How do I cook pork loin? A butcher’s guide to cook

Roast pork is a delicious meal, ideal for a Sunday roast with the family and some tasty leftover sandwiches for lunch the next day. Pork loin is one of the most popular cuts for a roast dinner, thanks to its tender texture and distinct flavour.

What is pork loin?

Pork loin is cut from the long back of the pig, from the shoulder to the back legs, and provides very lean meat. This tender cut is popular for roasting joints, or cut up to make individual steaks and chops. When bought as a roasting joint, you can typically purchase it with the bone in or as a boneless loin, to suit your cooking preferences.

Whether you buy chops, steaks or whole roasting joints, pork loin is sure to provide plenty of flavour alongside mouth-watering succulence. Now let’s turn our attention to cooking pork loin.

How do you cook a pork loin joint?

A pork loin joint is ideal for a classic Sunday dinner, and pairs well with apple sauce, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables. A prepared pork loin will usually come tied and bearing a layer of fat to aid the cooking and produce lovely crackling. Scoring the fat and seasoning well will develop the flavour before placing in an oven.

How to prepare a pork loin joint

Before cooking, let the meat rest at room temperature. Score the meat with a sharp knife every couple of centimetres. Next, pat the skin dry before rubbing your joint with oil.

A small joint should be left for at least 10 to 20 minutes before cooking. Larger joints should be given 20 to 30 minutes for tender cooking results. Larger joints can be left for up to an hour.

Pork loin cooking time

Follow the guidelines given for your pork loin joint. Below, you can find a general guide on the pork loin cooking times:

• 1kg - 30 minutes on high followed by a minimum 60 minutes cooking time
• 1.5kg - 30 minutes on high followed by a minimum 90 minutes cooking time
• 2kg - 30 minutes on high followed by a minimum 120 minutes cooking time
• 3kg - 30 minutes on high followed by a minimum 150 minutes cooking time

How to cook pork loin steaks

Pork loin steaks are best pan-fried in a hot skillet or frying pan. Season the steaks well before placing in the hot pan. It’s best to aim for a golden-brown outside and a juicy, tender inside. Be careful not to overcook them as they will dry out and lose succulence.

Pork loin steaks cooking process

Here’s the process for cooking pork loin steaks.

1. Start by patting the meat dry and preheating your pan
2. Season your pork steaks with salt
3. Once smoking hot, add the steaks to your pan and cook until golden brown
4. Flip and cook on the other side before turning down the heat
5. Add some butter to the pan and spoon it over the pork steak
6. Rest for several minutes before serving

For the best results, make sure you don’t overcrowd the pan.

Pork loin steak cooking time

As a rough guide, pork loin steaks will take around 12 to 16 minutes to cook, depending on their thickness. The internal temperature must be at least 145°C to ensure they’re cooked through.

The best pork loin recipes

There are so many ways to cook this versatile cut of meat, depending on your palate, cut and style. Typically, pork loin is used in a roast dinner or as pork chops or loins with a side.

Head on over to our pork recipes inspiration section and discover a wonderful Pork Loin Pitas with Fennel & Balsamic Marinade recipe. This step-by-step recipe makes great use of a boneless pork loin, with the addition of a delicious Mediterranean twist.

Pork loin from Campbells

As Scotland’s biggest and best online butcher, we have a vast range of premium grade pork cuts including boneless Scotch Pork Loin, French Trimmed Rack Of Pork, fresh Scotch Pork Loin Steaks and Chops. Order online today at Campbells Meat and get them delivered quickly and freshly to your doorstep!