How To Season Pork Loin
Pork loin is our favorite pork meat cut since its lean, tender, and doesnt require any challenging cooking techniques. The secret for an ultimate mouthwatering pork loin dish mainly lies in the seasoning mixture.
We kept the seasoning simple: salt, pepper, mustard, Italian seasoning, and dried herbs. This mixture, plus a little chili powder, creates a fantastic flavor profile with a slight spicy aftertaste that encourages you to reach for the next bite.
If you are in the mood for a twist on the flavor profile, the possibilities are endless. Also, the classic version of oregano and Italian seasoning, or even the classic blend of salt and pepper, will give you good results. Dont write this dish off just because youre missing a spice or two!
Do I Need To Sear Pork Loin Before Pressure Cooking
Searing the piece of pork before cooking it in the pressure cooker is definitely a step that you do not want to skip. It just tends to give the meat a better flavor and texture than if you just started cooking it.
Do I Have to Use a Trivet?
No, you do not have to use the trivet while making the pork loin in the pressure cooker. In fact, it is good for the roast to sit inside the broth while cooking to remain moist.
Instant Pot Pork Loin
Instant Pot Pork Loin Juicy and delicious Pork Loin Roast topped with garlic, butter, and herbs, and cooked to a tender and succulent perfection in the Instant Pot! Make dinnertime way less hectic with this easy Instant Pot Pork Loin recipe. A satisfying dinner on the table and clean up is a snap!
A Low Carb and Keto-Friendly Recipe.
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How To Decide What To Cook
Since youre probably cooking 4lb pork loin in instant pot, you have a pretty good idea of what you want the end result to be. If you arent sure what to cook, you can take some time to plan what you want to eat. The first step to making this dish is to find the recipe you want to follow. You can check out our collection of recipes here. You can also check out our collection of common, traditional and vegetarian dishes. Once youve found the recipe you want to follow, you can take some time to plan your meal. How much time you spend on planning will depend on your cooking schedule and how busy you are. However, its a good idea to do this the night before so you can start your cooking the next day.
What Is The Difference Between A Pork Loin And A Pork Tenderloin
Although at first glance, these two cuts of meat might seem interchangeable, they are not. A pork tenderloin is thinner and smaller and a loin is very big and wide and steak-like the loin is where pork chops are cut from.
You also cook these two pieces of meat differently. A pork tenderloin is great for marinades and slow cooking. A pork loin is great on the grill or cooked on the stove but can be easily overcooked.
Either way, you want to make sure that your pork is cooked thoroughly before you eat it. If youre not sure if its done, use a meat thermometer. It should read 145 degrees at its thickest point to be considered cooked through.
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Pressure Cooker Balsamic Glazed Pork Loin
Instant Pot Balsamic Pork Loin proves that balsamic vinegar is not good just for salad dressing. Some people find it hard to like that concentrated balsamic taste, but trust me, this recipe will convert them into fans.
The intense tanginess of balsamic vinegar is balanced out with stock, soy sauce, brown sugar, and garlic. All those flavors from the spice rub get infused into the glaze as well. The result? Umami-loaded pork thats zesty, savory, and with a hint of sweetness all at once.
Also, the meat is tender and bursting with delicious flavor. Its super easy to make and the whole meal is ready in about 25 minutes. Give it a try, and it will quickly become an instant classic on your table!
Start With A Simple Rub
We start by cutting our pork tenderloin in half crosswise to have two equal lengths of meat. This will help the pressure cooking process. Then we add a rub of brown sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder and garlic powder. Fresh, course ground pepper is my choice to use and I like to go heavy on it. I personally love to use a peppercorn medley which consists of black peppercorns, pink peppercorns, green peppercorns, white peppercorns and coriander. The combination of peppercorns, especially when fresh ground creates such a wonderful flavor profile when combined with the other seasonings for this recipe. You can find peppercorn medley grinders in just about any supermarket spice section, usually very affordably too.
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How To Make Instant Pot Pork Loin Into A Freezer Meal
Its no secret we are big fans of freezer meals around here. In fact, we have 2 freezer meal cookbooks, 1 Hour Freezer Prep Sessions, and even a roundup with 70+ freezer meal recipes that you will love! So, it should come as no surprise that we have freezer meal instructions for this recipe.
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1 through 3, through the marinating step. Freeze before marinating.
Prepare From Frozen: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté. Transfer the frozen meal to the pot and cook for 5 minutes to release some liquid. Press Cancel. Follow Steps 5 through 7.
