Pork chops are affordable and easy to prepare! Check out these quick and easy pork chop recipes your whole family will love.
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Pork chops are a big hit around here, not only are they usually an inexpensive cut of meat, but they are also healthy and versatile.
Pork chops absorb flavors so well that they can be used for sweet to spicy and everything in between. They pair well with practically any vegetable side dish or a starch combination.
Pork chops are a lean cut of meat from the loin of a pig. Some chops have bones, while others are boneless. They also come in different thickness levels.
How long to fry thick pork chops depends on the thickness and the heat. A pork chop can usually cook for 3-5 minutes per side when cooked on the stovetop. Using an instant-read thermometer can help to make sure your pork reaches the proper temperature before serving.
What cooking temp should you be looking for with your pork chops?
Pork chops need to be cooked to 145f to be considered safe for consumption as stated by the USDA. This has changed in the past decade. Before 2011, the safe temp was 160.
When you cut into your pork chops at 145f, you may notice a slight shade of pink to the meat. Please note that this is okay, as the USDA has stated that a little shade of pink to fully cooked pork is safe.
You should, however, not eat the meat if the pink looks dark and uncooked. If your digital temperature gauge states that your pork chops are at a proper temp and you cut it open to find out it's completely raw inside, you should throw that reader away and invest in another one for safety.
What to do when your pork chops come to temp
When testing the temperature of your pork chops, it's best to use a probe for an accurate temperature reading. When your pork chop is within 5 degrees of being "at temp" you can safely pull them off of the heating element and set them aside for 5 to 10 minutes to rest.
Letting your pork chops rest before cutting into them helps them to remain juicy and not dry out. No one likes dried pork!
Due to the heat of the pork chops, they will finish coming to temp on their own while they are resting. You can double-check with the probe just to be sure.
Alright, now that I've you all hyped up and thinking about pork chops, how about I share some delicious recipes with you?
Here are the best pork chop recipes (and pork chop marinades)
Because I would never share anything but the best. 😉
Easy pork chop recipes
If you're looking for an easy pork chop skillet dinner recipe- look no further than right here. These tasty pork chops are incredibly easy to assemble and can be prepped days in advance!
With a super easy marinade to rest these chops in for a few hours (or overnight), you can enjoy a low maintenance meal packed with flavor and hardly any hands-on time (or dirty dishes to deal with).
Quick pork chop recipes
How about a great meal that can be finished in 30 minutes or less? With these quick pork chop recipes, you can enjoy a home-cooked meal in no time flat. Perfect for a hectic and busy day or a lazy day when you want to avoid pausing Netflix for too long.
Pork chop marinades
With simple pork chop marinades like these, you can easily have dinner meals prepped for the week, and it would only cost you a little of your time assembling the ingredients in a zipper-top bag.
What's great is that after assembling the pork chops with marinades, you can freeze them for future meals! Perfect for starting a freezer stash of easy to grab meals or for helping to stretch a tight grocery budget after an unexpected bill comes along.
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