Undercooking or overcooking can easily ruin your pork meal. Moreover, it can be pretty frustrating and disappointing to spend several hours in the kitchen and serve undercooked pork. So how do you tell that pork is done?
First, you can use a meat thermometer and keep in mind that the temperature of well-cooked pork should be a minimum of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Secondly, touching the pork and feeling the firmness; it is cooked if it is firm and not hard. Soft pork needs more time to cook.
Although knowing how to tell if pork is done is essential in ensuring that you serve a delicious meal, you would need to understand other critical aspects of cooking pork. Keep reading to orient yourself with helpful information on cooking delicious pork.
Different Methods On How To Tell If Pork Is Cooked
When it comes to testing the doneness of your pork, several ways can help achieve your objectives. You can make your pork cooking easy by embracing the following methods.
The Use Of A Meat Thermometer
A meat thermometer is a must-have tool in the kitchen when it comes to meat grilling. One of the roles of the meat thermometer is to pinpoint the exact time that ingredients should be separated or added. There are benefits of a meat thermometer, which include;
- Assisting in preventing over-cooking or under-cooking of your pork
- Makes your cooking professional
- It helps make delicious and safe meat as it assists in deciding the exact moment that you should stop cooking, add something, etc.
The Classic Tell By Touch
The use of common sense is the oldest and the most proven method of how to tell if pork is cooked. When using this method, you need to gently press the pork with your fingers to see if it is firm under pressure. However, you need to ensure that you do not break the meat layers with too much pressure.
Texture Test
The texture test method is similar to the tell by touch method. The only difference is that when using the texture test, you need to drive a knife through the pork and pay attention to the resistance. If the meat feels tender, then the meat is cooked.
Tossing And Telling
The other way to determine whether or not your meat is cooked is through appearance. If the pork is golden-brown, the thickest part looks white or pink, and some clear juices are coming out, then it means that you have cooked your meat well.
Undercooked meat tastes bland, but it is also unsafe for health as it may contain worms that can result in infections or even food poisoning. Therefore, always ensure that your meat is well-cooked before serving.
How To Tell If The Pork Is Done Using Softness
Another reliable method that can help tell whether or not your meat is done is by touching the middle with your tongs. For this method to be effective, you need to ensure that you have a sturdy pair of tongs.
Firm but not hard chop pork means that it is done. If you feel that the pork chop is still soft, that indicates that it is not done. Also, if the pork chop is leathery and hard, that is a sign that it is overcooked.
How To Tell If A Pork Chop Is Done
If you want to enjoy delicious pork chops, you must comprehend when they are done. Fortunately, different reliable ways can help you determine whether or not your pork chops are well-cooked.
The best way to tell if your pork chops are cooked is by using a meat thermometer. Here is how to go through the entire process when using a thermometer.
- Stick the thermometer into the thickest part of the meat chops without hitting the bones.
- Take note of the temperature; according to USDA, the lowest temperature that your meat is safe to eat is 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You may choose to keep cooking your chops but bearing in mind that 150 – 160 degrees Fahrenheit will offer the best pork chops. Anything above that means over-cooking the pork.
- After pulling chops off heat, wait for 3-5 minutes to help keep the middle cooking and allow the meat to re-absorb all the juices.
How To Tell If Pork Chops Are Done Without A Thermometer
What if you do not have a meat thermometer? Does that mean that you cannot cook delicious pork chops? You can always tell when your pork chops are ready, even when you do not have a meat thermometer.
If your pork chops are soft, they are raw in the middle, and if they are firm, then that means that they are done. In other words, your chops should be firm but not too firm, as that will mean tough and dry meat.
How To Tell If Pork Tenderloin Is Done
Pork tenderloin is an excellent meal for dinner out. Besides its impressive versatility, pork tenderloin is easy to cook. But how do you tell if pork tenderloin is done?
To check if pork tenderloin is done, you may need a digital cooking thermometer. Ensure that pork tenderloin measures 145 degrees Fahrenheit for maximum flavor. Temperatures above 160 degrees Fahrenheit mean that the meat is overcooked.
Tips For Cooking Pork Tenderloin
Although the pork tenderloin is easy to cook, you should do your best to make it delicious. Besides, nothing good comes easily on a silver platter. The next time you set out to cook your tenderloins, be sure to put the following tips into consideration.
- Remove the silver skin first – the silver skin of the tenderloin does not dissolve when cooked; hence removing it adds a chewy texture to your final product.
- Give it a brine – Good brining ensures that your meat stays tender and juicy when cooked.
- Follow 2-simple processes; sear and then roast your meat. Searing your tenderloin is essential as it gives your meat a golden-brown crust.
- Start with a screaming-hot skillet to make your tenderloin irresistible.
- Give the tenderloin 30 minutes to cook.
- Do not worry about too much pink in the meat, as it is a perfect indicator of doneness.
- The best way to measure the doneness of your tenderloin is to cook it at 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Why You Should Not Eat Undercooked Meat
Although pork is one of the best meals that you can have, eating undercooked pork chops can be catastrophic. First, undercooked meat has a horrible flavor and means that you are not likely to enjoy your meal.
Secondly, eating undercooked pork can result in Trichinosis. Trichinosis is a food-borne disease caused by eating undercooked or raw meats, especially pork products infested with a particular worm. The typical symptoms of Trichinosis include diarrhea, abdominal pain, chills, fever, and headaches.
Common Causes of Trichinosis
- Eating improperly stored meats
- Eating undercooked or raw pork products
- Using unclean kitchen utensils to prepare meats
- Eating undercooked meat for wild animals such as bears, boar or walrus already infected.
Keep reading: Is Pork Shoulder The Same As Pork Butt? [ANSWERED]
Final Thoughts
Cooking pork chops can make a great dinner. They are lean, healthy, and delicious. While many people believe that cooking pork is straightforward, the truth is that cooking them well can be challenging, especially if you are a newbie. Whether you want to make them on a skillet or a grill, it is paramount to ensure that they are well-cooked.
To make your work easier when telling whether your pork is well cooked or not, you will need a meat thermometer. That will make it easy to ensure that the internal temperatures of your meat range between 145 – 160 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also use firmness to determine the doneness of your pork.
Additional reading:
Scot has loved smoking food in his free time for the last few years. Each major holiday or off-weekend, Scot spends days testing and prepping new recipes for perfection.