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
How Do You Cook A Pork Sirloin Roast In An Instant Pot
Turn on the sear function of your Instant Pot. When the machine has heated, add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Lightly season the outside of the pork roast with about 1 tablespoon of the ranch seasoning. You will be adding the rest of the seasoning to the dish, so set it aside.
Sear the pork roast on each side until golden. Turn the sear function off. Add 1 cup of water or broth to the instant pot. Add the peppers and about 1/4 of the brine. Lastly, add the remaining ranch seasoning and butter. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot, seal the valve.
Set the cooking time to 6 minutes per pound. Allow the pressure cooker to manually release pressure 10 minutes before removing from the Instant Pot.
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How Many People Per Pound Of Pork Loin
Typically, when I make pork loin, I allow about 8 oz per person. That means that for every pound it will feed 2 people.
But if you have eaters with larger appetites then I allow about 12 ounces per person.
When in doubt, cook a little more than what is necessary. I would rather have too much and have leftovers the next day than have a small portion which may not give me enough to feed everyone.
What Ingredients Are In Instant Pot Pork Loin
- Pork Loin This is the cut of meat for this recipe that comes from the back of the pig, which is a long/wide piece, usually about 3-5 pounds per roast. Its not the most tender cut of pork so it needs to be cooked at a low temp for longer than a tenderloin.
- Salt A basic spice that is used in most recipes.
- Pepper Ground black pepper.
- Garlic Powder A common spice in a lot of foods that always makes food taste delicious.
- Onion Powder Also similar to garlic, adding so much good flavor to things.
- Paprika We use this spice in food which adds a slight bit of warm heat.
- Olive Oil A good virgin olive oil is best.
- Broth You can use chicken, beef, or bone broth.
- Mushrooms This vegetable is used a lot with pork and beef.
- Onions Any type of onions will work in this recipe. They all have good flavor.
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Step : Sear The Tenderloin
Another way to get the juices flowing in the meat and to add a yummy caramelized flavor is to sear the pork loin in Instant Pot before pressure cooking it.
To sear the tenderloin, heat your Instant Pot using the sauté feature and add oil. When the oil is fragrant, add each tenderloin to the pot and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side. You want a caramelized crust to form on the tenderloin.
Instant Pot Balsamic Pork Loin Ingredients:
Dont be intimidated by this long ingredient list! I guarantee you have most of this in your kitchen already:
Youll need pork loin weighing around 2 to 2 ½ pounds. Prepare olive oil and six garlic cloves. I like the flavors of fresh rosemary in this recipe, but its totally optional.
For the rub:
Measure out some smoked paprika, ground pepper, and onion powder. Were using both fresh minced garlic and garlic powder. Then, measure out some Italian seasoning, along with cayenne pepper for a bit of heat. Brown sugar rounds out the rub with a slight sweetness. Two TBSPs of canola oil helps the rub stick to the meat.
Sauce ingredients:
Prep six smashed garlic cloves, balsamic vinegar, and balsamic reduction. Well use soy sauce and brown sugar for balance. Youll also need olive oil and broth , and liquid smoke.
For the slurry:
Well thicken the sauce with a little water/cornstarch mixture.
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Are Pork Loin And Pork Tenderloin The Same
Even though their name is similar, they are not the same. The flavor, texture, cut and cooking methods are different. They come from different parts of the pig.
Pork Loin:
- Comes from the back of the pig, and is longer and wider than the tenderloin.
- Pork loins are usually 3-5 pounds but can be even larger when you buy the whole loin at a store like Costco where everything is sold in larger portions!!!
- The loin is tougher than the tenderloin.
Pork Tenderloin:
- Is usually much smaller in size, usually 1-2 pounds.
- The tenderloin is from the loin of the pig which runs from the hip to the shoulder alongside the backbone.
- The tenderloin lives up to its name because it is a tender piece of meat.
What To Serve With This Recipe
- If youre looking for an easy side you can throw together with ingredients you probably already have on hand, then it doesnt get any simpler than this Best Simple Tossed Green Salad. The six-ingredient dressing that goes on top of this salad also goes great with any mixture of salad greens and veggies.
- I like to serve this pork over the top of wide egg noodles, spaghetti, fettuccini, or any pasta you have on had. It also goes great over white or brown rice.
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Can I Use Frozen Pork In An Instant Pot
If you forget to take your meat out of the freezer, no worries. Yes, you can for sure use a frozen piece of pork loin in your instant pot.
