15 Delectable Pork Loin Recipes For All Occasion (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a pork tenderloin and a pork loin? ›

While pork loin offers a larger size, robust flavor, and versatility in cooking methods, pork tenderloin boasts tenderness, lean meat, and a milder taste.

Mustard, herbs, garlic, apples and caraway seeds. Sides? Creamy mashed potatoes, roasted root vegetables, green beans tossed in butter, sauerkraut, braised red cabbage, glazed carrots, spaetzle, broccoli, just about anything, really.

A good rule of thumb is to purchase about two-thirds of a pound of raw pork per person. Pork tenderloin is smaller than pork loin. One tenderloin usually weighs about 1 pound and serves 2 to 3 people.

Pork's nutrition power

While cured pork products such as bacon and ham are relatively high in sodium, fresh pork is naturally low in sodium. Pork tenderloin and other loin cuts are excellent sources of protein, thiamine, vitamin B6, phosphorus and niacin and good sources of potassium, riboflavin and zinc.

At 400 degrees F, a 1-pound pork tenderloin will cook in 8 to 10 minutes after being seared on the stove. Unlike tough, fatty cuts of meat (like the shoulder used for Slow Cooker Pulled Pork), leaner cuts like pork tenderloin do not become more tender the longer they cook. Use a meat thermometer to be sure.

Comparing a classic pork loin chop to the tenderloin per a standard raw 4-ounce serving, the pork chop has 190 calories and the tenderloin has 150. The chop has 10 grams of fat compared to the tenderloin's 4 grams. The tenderloin only has 1.5 grams of saturated fat while the chop has 3.5.

For a crisp surface on your roast, be sure the oven is fully preheated before putting the roast in and don't cover the meat while roasting. Searing (quickly browning at high heat) the outside of a pork roast before continuing with cooking is a great way to seal in flavor.

You can shred pork loin to make a massive batch of pulled pork great for cook-outs, potlucks, parties for a sizable group, or for lunches and dinners — with plenty of extras to freeze and reheat. This dish can be served by itself or "sloppy joe" style on hamburger buns.

Pork tenderloin is slightly higher in calories and fat compared to chicken breast, but the difference is minimal. When cooked without extra fats, both can fit well into a low-calorie, high-protein diet. Cholesterol levels in meats have often been a concern for heart health.

CG: Roasting is the most natural way to cook a pork loin, and it's the easiest and the quickest to get into the oven. I like to sear the outside and then roast it, or you can just roast it as is. The indirect method of cooking preserves pork loin's inherent juiciness and tenderness.

How many will a 2 lb pork tenderloin feed? ›

Although this depends on how much each person eats, a 2lb boneless pork loin will generally serve 2-4 people.

A pork tenderloin weighs about 1 pound and feeds about three people. If you have a large family or guests, you'll need more than one tenderloin.

It is only in Leviticus 11:7 that eating pork is forbidden to God's people for the very first time—“… and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.” This is where and when pork in all its forms (including ham, bacon, sausage, etc.)

Pork can be included in a low-cholesterol diet, provided you choose leaner cuts. Tenderloin, loin, and rounds are the better options.

In Abrahamic religions, eating pig flesh is clearly forbidden by Jewish (kashrut), Islamic (halal) and Adventist (kosher animals) dietary laws. The pig is considered an unclean animal as food in Judaism and Islam, and parts of Christianity.

Speaking of the loin region, the tenderloin cut also comes from this area. The tenderloin is the most tender meat found on the pig and is exceptionally versatile. Tenderloins are boneless, making them easy to cook whole or break down into pieces. Tenderloins can overcook easily, so ensure you have your thermometer.

You can shred pork loin to make a massive batch of pulled pork great for cook-outs, potlucks, parties for a sizable group, or for lunches and dinners — with plenty of extras to freeze and reheat. This dish can be served by itself or "sloppy joe" style on hamburger buns.

Slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin is an easy make ahead freezer meal. Once it defrosts, just dump it in the slow cooker, shred, and serve. Bbq pork tenderloin in the crockpot is such a great freezer meal to take to new moms.

Loin: The area between the shoulder and back legs is the leanest, most tender part of the animal. Rib and loin chops are cut from this area, as are pork loin roasts and tenderloin roasts. These cuts will be dry if overcooked.