Easy Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops: A Simple Pork Family Dinner Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Why do you soak pork chops in vinegar? ›

The citrus and vinegar in the brine tenderize the pork, leaving you with a more succulent bite of the other white meat.

Because one of the best ways to bake pork chops is to start in an oven-safe skillet on the stove and then transfer them into a hot oven. High-heat frying sears them to a golden brown; and a moderately hot oven (400 degrees F) bakes the pork chops gently enough to keep them from drying out.

Some baked pork chop recipes do require that the pan is covered with either foil or a lid. It creates steam and ensures that the meat is tender and juicy. Those recipes typically require a long cook time and may add vegetables to the pan, and some uncover the chops to finish browning them at a higher temperature.

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.

Because pork chops are such a lean cut, they are relatively quick-cooking and prone to overcooking. 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.

Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine.

You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help. If you are just looking to brine one (1) pork chop or tenderloin, or up to 4 at a time, a quick ratio of salt to water is 4 cups of water and 3 Tbsp of salt / for 30 minutes up to 4 hours.

marinating the meat with vinegar will make the meat much softer and tender after cooking; 2. the vinegar of the marinade will flavor your meat and enhance your recipes.

Like steak or chicken, pork also needs a lot of salt to bring out all the flavor. If you really want to be fancy, you can brine the pork chops in some salt water (season it with other stuff like whole peppercorns and bay leaves).

I use both! At the same time! The butter helps achieve that golden brown color and adds more flavor, but you need the oil, too, because it has a higher smoke point and keeps the butter from burning. How long do you cook pork chops in a frying pan?

Should you flip pork chops in the oven? ›

After 10 minutes, flip the pork chops to ensure even cooking. Continue baking until there is no longer any pink and the juices run clear. Note that for some marinades, the juices will always have some tint of color due to the color of the marinade.

How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 400 Degrees F. At 400 degrees F you can count on 7 to 8 minutes for each 1/2 inch of thickness your pork chops are. So, 3/4-inch-thick chops will take 10 to 12 minutes, 1-inch-thick cooks in 15 to 16 minutes, and so on.

To tenderize pork before cooking it, try breaking up the tough muscle by hitting it with a meat mallet evenly across the surface of the meat. Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine.

Tenderize Pork with a Meat Mallet

An old-fashioned meat mallet is a quick, affordable, and reliable way to soften up any cut of meat. It's great for pork chops because you can use it lightly on thinner chops and put more force into thicker cuts.

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.

As with my dad's pork chops, grilling is a high temperature cooking method. While I recommend cooking low and slow, I emphasize the word slow. This will not be a fast cooking process, so try it when you aren't rushed. I put them in the oven, covered on the lowest bake setting, which happens to be 170 degrees.