Pork Cooking Guide - Cooking Tips

Pork today is leaner than ever before, decreasing the amount of fat in diets and resulting in health benefits for all ages. But, leaner pork also affects the way pork should be cooked. Because there is less fat to moisten and to add flavor to the meat, care should be taken to not overcook pork. It was once thought that pork must be cooked to an internal temperature of 185°F to ensure that trichina bacteria would be killed. It is now known that trichina is eliminated at 137°F, however, it is still recommended that pork be cooked to an internal temperature of 155°F to 160°F so it is safe to eat. Cooking the pork to a temperature of 185°F will produce tough, dry meat.

There are various methods that can be used to produce juicy and flavorful pork. Some methods work better than others on different cuts of meat. There are two basic methods: dry heat and moist heat. Dry heat is most often used on cuts that are naturally tender, such as bacon, chops, steaks, loin roasts, and tenderloins. Moist Heat is most often used on cuts that are less tender, such as ribs, shoulder cubes and boneless Boston butt roasts. Each method has many different techniques that can be used, which may be determined by the recipe or by the personal preference of the person doing the cooking. Keep in mind that there are many good techniques for accomplishing these cooking methods. Shown below is information and some basic cooking instructions for roasting, one of the most common cooking methods used for pork. To see information and instructions on other cooking methods and cooking techniques, select one of the topics above.

Roasting

Roasting is a dry heat cooking method which is a popular choice for large tender cuts of meat. Roasting, which is basically the same method of cooking as baking, is often used when preparing cuts such as Boston butt roasts, picnic roasts, fresh ham roasts, smoked ham roasts, crown roasts, loin roasts, tenderloins, and ribs. Cuts that do not have natural marbling can benefit from barding of the meat to provide the necessary fat for flavor and to help moisten the meat while it is cooking. Marinating the meat before roasting or basting it with meat juices throughout the cooking time will also help produce tender and juicy meat. Roasting is a good method to use when preparing a meal where other dishes have to be made before serving the meal. It generally consists of a longer cooking time than other methods and needs little attention during the cooking period. This leaves time for preparing other dishes.

Roasting is accomplished by cooking the pork, uncovered in a heated oven. The meat must first have the excess fat trimmed, and if necessary or desired, it should be tied.

A standing rib roast is tied to because the outside layer of meat has a tendency to separate from the inner rib-eye muscle. The rib roast is generally tied by wrapping strings around the roast, between each of the bones.

Roasts that have been tied retain their shape and provide a more appealing roast when cooked. Most often any boneless roasts will be tied to reshape it once the bones have been removed. It is shaped into a roll that is the same thickness throughout. If the boneless roast will be stuffed, the stuffing is added, the roast is then rolled up and tied to hold the stuffing in the roast.

To cook, the roast is placed on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. The rack is not necessary but if not used, the bottom of the cut will sit in the juices and be stewed, which will not allow it to become brown and crisp on the surface like the rest of the meat. If the meat does not have any surface fat, it can be rubbed down with 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons of oil and then seasoned.

Meat is sometimes seared before roasting to seal in juices and brown the surface of the meat to add flavor. Searing can be accomplished by using several different methods. One method is to use a high temperature for a short period of time at the beginning of the roasting time and then reduce the heat for the remainder of the time. This quickly browns the outer surface and seals in the juices. Another searing method used involves frying the meat in a very hot pan until all sides have been nicely browned and then placing it in the oven to finish cooking.

If the meat is not going to be seared in the oven, the oven should be preheated to either 325°F or 350°F (450°F for pork tenderloin) and the meat should be at room temperature.

	To begin, trim off excess fat. If the meat does not have sufficient marbling of fat throughout to provide flavor and moisture during the roasting period, leave a layer of fat 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick on the surface to add flavor and moisture. The meat can also be barded or rubbed with oil to provide flavor and moisture during the cooking process.
	Seasoning the meat before cooking will enhance its flavor during the roasting process.
	Rub the desired seasonings onto the surface of the roast, making sure to cover the entire surface. Place the roast on a rack in a shallow baking pan and put the roast, uncovered, into a preheated oven.
	Sear the roast before roasting. To sear in the oven, have the oven preheated to 450° to 475°. Place the roast in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes, searing the outer surface to seal in the juices. Turn the oven temperature down to 325° and continue to cook until done.
	The roast should be removed from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 150° to 155° and then allowed to stand for 10 to 15 minutes before carving. The temperature of the roast will rise during this time and should reach a desired temperature of 160° to 165°.

The length of time a cut of pork will have to cook will depend on the size of the cut and whether it is tied, stuffed, bone-in, or boneless. The best way to determine if the meat has cooked long enough is to check for doneness. It is important not to overcook pork because it will become tough and dry, but if under cooked it will not have the proper flavor or texture. It also needs to be cooked to the proper doneness to make it safe to eat. Shown below are signs to look for to determine doneness.

• When pricked, the juices should run clear, with no pinkish coloring.
• Cut into the meat and check to see that it is white in color. When cooked to medium doneness there may be slight traces of pink in the middle.
• To ensure doneness, check with a meat thermometer. A thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the cut should produce a temperature of 160°F for medium doneness (165°F to 170°F for well done).

For best results, the meat should be allowed to rest (a waiting period before carving) for 10 to 15 minutes. During this time the meat will continue to cook and will increase in temperature 5 to 10 degrees. Resting also allows the juices to be redistributed through the meat before it is carved. Remove strings if tied, and slice or carve to the desired thickness.

Roasting Tips:

• For a crisp surface on your roast, be sure the oven is fully preheated before placing the roast into the oven in an uncovered pan.
• To add extra flavor, rub the surface of the meat with your favorite seasonings before roasting.
• Roasting at a lower oven temperature (NEVER roast meat below 200°F) will result in meat that is more flavorful and moist. It will take longer to cook but the results will be worth the wait.
• A roast with a bone in it will cook faster than a boneless roast because the bone will conduct heat faster than the meat.
• Do not use sharp utensils that may pierce the meat when trying to turn it because piercing allows valuable juices to escape. Use other utensils, such as wooden spoons and spatulas for turning the meat.
• If cooking more than one roast, be sure that there is uniform space around them so that they will cook evenly. The roasts should not be touching and there should be enough space around them to allow air and heat to circulate.
• When placing a thermometer in the meat to check for doneness, be sure that the stem of it is not touching a bone because this can result in a false reading.
• Using the drippings from the roasted meat will provide great flavor when making a stock, gravy or sauce.