Monday, April 9, 2007

How To Cook Pork Loins

How To Cook Pork Loins


When it comes to cooking pork loins there are a plethora of ways you can do so. You can roast the pork, fry it, grill and broil it, steam it and much more. Pork loin refers to the cuts of meat from above the pig's rib cage, along both sides of the backbone, and along the shoulders to the hind legs. In general, pork loin refers to a wholesale cut.
When you purchase pork loins from a butcher you will have to specify what cut you are looking for. Some of the cuts that you are probably familiar with include pork roast, pork ribs, pork steak, and pork tenderloin. The cut of meat that you select will decipher how you will go about cooking your pork.
Pork today is much leaner, which decreases the amount of fats and diets and increases the health benefits for people today. Because of the leanness in pork today, there is less fat to moisten and add flavor to. Therefore, the main concern when cooking pork loin is to not overcook it. To get the richest flavor from your pork, it is recommended that you cook it at a temperature of 155-160 degrees.
As mentioned, there are several different ways you can go about cooking your pork loin. However, there are two general methods: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat is what you will want to use for your naturally tender pork such as bacon, chops, steak, loin roasts and tenderloins. Cuts of meat that are less tender like ribs and shoulder cubes you would moist heat.
From there you will find several variations of ways to cook the meat depending on what the recipe is, how you like your meat cooked, and what type of cut you have. There are a number of techniques that are extremely effective in cooking meat, but it all depends on personal preference.
The most common method for cooking pork loin is roasting it, which is a dry heat method. Some of the cuts you may consider roasting include Boston butt roasts, ham roasts, loin roasts, tenderloins and ribs. Overall, it will take you a little longer to roast your pork loin, which is why many people opt to roast the meat when they are preparing other dishes for the meal. It is perfect not only because it takes longer than other methods, but it also requires little attention.
Because of the number of variations that apply to how you can cook your pork loin, this is a basic overview of what you need to look for. The main thing is to consider what type of cut you are purchasing and what recipe you will be using it for. The rest can be determined in greater detail as soon as you have the basics decided. Just know that you have a plethora of options when cooking your pork loin.

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