Dear Readers-
I absolutely LOVE a GOODe pork chop.
I have been known to order pork chops at a steakhouse in lieu of a juicy steak… but only if I know their chops are good chops– or rather that I know they know how to cook a good chop.
You know what I mean… a pork chop can be a wonderful and flavorful cut of meat, but they can also go horribly wrong… nothing is more disappointing than an old dried out chop… blech.
The culprit? Cooking them too long.
Truth be told, I prefer cooking my chops at home… and getting them perfect every time.
Picking Your Pork
Your preferred chop is totally your choice… and there are lots to choose from:
Pork chops are the most popular cut from the pork loin, which is the strip of meat that runs from the pig’s hip to shoulder. Depending on where they originate, pork chops can be found under a variety of names, including loin, rib, sirloin, top loin and blade chops. (Source: Pork Be Inspired)
Personally, I like different cuts at different times. I have childhood memories of mom always grilling some amazing blade chops on the grill. And Puddie can make a mean grilled rib chop and when I am in a pinch we use butterflied chops (separated) because that is a favorite cut of our local market that is readily accessible to us.
However, we usually use Center Cut Chops (Sirloin) or I even cut my own from a whole loin and freeze in my own marinades.
Broil It Baby
While I am not opposed to the grill by any means and I absolutely adore this Pork Chop Dinner on the stove top when I have the time, the broiler makes quick and easy delicious chops every time.
For years I let my broiler intimidate me into never using it but then I started giving it a try and found out how simple and incredibly useful it was! And when I discovered that I could make things very easily indoors without having to heat up (and sometimes forget) the grill…I was sold.
To make my favorite Perfect Pork Chops, I simple heat up my broiler with my broiler pan inside and lightly sprinkle them with Lawry’s Seasoned Salt.
When the broiler is nice and hot, place the chops seasoned side down and lightly season the top.
Your broiling time will depend on the thickness of your chop which can range anywhere from 1/2 inch to 2 inches!
I generally pop them in the broiler and set my timer for 5 minutes to start checking them to see when they begin to brown so I can flip them.
Once browned, I flip them and stick a Meat Thermometer in their thickest point. I love my thermometer. It lets me stick it in the broiler and lets me know via alarm when they hit 145 degrees.
Once they hit 145, I pull them out and let them rest for 3 minutes before we serve them up.
Yummy, juicy–slightly pink in the middle (now okay per the USDA)– chops are perfect every time.
Perfect Pork Chops Every Time
Ingredients
- 4-6 Pork Chops
- Lawry's Seasoned Salt- Taste
Instructions
- Preheat Broiler and Broiler Pan
- Season one side of chops and place on hot broiler pan.
- Season other side.
- Broil for 5 minutes and then check for browning.
- Once top side is browned, flip and insert meat thermometer and broil until meat reaches 145.
- Remove from broiler and rest for 3 minutes.
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Lana Wallpe says
Even though we raise beef and love it to distraction, I am just as much in love with pork. I figured out that I can also cook these pork chops on the stove top IF I have a raised grill pan. It’s important to have a raised pan (looks like a grill on the bottom). For some reason it allows the pork chops to remain juicy and deliciously tender! YA PORK!
gloria randall says
Hello, Chris!
I would like to know what is considered Pork Belly. Where I shop has pork belly in the pork meat case as Hormel’s Cured Salt Pork and Smithfield Salt Pork Fat Back. Is the Asian pork belly one of these brands or another brand? What should I look for in the Asian grocery store if the above described two items are not condsidered Asian pork belly?