be intimidating! A simple yet elegant meal is just a few steps away. Purchase a boneless pork loin roast, season and roast in the oven for approximately 20 minutes per pound at 375 degrees. Cook until the internal temperature reads 145 degrees, and let it rest five minutes.
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How Do You Cook A Pork Tenderloin Per Pound
Pound the meat with gentle to medium force too much can pulverize it into mush. Also, a skillet hits the thickest part first, but if youre using a mallet, its best to start in the middle and work outward. Even though theyre called tenderloin sandwiches, the cut used for them is actually the loin.
Make A Quick Pan Sauce
For the juiciest pork tenderloin, make a quick pan sauce. To do this, using the same skillet you cooked the pork in, add about 3/4 cup of liquid. You could use apple cider , wine, chicken stock, vegetable stock or even beef broth. Cook that liquid until reduced by half then swirl in a tablespoon of butter.
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How Long And At What Temperature Should I Cook A Pork Tenderloin
Brush the pork tenderloin with additional marinade, then bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for about 15-20 minutes, until the pork reaches a temperature of 145°F, then remove it from the oven. Cooking the pork tenderloin at the high temperature of 425 degrees F helps it cook quickly and prevents it from drying out.
Which Is Better Pork Loin Or Pork Tenderloin
Both cuts are boneless pieces of meat and delicious and it depends what you are looking for.
Pork loin is larger in size than pork tenderloin, so if you are feeding a crowd, pork loin is better.
However, tenderloin is more tender than the pork loin. So, if you want the most tender piece of meat then choose the tenderloin. If you are looking to marinate the pork, then pork tenderloin is also the choice.
Be sure to check out our Baked Pork Tenderloin recipe which is one of our absolute favorites!
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What Is Pork Loin Good For
There are a lot of uses for an oven-roasted pork loin and many ways to eat it. Here are a few suggestions:
Pork loin is a wonderful cut of meat that can be eaten as a roast on the side of vegetables and potatoes, or it can be sliced thin to make sandwiches out of.
You can also top your green salad with chunks or slices of pork loin. One of my husbands favorite things to do is top his chef salad with whatever cold, leftover meat that we have in the refrigerator, especially pork roast. That way it feels like you are eating an entirely different meal the next night for dinner.
When I make homemade tomato sauce, I cook a piece of pork loin right in the pot. Its so moist cooking it in the sauce all day that it just falls apart with a fork.
Why Does It Take That Long To Make Pork Tenderloin In Oven At 400
Usually, cooks leave a large piece of meat whole and wrap it in foil when cooking. Therefore, its pretty challenging to tell if its internal flesh is cooked perfectly or not.
Moreover, this meat will be best when tender, juicy, and a little pink. Thus, you need to check it several times using a thermometer before taking it out of the oven. This process takes time!
Besides, it would be best if you also flipped periodically while cooking. This phase often takes about six minutes so that each side of the meat is evenly exposed to the heat.
The whole flipping process is around 10 to 12 minutes.
Cooking times might fluctuate due to the thickness of the steak, so it is essential to use a thermometer to inspect for desired consistency.
You should also allow 10 minutes for the pork to rest before cutting to ensure consistent heat spreading and more excellent quality.
The National Pork Board also recommends that the ideal internal temperature for the loin should be at least 145° F for safe consumption.
All reasons explain why you need to cook this food in about 25 minutes in the oven at 400°F.
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It Is Definitely One Of Our Most Favorite Top Rated Pork Tenderloin Recipes
Pork loin is so easy and its very tasty. The entire family loves baked pork so its a really great dinner idea.
This juicy pork tenderloin will be a hit. It is one of the best cuts of meat and sure to make a great meal for everyone.
I like to use a cutting board to slice it before serving. Its so tender and juicy!
Pork loin is amazing and I bet you love it as much as we do. Sometimes, I drizzle a little olive oil over the top.
Its delicious.
