How to Fry Pork Chops
Want to learn how to fry pork chops perfectly every time – we will show you how and with a little bit of practice you will be able to nail to perfection.
Do you want a perfectly pan-seared pork chop that is still pink in the center? Do you dislike fried pork chop because it’s always dry and overcooks?
In this article we will teach you how to do pan fried pork chops perfectly – and you will soon be able to learn how to cook thin pork chops without drying them out – one of the most difficult pork cooking techniques.
When done right pan fried pork chops truly can have more flavor and moisture that results in a tender tasty pork chop.
We will also show you a basic method and recipe that consists of a few simple ingredients, but they will create amazing pork chop results in the kitchen.
You can use a different method to make pulled pork from pork chops.
We will also show you the best pork chop cuts, pork chop basics, and how to do that perfect sear to keep in the juices.
The Pork chop is cooked to a nice medium level of pork doneness( which is pinkish inside) instead of the shoe leather texture of an overcooked chop.
Best Cuts of Pork for Searing
- Boneless pork chops are thick and tender, which is great for cooking.
- It is possible to use loin chops because they are leaner than center cut chops.
- Center cut and bone-in chops are also used. With the bone, you get extra flavor and they are also very lean.
Pork Chop Basics
There are either bone in or boneless pork chops. It’s easier to work with thick cut meat and if I have a choice then I will choose thicker pork cuts.
The lack of fat can create a dry texture, while the lack of bone can make them less delicious (bone brings flavor to the pork chop), so it’s a good idea to brine them prior to grilling.
However you must plan for this and most people do not have the time – so keep this as an idea for a weekend pork chop cook up – works great on the BBQ also). I like to follow the tips and tricks on how to sear pork chops.
See our Burgers and BBQ Bourbon Pork Recipe.
Also – set the top ways to reheat frozen pork.
Take your pork chops out of the fridge and let them rest on the counter for 20 minutes before cooking them, what this does is let them come up to an ambient room temperature. They will cook on the inside and the center will be perfect. This is a key step in how long does it take to fry pork chops – because if they are cold in the middle they take longer to cook, and the outside is overcooked before the inside is ready.
Pork chops are important to flavor well and should be season liberally. A pork chop crust made with liberal seasoning will be delicious.
Don’t rely on cooking time to cook the pork chops because you don’t know the internal temperature. Use a meat thermometer – see our steak doneness guide where we explain how to use a meat thermometer.
Now, this steak is also key – The pork chops should be resting on a plate for 10 minutes so that the residual heat will bring them to the recommended temperature.
Cooking time will be different depending on the thickness of the pork chops.
Some people love pulled pork – but how much pulled pork do you need per person – we have a handy pulled pork table here.
How to make Pan Seared pork chops
- begin by patting your chops dry with an absorbent paper towel.
- Next dust them with lots of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. You can even rub it into the meat with your hands. It helps to let this stand for 5-10 minutes before you start cooking.
- Use a hot griddle or cast iron pan. The hot will ensure a nice, golden sear. You also want a pan that conducts heat evenly (see our all clad d3 vs d5 review – their pans are great) that will give the pork chops a nice even golden color.
- Before putting in your pork preheat your pan or skillet (you can use the bottom of a dutch oven or braining pan also) to medium high and add the olive oil. Wait till it reaches that hotness before you put in your pork chops.
- How do I know my pan is hot enough to sear pork? you want to hear a strong sizzle as soon as you put them in it – that will tell you your pan is hot enough.
- Sear over medium-high heat without moving the pork chop for 3 minutes.
- Don’t look under the pork chops as they cook, it will disrupt the sear. You can flip the pork chops once they’re golden brown on the first side. You can peak by just looking at a corner of the pork chop to check the color. Do not sear for more than 6 minutes.
- If the pork chops are feeling stuck to the bottom of the pan, just giving them more time. They usually release when they’re ready to flip. This takes about 4 minutes per side.
- Now to cook the other side, just flip them over and repeat. Allow them to rest for a bit before cutting into them.
How To Tell If A Pork Chop Is Done
How do I tell if a chop is done right? When you press on a steak with your finger, it should not feel hard or solid, this is how the professional chefs do it – because they have cooked thousands of pork chops.
I recommend using a meat thermometer.
This is the best way to check if the pork chop is done. When cooking on your pan probe the pork chop and you are looking for an internal temperature of 135 F degrees that indicates they are ready to take off the heat. Remove them from the skillet and allow them to rest on a plate for 10 minutes, during which time they will continue cooking with the residual heat and eventually reach a temperature of 145 F. The thickness of the pork chops can affect the cooking time, so each pork chop will be slightly different that is why I like the pork chop temperature checking method – it will produce better-cooked pork chops every time.
Ingredients
4 pork chops (thick in size _ I like bone-in) Italian or Morrocan seasoning
salt and pepper to taste (I like kosher salt)
1 tbsp olive oil for searing
Instructions
Pat chops dry using a paper towel. Also sprinkle them generously with Salt and Pepper and if you want Italian seasoning.
Start by heating up the skillet (use a good quality one, or a heavy cast-iron skillet ) to medium-high heat, and then add in the olive oil. When starts to look hot by shimmering add your chops. Do not put your chops in early as the reason for the sear is to seal in the juices and keep the pork chop moist.
Sear on one side, do not move them at all. Wait until the thick or thin pork chop is golden brown on the first side, about 3-5 minutes. Flip and sear the other side until browned.
The best way to check if the pork chop is done is to use a meat thermometer. When they get to an internal temperature of 135 F degrees they are ready as they will continue to cook after you take them off the pan. This is the same for a boneless chop I use this same pork chop recipe.
Remove them from the pan or skillet and let it rest on a plate for 8-10 minutes. During this resting time, they will continue cooking with the leftover heat and will eventually reach 145 F degrees cooking to perfection giving you a juicy pork chop. You can use this resting for any style of pork, like a southern fried pork chop, boneless pork chop, breaded pork chop, pork shoulder even.
Do not forget that cooking time will vary based on the thickness of the pork chops.
What to serve with pork chops?
- gravy – garlic gravy is especially nice with breaded pork chops (just add some garlic powder and onion powder to your gravy and a little flour to thicken)
- butter – who does not like the rice taste that butter brings to pork
- seasoned salt will give you a unique flavor pork
- sweet potato
- mashed potato
- cracked black pepper
- make a pan sauce from the juices left in the cast iron skillet
- your favorite seasoning salt
- french fries
- corn on the cob
Do you flip pork chops?
Yes, after 3-4 minutes you flip the pork chop to the other side.
How Long Do You Pan Fry Pork Chops?
You can pan fry pork chops for 2-4 minutes on each side. This depends on how thick the pork cut.
What kind of oil do you use to fry pork chops?
A high smoke point oil without too much flavor is good. e.g olive oil or another vegetable
Top Tip – use a probe thermometer as it can check the internal temperature of the meat or pork..
How do you know when pork chops are done frying?
After 3-5 minutes on each side – the internal temperature has reached 135 F – then take them off the heat and rest -they will be a juicy pork chop that you will love and be proud of.
How To Cook Pork Chops On The Stove
Have the stove set to medium-high temperature and use a cast-iron skillet – cook each side 3-5 minutes and check the internal degrees in the chop – see above.
How Do You Keep Pork Chops Moist When Frying
The key to keeping pork chops moist while frying is to sear each side in a hot pan or skillet, this keeps the juices inside the chop and the result is a nice moist pork chop – every time.