How to Prepare Pork Sirloin Chops

Pork sirloin chops are a cheaper cut of pork, with a lot of bone and tough muscle. If prepared correctly, pork sirloin chops can be tender and delicious. If you want to prepare juicy and tender pork sirloin chops, you should follow these tips and suggestions.

Read more: How to Make Oven-Baked Pork Chops

Pork sirloin chops have a reputation for being a tougher cut of pork. In part, this is due to where they are located on the pig. Like other pork chops, they are located on the loin, but they are very close to the hip.

The location means they have a high protein content, compared to their fat content. According to the USDA, in 100 grams of bone-in pork sirloin chops there are over 20 grams of protein, and less than 9 grams of fat. A similar cut, with no bone, has over 22 grams of protein, and about 4 grams of fat. In general, the less fat fond in the meat, the tougher it will be.

Pork chops tend to have less saturated fat than some other lean meats. They also tend to have a higher amount of "good for you" fats, known as polyunsaturated fat, making these chops a more-popular choice if you are watching your saturated fat intake.

Read more: Is Pork Better than Beef?

If you want tender baked pork chops, you should follow some of these tips.

• Ask for, or look for, a thicker cut pork chop. A thicker cut pork chop is less likely to dry out when cooked in the oven.
• Pick a bone-in sirloin pork chop. The bone helps provide extra flavor, and helps prevent the chop from drying out when cooked.
• Don't overcook the sirloin pork chop. The USDA recommends cooking pork to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, with a rest time of 3 minutes. If you cook it for much longer, it can dry out the meat.
• Avoid puncturing the meat while flipping. Use a rubber spatula or other blunt utensil to prevent puncturing the meat.
• Marinate the pork chops in an acid (lemon juice, vinegar or wine) with spices, oil and salt. This helps both add flavor and tenderize the meat. If you don't want to make your own marinade, there are plenty of commercial marinades you can choose from.
• Bring the meat up to room temperature before cooking the pork chops. This helps prevent them losing moisture, and keeps them cooking evenly during the cooking process.
• Try searing the pork chops first. The National Pork Board recommends searing each side for 6-8 minutes before placing them in the oven.
• To help prevent drying, add a small amount of chicken broth, or stock, to the pan, when you place the chops in the oven.

These tips and tricks will also work if you are planning on grilling pork chops. According to the National Pork Board, grilled pork chops cook in about 8 to 12 minutes, flipping once, half way through cooking. If cooked in the slow cooker, chops will typically take 6 to 7 hours on low, or 3 to 4 hours on high settings.

Slow cooking is probably the best way to cook pork tenderloin chops, if you are looking for tender chops. The advantage of slow cooking the pork chops is that it tends to create the most tender chops, and you can set them to cook prior to going about your day's activities. When dinner time comes, the chops will be falling off the bone, tender, and ready to eat.