What To Serve With Pork Tenderloin:
Can pork tenderloin be pink inside? Yes, the recommended doneness for pork is 145F, which will have pink inside. We pull the pork from the oven at 140F, and the meat continues to cook another 5 degrees, so its perfectly done.
Is this recipe healthy? Yes, especially if you buy pastured pork. Its a very lean cut of protein, and its paleo, keto, low carb, and Whole30 compliant.
Will it shred? No, this is not the right cut to use for shredding. You want pork shoulder for that like in this Pulled Pork recipe.
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Why Is Pork Loin So Dry
Pork loin is dry when it gets overcooked, its as simple as that. So dont have any fear of it getting dry if you take it out of the oven at the proper temperature.
If anything, its better to slightly undercook it. You can always put it back in the oven if the roast is not quite done the way that you like it.
However, you cant go backwards and once its overcooked you cant all of a sudden go back to an undercooked piece of meat.
When Its Easy To Confuse Pork Loin And Pork Tenderloin
It gets tricky when you buy a boneless pork loin which is around 3 pounds because it seems like a smaller cut of meat and is often even kept very close to the pork tenderloin in the store!
But if you try to cook a pork loin with a pork tenderloin recipe, it likely wont be tender enough. So read the label carefully!
If you have a pork tenderloin and an instant pot you HAVE to try this Instant Pot Balsamic Pork Tenderloin. The sauce is SO good!
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Make Sure Its Pork Tenderloin
Theres a few cuts of pork that have similar sounding names. Be sure the packaging clearly says pork tenderloin. They are basically long and slender and weigh around ¾lb to 1 ½lbs each. Its also quite common to find them in 2-packs. Other similar names including pork loin, pork loin filet and pork roast are NOT pork tenderloin and require different cooking steps.
Can Pork Tenderloin Be A Little Pink
The short answer is definitely YES!
When roasting this lean cut, youll want to be sure your pork tenderloin temp is at a tender 145° F.
This is the optimal temperature for a tender juicy meal. Your pork may have a little bit of pink in the middle.
Always remember to rest your meat for about 5 minutes before cutting it. Properly cooked and rested tenderloin will be juicy and fork tender!
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At What Temperature And How Long Do You Cook A 2 Lb Pork Tenderloin
Instructions Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix together black pepper, garlic powder and salt. Put the roast on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast until internal temperature is between 145-160°F, 20-25 minutes per pound. Cover roasting pan with foil and let rest for 30 minutes. Heat oven to 475°F. Carve and serve immediately.
How Long Do I Cook Boneless Pork Loin
Pork loin should read 145 degrees when you insert a meat thermometer. This is the best way to know the meat is properly cooked.
In general, boneless pork loin needs to cook for 20-25 minutes per pound of meat.
Pork Loin Cooking Times
Here are some estimates of how long to expect your pork loin will be in the oven depending on how big your pork loin is and the temperature of your oven. You should set your oven to 375 degrees for this recipe.
- 3-pound pork loin- 60-75 minutes
- 3 1/2 pound pork loin- 70- 85 minutes
- 4-pound pork loin 80-100 minutes
If your pork loin is smaller then 3 pounds it is very likely it is pork tenderloin and not pork loin, see above for more info on the difference.
Make sure to rest your meat for at least 15 minutes after cooking. The roast will continue to cook a little, but if you cut it too fast you will loose some of the juiciness in this recipe.
**Note on pink color of Pork Loin Pork loin should have a slight blush of pink on the inside. This is not the same as raw pork. When the meat reaches 145 degrees, the slight pink color means your pork is juicy. If you cook the pork until there is no pink left, the meat will end up dry.
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Can I Cook Pork Roast On The Stove Instead
Yes, you can cook your pork loin on the stovetop in a dutch oven. Just make sure that your pork loin roast is not too big in size. If you use the dutch oven, you can:
Here is a small guide to use when cooking the pork loin in the crockpot:
- 2 lbs: 3.5 hours on low
- 3-5 lbs: 4-5 hours on low
- 6 lbs: 6 hours on low
How Long Do You Cook A 2 Lb Pork Loin At 350 Degrees
How long does it take to cook 2 pounds of pork? How Many Minutes Per Pound for Pork Loin? The rule of thumb is usually 25 minutes per pound at 350 °F. This method that I use is the high heat method: you start the roast off at 450 °F for 15 minutes, sear in the juices and then turn down the oven to 300 °F.
