Cider-Cured Pork Chops Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to moist pork chops? ›

How to Keep Pork Chops from Drying Out? Brine Them! After you bring your pork chops home, time to brine! Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop.

Even though smoked pork chops come partially cooked, you still need to cook them some more so they're safe to eat. Fortunately, you can easily cook smoked pork chops on the stovetop, on a grill, or in the oven.

Overcooked Pork Chops Are Tough

When they're cooked for even a few minutes too long, whether it's in the oven or on the stovetop or grill, they're quick to dry out, and — you guessed it — become tough, chewy, and less than appealing. This is partly due to carry-over cooking.

For pork chops that are 1 to 2 inches thick, brine them for 1 to 2 hours. Tenderloins thicker than 2 inches can brine for 4 hours. Any cut of pork can brine for up to 12 hours, but no longer.

Braising takes pan-fried pork chops one delicious step further. Braising is also a forgiving cooking method. Because the chops finish by simmering in liquids, they won't dry out as easily. Just give them a quick high-heat sear in the skillet first.

While there are a number of ways to cook pork chops for dinner, baking is arguably the easiest path to perfection. The hands-off cooking method cooks pork chops gently and evenly without the need for extra fat, resulting in juicy, healthier pork chops that pair well with practically any side dish.

It sounds basic but I'll just get it out of the way first: cured meat isn't cooked. Curing was one of the key discoveries our species hit upon to make meat last for a long time at ambient temperatures and not get us sick. Curing is what differentiates a sausage (uncured) from a salami (cured).

Cured meats are often cooked after the curing process, but sufficient curing can make this unnecessary, and many cured meats are eaten as-is, such as prosciutto, various sausages, some forms of jerky, and so on.

"Dry-cured" describes the process by which raw meat is rubbed with a salt mixture and hung to age. It's not just cured in an unsmoked form, as a ham would be. The question, then, is whether you need to cook it before you eat it, and the answer is no—it's already cooked.

A quick turn in a hot pan followed by a little time in the oven is another great way to cook pork chops. You build color and flavor in the skillet, then hand the cooking over to the oven, which gives you time to prep the rest of the meal.

Why are my pork chops never tender? ›

You either cook them hot and fast or slow and low to get them tender. The average Joe is cooking their pork chops way too long too hot drying them out making them tough.

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

Basic Brine

Place that volume of water in a container large enough to hold the brine and the meat. Add 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water you used and mix until the salt is completely dissolved. For example, if you are using 1 gallon (16 cups) of water, add 16 tablespoons (1 cup) of salt.

Sugar: This is an optional ingredient and is typically used to balance the saltiness of a brine. Use about 2 tablespoons per quart of liquid.

Cover the bowl and put it in the refrigerator. You should brine pork for anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. The meat needs to remain in the fridge until you're ready to cook, though you can take it out of the brine to dry a bit in the final hour.

Using a brine or a marinade will make your life so much easier. If you're not confident in your cooking skills, there is one foolproof way to guarantee your pork ends up on the tender side, even if you cook it too long: Soak it in a brine or a marinade.

A brine is essentially just salt and water. It helps prevent moisture loss during cooking, and the salt also helps tenderize the meat from the inside out. If you want an extra juicy piece of pork, brine it before cooking. You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help.

Mix milk with first amount of salt (2 teaspoons) and allow pork chops to soak in this mixture for as long as you'd like, about an hour to maybe four works well. Overnight soaking will result in too much moisture & your breading will fall off. Remove pork chops from brine, and set aside.

A quick turn in a hot pan followed by a little time in the oven is another great way to cook pork chops. You build color and flavor in the skillet, then hand the cooking over to the oven, which gives you time to prep the rest of the meal.