There is fine line between undercooked or overcooked pork. When pork is not cooked enough, it carries the risk of parasites and food borne illness, where as overcooked pork tastes dried out, tough, and chewy.
From searing to oven roasting, there are many cooking techniques to cooking pork chops. The goal being to make the meat golden brown and prevent drying out.
How do you cook pork chops in the oven? Prepare the pork chops by brining overnight to add flavor and ensure juiciness in the final product.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit or 190 degrees Celsius, and place an oven-safe skillet inside. Season the pork chops with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Remove the hot skillet from the oven and set it over medium-high heat on the stovetop. Sear the pork chops for 3 minutes and flip the meat on the other side.
Immediately transfer the hot skillet into the oven. Roast the meat until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 to 63 degree Celsius.
Once the meat is done, let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. To prevent from drying out, loosely cover with foil to keep the moisture and heat inside.
Pork chops are a tender, quick-cooking cut of meat that is very easy to overcook. Therefore, preparing the meat by searing on the stovetop with oven cooking helps to prevent outside surface from getting tough and dry before the inside of the meat has finished cooking.
This article answers frequently asked questions about how to cook pork chops in the oven to ensure a quality result. Covered below is the proper temperature setting and cooking time to keep the meat golden brown, tender, and crispy on the outside.
Can you cook pork chops in the oven?
Yes, you can cook pork chops in the oven. It may take slightly longer than stovetop cooking, however temperature control and heat circulation in the oven makes the pork chops taste much more juicy and tender.
The cooking time may vary due to inaccurate oven temperature, thickness of the chops, and desired doneness.
For better results, begin searing the pork chop on stovetop on both sides, then throw in a hot oven. This will help to sear the outside, lock in the juices, and keep the meat tender without drying out.
Do you cook pork chops in the oven covered or uncovered?
When cooking pork chops in the oven, baking covered or uncovered depends on the recipe and personal preference.
Loosely covering the pork chops with aluminum foil helps to create a pocket of steam that cause the meat to be more tender during the process.
Once it is fully cooked, uncover the foil and let it bake at higher temperatures or broil the surface to brown or caramelize the outside for added crispiness.
If your pork chops always become dry and tough, consider covering with foil at the beginning. Be aware it may take a longer time to cook compared to uncovered meat.
However, covering the pork chops will cause steam to prevent browning and crisping on the surface. If browning of the meat is important to you, then a dual cooking approach is going to be your best bet to achieve desired texture.
Is it better to bake pork chops at 350 or 400?
A lower temperature tends to produce a more tender and moist meat with slower process, where as higher temperatures tends to get a crispier surface and more intense roasted flavor.
Therefore, it comes back to personal preference how the pork chops are done. As long as you sear the pork before baking in the oven, they will have a nice roasted flavor.
The oven temperature will only affect the finishing touch of either crispy or tender. With a skillful approach to cooking, precise doneness can be achieved at both temperatures.
What temperature should pork chops be cooked at in the oven?
The ideal oven temperature setting for pork chops is 375 degree Fahrenheit or 190 degree Celsius. The temperature will depend on the recipe, cooking technique used and doneness of the meat.
From 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 176 degrees Celsius to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 232 degrees Celsius, the oven range is wide to select from. This choice will also depend on the cut, cooking style and thickness of the pork chop.
Furthermore, some ovens tend to lead to inaccurate temperature due to being an old model. So, we recommend placing an oven thermometer inside of the appliance to know the accurate measurement.
Regardless of the temperature choice, ensure the internal temperature of the meat reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit or 63 degrees Celsius to prevent consuming undercooked meat that may lead to food-borne illness.
How long do you cook raw pork chops in the oven?
Following the right cooking time is crucial to prevent the pork chops becoming tough and dry. Because this type of meat cooks easily, it is important to appropriately time the cooking and resting before serving.
When the pork chop is cooked at 400 degrees Fahrenheit or 204 degrees Celsius, the thickness of the meat affect the cooking time. Additionally, putting the meat straight into the oven without searing will make the cooking times take much longer:
- ½”: 10 to 16 minutes
- ¾”: 16 to 21 minutes
- 1”: 21 to 27 minutes
In addition, the standard thickness of pork chops cooking time will vary depending on the different temperature:
- 350 degree Fahrenheit or 176 degree Celsius: 21 to 27 minutes
- 375 degree Fahrenheit or 190 degree Celsius: 17 to 21 minutes
- 400 degree Fahrenheit or 204 degree Celsius: 14 to 17 minutes
- 450 degree Fahrenheit or 232 degree Celsius: 10 to 14 minutes
These general cooking time will vary slightly whether you brine or season with thick marinades. Furthermore, searing in advance, covering or uncovering the foil will drastically affect timing.
Tips to cook pork chops in the oven
Oven makes cooking pork meat easy. It caramelize outside and keep the inside of meat juicy and tender.
Other than following a recipe, here are some useful tips to consider when cooking pork chops in the oven:
- To keep pork chops from drying out, brine the meat overnight.
- Bring extra thick cuts of meat to room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking. This makes it much easier to cook the inside of the meat instead of it remaining ice cold while the outside edges get overcooked.
- Pan sear the pork chops before baking to create crusty texture and roasted flavor. Use an oven-safe skillet to sear on stovetop and then transfer into the oven.
- Bake pork chops at a high temperature for a shorter amount of time.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to make sure it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit or 63 degrees Celsius to be safe to consume.
- Avoid serving the cooked pork chop right out of the oven, instead let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes on the counter before slicing and serving.
Baking Pork Chops in Oven: Conclusion
Cooking pork chops in the oven requires some cooking skill to nail the perfect taste and texture. Without the right procedure, it can easily overcook, dry up, and become tough.
Place an oven-safe skillet into the oven and preheat the oven to 350 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit or 176 to 232 degrees Celsius. The temperature setting will affect the technique, doneness and cooking time depending on your preference.
Prepare the pork chop by brining or seasoning with olive oil, salt, and pepper of your choice.
Use an oven mitten and take out the hot skillet and transfer the pork chop to sear on the stovetop.
Cook the meat for 3 to 5 minutes until the side is golden brown. Use tong to flip the pork chop over and immediately throw into the oven.
Bake for 10 to 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches safe for consumption or your desired doneness.
When done cooking, place on a wire rack and let it sit for 5 minutes before slicing and serving. When properly cooked, baking pork chops in the oven is easy, straight forward and incredibly tasty.