You will have to add some extra time in the cooking process which will depend on how frozen the meat is and the size of it, especially since you wont be able to sear it first.
What Is Pork Loin
Not to be confused with its cousin, the pork tenderloin, the pork loin is a larger cut of meat that comes from the back of the pig. Very much like the tenderloin or a pork chop, this cut of meat is very lean.
The loin is a much bigger cut of meat so its often called a roast or as the center-cut pork roast. It can be sold with or without bones.
If you pick up a large whole loin, cut it up and make a couple of different roasts out of it. Or you can cut lots of boneless pork chops from just one pork loin.
I like to purchase a pork loin when it is on sale so I can make many meals from it. Its a great value especially since there is very little waste with such a large cut of pork.
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Does Pork Get More Tender The Longer You Cook It
If you use a slow cooker, then yes, the longer you cook the piece of pork, within reason, the more tender it will get.
When you are making instant pot pork loin roast, it doesnt take a long time to cook it, but at the same time, you have to cook it enough because if its not cooked enough it will be tough.
If you are cooking a fatty piece of pork, like a pork butt or pork shoulder, then they tend to get more tender if they cook longer.
Tips For The Best Pork Roast
- Season and sear the meat: this step helps to caramelize the outside of the meat, reduces overall cooking time and adds a deep, rich flavor that you cannot get without searing.
- Add the liquid: without liquid the pork roast will be very dry and tough. For this recipe we add water and brine from the peppers to add a great tangy flavor. You can use broth or even a splash of dry white wine if youd like.
- When the meat has been cooked through be sure you baste the roast in the juices, this adds intense and amazing flavor!
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Is It Better To Slow Cook Or Pressure Cook
Cooking times can vary depending on the type of cooker used. Some people prefer slow cookers because they take time to heat up, while others prefer pressure cookers because they tend to be faster and more reliable. However, both types of cookers can have some benefits and drawbacks. Here are four key points to consider before making your decision:
-Slow cooker vs pressure cooker:-Pros and cons of each type of cooker
1) Slow cookers often require time to heat up before starting to work, which can add some time to the cooking process. On the plus side, this allows the food to simmer in its own juices for a longer period of time.2) Pressure cookers can be incredibly efficient when it comes to cooking food.
Can You Freeze Pork Loin
Instant pot pork loin roast is one of those meats that you can freeze, as long as you wrap it up properly.
Put the meat in an airtight container. Then put the container into a freezer bag. Or if you prefer you can do it the opposite way. Wrap the meat in a plastic freezer bag and then put the baggie inside an airtight container.
Either way, you can freeze the pork loin for 3-4 months.
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Storage And Reheating Tips
If youre not serving a crowd, put the cooked slices in a freezer bag or container, and save them for a busy day when you dont have much time to cook. A perfect meal prep idea! Instant Pot Turkey Breast is another one of my favorite meal prep recipes.
The pork should last 3-4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. For best results, thaw frozen pork overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat gently in the microwave, or lightly fry until warm.
Other pork recipes:
Tips For Buying Cooking And Serving Pork Loin
- When buying a pork loin, choose one with pinkish-red color with some marbling in the meat. Do not pick up a loin with meat that is pale in color or has dark spots in the fat.
- How much pork loin do I need per person? The rule of thumb is to plan on 1/2 pound per person when serving pork, a roast, steak, or chicken.
- Its always best to cook the loin right away but it can stay in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before cooking. Make sure you let it sit at room temperature for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
- Pork is ready when it measures 145°F with your meat thermometer.
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The Best Instant Pot For This Recipe
Any one of the instant pots that you have will work well for this recipe, but if you dont own one yet, then get one that is the middle of the road as far as options/settings. You dont need to get one that is so complex if you are only going to use one or two settings.
Also, get one that is not too small if you plan to cook for a family of 4-6 people. We chose to get the 8-quart instant pot brand and we love ours.
Diets This Recipe Is Good For
- Keto/Low Carb -Another great meat recipe that is a perfect choice for a low carb diet.
- Gluten-free This instant pot pork loin recipe is a hit with my friend who cant eat any gluten.
- Dairy-free There is no dairy in this recipe for instant pot pork loin.
- Sugar-free We do not use any sugar or sweetener products to make our pork loin.
- Paleo A perfect meat recipe for our Paleo readers.
- Whole 30 A good choice for the whole 30.
- Nut-free There are no nuts or things made from nuts in our recipe.
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