Pork chops, when cooked properly, can be a delicious source of protein and are easy to prepare. Unfortunately, many people fail to cook this meat because they don't know how to check for doneness. With the right cooking techniques, as well as a few easy ways to check for doneness, you can serve up delicious, perfectly cooked pork chops whenever you want!
Step
Method 1 of 2: Checking for doneness by touching and cutting the meat
Step 1. Touch the meat with tongs or a spatula to check for firmness
When cooking pork chops, feel the density of the meat by touching tongs or a spatula. If it's still tender, the meat is still raw in the middle. If it's too tough, the meat has cooked too long.
You should end the cooking process when the meat is firm, but if the meat is tough or feels like skin, it means the meat has been cooking too long and the center is dry
Step 2. Remove the pork chops from the pan when they are golden brown on both sides
Remove the pieces of meat from the pan with tongs or a spatula. If you grill or boil the meat, use oven mitts to remove it.
- Pan-cooked pork will usually be done after 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the meat itself.
- Pork cooked in the oven will be cooked after 30 minutes at 175 °C.
Step 3. Place the cooked pork chops on a cutting board and let it rest for 5-15 minutes
This method is done so that the meat can absorb the cooking liquid. The center of the cutlet will cook due to the heat in it.
You can cover the meat with foil to keep it warm while it is sitting
Step 4. Cut the thickest part of the meat to see the color in the center
After letting the meat sit for a few minutes, cut the center of the cutlet to see the color. The center may be slightly pinkish in color, but the flowing liquid should appear clear.
- In the past, pork usually had to be cooked until it was white to be safe for consumption. However, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that pork cooked to a temperature of 63 °C and slightly pink in color is safe for consumption.
- If the meat looks a little raw, put it back in the skillet or oven and cook for another 1-2 minutes.
Method 2 of 2: Checking the Temperature with a Meat Thermometer
Step 1. Remove the pork chops from the pan or oven with tongs or a spatula
When the meat appears golden brown and feels firm to the touch, check the temperature. Place the pork chops on a plate or cutting board.
- Pan-cooked pork will usually be done after 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the meat itself.
- Pork cooked in the oven will be cooked after 30 minutes at 175 °C.
Step 2. Insert a meat thermometer into the side of the cutlet until the tip goes into the center
The tip of the thermometer should be at the thickest part of the meat for an accurate temperature reading. The thermometer can read the temperature accurately after a few seconds.
Do not allow the thermometer to touch the bones in the meat as the final reading will be inaccurate
Step 3. Make sure the temperature on the thermometer reaches 63 °C
When the numbers stop growing, that's the actual temperature of the meat. Don't let the internal temperature inside the meat go over 71 °C to prevent it from overcooking.