How to Cook Succulent Pork Chops

Cooking Succulent Pork Chops can be easy if you’ve done it many times or hard if it’s your first time. To cook pork chops and make them succulent, I’ll show you the ways to do it like a PRO.

What are pork chops?

Pork chops resemble the beef steaks. Chops and steaks are actually quite similar in the way they are cut and priced. This meat comes from the loin, which runs from the hip to the shoulder and contains tenderloin. The most common chops you see in the butcher store are from the ribs and the loin.

The pork chops are divine, perfect for a great dinner with your family on Saturday night. In fact, this style of cooking is so great that Kamala Harris looks as she tasted a rainbow or something. Look bellow 😯 .

Finally got my pork chop! pic.twitter.com/3LUSKorixU

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) 11 august 2019

How do you tenderize pork chops?

To tenderize pork chops before BROILING, GRILLING or PANFRYING it, try breaking up the tough muscle by hitting it with a meat mallet evenly across the surface of the meat. To be extra tender, you can marinate it in citrus juices, vinegar, beer, or wine. Look for more info about tenderizing the pork meat, because this is a great step to cook this kind of meat.

Soaking pork chops in milk make them tender – Mith or True?

Of course, you can. The only thing you must know is to be aware that some thin chops might smell like milk, but cooking the meat will make the smell disappear.

Marinating pork chops or other meat in milk is more effective at tenderizing meat than other types of marinades, according to Fine Cooking online. The exact mechanism is unknown, but it may involve enzymes in the milk acting on proteins in meat to break them down and thus soften the muscle fibers. – Source Ehow.com: regarding the milk marinade.

See my recipes with Pork meat >

Broil the Pork Chops

To Broil the pork chops you may need to move the oven rack so it is 5 to 6 inches below the broiler. Set the oven control to broil. Place the meat on the rack in a broiler pan. To broil pork chops best, the National Pork Board recommends preheating the broiler pan. The hot surface will help to sear the surface of the meat.

Broil it uncovered for about half the time listed below or until the meat is brown on one side. Turn the pork chop and continue cooking. To check doneness, cut a small slit in the center of boneless cuts or in the center near the bone of bone-in cuts. Medium pork is slightly pink in the center. Well-done pork is no longer pink in the center. Or insert a meat thermometer in the center of the pork chop to check for the desired doneness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper over both sides of the pork meat after cooking.

What temperature must be used for broiling the pork chops?

To ensure doneness, check with a meat thermometer. A thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the cut should produce a temperature of 145°F for medium doneness or 160°F to 165°F for well done.

Grilling the Pork Chops

To Grill the pork chops, prepare the coals or a gas grill for direct heat. Heat to medium heat, which will take about 40 minutes for charcoal or about 10 minutes for a gas grill. Grill uncovered until pork chop is brown on one side. Turn the meat and continue cooking. Insert a meat thermometer in the center of the pork chop to check for the desired doneness. Sprinkle with salt and pepper over both sides of the pork meat after cooking.

What temperature must be reached when grilling the pork chops?

Leave an area in the charcoal grill without coals so that if a flare up occurs or some of the meat is cooking too fast, you can move the meat to this cooler area. On a gas grill, leave one burner on low. Cook pork chops on the grill until the internal temperature reach 135°F.

Panfry the pork chops

If the pork is very lean and has little fat, coat a heavy skillet or frying pan with a small amount of vegetable oil, or spray it with cooking spray. Or use a nonstick skillet. Heat the skillet over medium heat 1 to 2 minutes. Place the pork chop into the hot skillet. You do not need to add oil, water, or cover the skillet; covering will cause the pork chop to be steamed rather than panfried.

If the pork chop has extra fat on, it may accumulate in the skillet. Remove this fat with a spoon as it accumulates. Cook until brown on both sides and reached the doneness desired. To check doneness, cut a small slit in the center of boneless cuts or in the center near the bone of bone-in cuts. Medium pork is slightly pink in the center, well-done pork is no longer pink. Or insert a meat thermometer in the center of the pork chop to check for the desired doneness. Sprinkle salt and pepper over both sides of pork chop after cooking.

Notes and Tips

1. Fresh, lean pork should be grayish pink in color and fine grained in texture.
2. Well-done pork, although a little less juicy, is recommended for some cuts because the pork will be more flavorful.

See also my best pork meat recipes →