How to Cook Pork Ideally
You have been cooking pork, all sorts of cuts and recipes your entire life; so, it’s safe to say that you already are very confident at it. But then again, are you really sure you’re doing it right? It may be true that cooking pork is simple and straightforward as it can be and you have lots of room to experiment, but there still are certain unwritten rules and standards you ought to follow if you want your recipe to be ideal.
Take a look at our top tips on how to cook the perfect pork.
1 – Keeping it simple is the key.
One thing you must understand about pork is that it has one of the best natural flavors out there. Unfortunately, there’s a great likelihood that the flavor is lost if you overcook. What this means is that you never should complicate things. What we’re trying to say is that you must avoid using thick sauces, injections, and marinades. The best way to enjoy the pork’s natural flavor is to simply dry rub it.
2 – You can cook pork better using a meat thermometer.
There are very specific cuts of pork that need to be cooked until their internal temperature reaches between 145 to 160 degrees F. This only means that if you want yours to be perfect, careful monitoring with the help of a meat thermometer could spell the difference.
3 – Develop the patience to rest your roast.
Another important tip in cooking pork is allowing the meat to rest about fifteen minutes after cooking. As a result of your patience, you’ll come up with a juicier and more flavorful meat. The reason why some who roast pork miserably fail at it is because they forget this very important step.
4 – Quality is important, too.
It may be true that pork is readily available just about anywhere, but there’s no guarantee of getting a good quality cut. An essential requirement of cooking is using quality meat. This means that no matter how sophisticated your cooking technique is, your output will never be that good if the meat isn’t of high quality. Keep in mind that the quality of pork meat will primarily dictate the food’s taste and quality.
5 – Always remind yourself that searing must be done first before baking.
You likewise must acknowledge that some cuts of pork, like chops for instance, will cook quite easily. At first, this might be an advantage to you; but mind you, there’s also the possibility of you overcooking it. The best approach therefore is to begin your chops on the stovetop with a standard sear before you wrap it up in the oven.