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How Long To Cook Pork Tenderloin In Oven At 375 Degrees F
To bake pork tenderloin in a 375-degree oven, itll take about 30 45 minutes. You can also insert an instant-read thermometer in the tenderloin and check if it registers 155-degrees F.
However, the baking time also depends on the meat size. In other words, it should take about 25 minutes if you cook the tenderloin at 375°F per pound. For example, if the pork tenderloins weight is 3 pounds, itll need about 1 hour and 15 minutes to bake. This rule applies for medium doneness, and it means that the tenderloin is cooked to an interior temperature of 145°F.
In case you want the pork to be firm and cooked through without a pink center, the thermometer should read 160-degrees F when inserted inside the meat. As a result, the cooking time will be extended by 2 to 3 minutes per pound.
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Can I Cook Vegetables With Pork Loin Roast
Vegetables are a good addition to the pork loin roast, just like you would also add in the oven with roast beef, roasted chickenetc.
Some of the best veggies that would roast well would be mushrooms, onions, carrotsetc.
Its best to add the veggies within the last 30 minutes of cooking so that they stay firm instead of mushy.
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Which Is More Expensive Pork Loin Or Pork Tenderloin
A tenderloin is much smaller and weighs between 1 to 1 ½ pounds. Pork tenderloin meat is darker in color than loin meat, and the flavor is mild and lean. It also tends to be more expensive than pork loinabout $2.99 to $3.99 per pound. Keep in mind that this is a very lean cut, so it can overcook easily.
How Long Do I Cook Pork At 350
They required about 45 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Bone-In pork chops require about 10% MORE cooking time, so make sure you factor that into your planning if you bought pork chops with bones. Thinner pork chops will take approximately 25-35 minutes, while VERY thin *under 1/4 inch* will be even less.
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Is It Safe To Cook Pork At 250 Degrees
Time and temperature are strongly tied together in the cooking process. The longer a roast remains in the oven, the lower the temperature should be shorter times require higher temperatures. If you can leave a roast in for 6 to 8 hours, use the lowest heat possible, 250 degrees F, to obtain the juiciest roast.
The Secret To The Juiciest Pork Tenderloin
The best Baked Pork Tenderloin recipe has to be the JUICIEST and you will be BLOWN AWAY at how juicy this pork is! The secret? Brining the pork. You are probably familiar with brining a turkey, but brining pork will change your life.
It produces tender, juicy pork every single time because it actually changes the molecular structure of the pork without having to prep and plan ahead with an overnight marinade.
If youve never brined any protein before, dont be intimidated it literally takes 20 minutes! You actually cant marinate it longer than that or the pork will become mealy so literally 20 minutes! To brine pork, you will combine:
- kosher salt
- ice cubes
- pork
Just a quick note about brining Do NOT evenly swap table salt in your brining solution for kosher salt or your pork will be too salty. You will need half as much table salt as kosher salt. Also make sure to rinse your pork thoroughly after brining to remove excess salt.
How does it work? The salt does 2 things: 1) hydrates the cells of the muscle tissues via osmosis 2) allows the cells to hold on to the water while they are cooked by breaking down the proteins so they can no longer contract when cooking. This means less water will be squeezed out and lost, resulting in juicier pork.
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Do I Need To Remove The Silverskin Before Cooking
If your pork comes with the silverskin intact, you will need to remove it before cooking. Many packages of pork tenderloin, however, will come pre-trimmed and ready to go.
The silverskin is part of a sinew on one side of the pork and looks like thin, silvery fat. You will want to remove it because it can become tough and chewy when cooked. To remove the silverskin, slip a sharp knife in between the silver skin and the meat then cut it away until free. Take care to just remove the silverskin and not a big chunk of meat!