How to Cook Pork Tenderloin
It can be tough to cook a juicy pork tenderloin, but we have all the tricks you need here.
Unlike pork butt and pork shoulder, which roast up nice and juicy as shown here, pork tenderloin can end up dry when cooked. That’s because it’s such a lean cut of meat. Cooking it can therefore be challenging. It’s not impossible though. There are just a few things you need to do to get seriously juicy pork tenderloin. Here’s now.
Step#1: Remove the Silverskin
There’s a bit of sinew on the outside of pork tenderloin that ends up tough when cooked. You need to remove it. It’s easy to do. Learn how to remove the silverskin here.
Step#2: Brine the Tenderloin
This is not a marinade. A marinade only imparts flavor to the outside surface of the meat. A brine on the other hand has a high salt content and it penetrates the meat and makes it juicier. Here’s a great guide to brining pork tenderloin. The basic key though is to use 1 tablespoon of table salt per cup of water. You need enough to completely submerge the meat, which will be about 4-5 cups of water for a tenderloin.
In a large bowl or ziptop bag, dissolve the salt in the water. Add the tenderloin. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes but ideally 2 hours. Some people go as long as 24 hours but that’s overkill for such a small piece of meat. Remove the tenderloin from the liquid and rinse it off. Discard the liquid.
Step#3: Make the Tenderloin an Equal Thickness
Usually a pork tenderloin is much thinner on one end than the other. If you cook it as is, the skinny side will end up really dry and overcooked before the thicker side is done. That’s no good. So tuck the skinny side up a bit and secure it with metal skewers.
Step#4: Season
Season with salt pepper and whatever else you’d like. Just remember that you already brined the tenderloin in salt so only go in with a little bit of salt here.
Step#5: Bake it
Put the pork tenderloin in a baking dish that fits it easily without needing to bend it at all. Put it into an oven that has been preheated to 350°F. Bake for 20-27 minutes, until the internal temperature on an instant read thermometer is at 145°F.
Step#6: Rest and Slice
Let the tenderloin rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes and then slice it in about 1/2-inch slices and serve.
Here are printable instructions for baking pork tenderloin. Enjoy!
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Description
It can be tough to cook a juicy pork tenderloin, but we have all the tricks you need here.
Ingredients
- 4 Tbsp. salt
- 4 cups water
- 1–1lb. pork tenderloin
- metal skewers
- seasonings (salt, pepper, etc.)
Instructions
- In a large bowl or ziptop bag, dissolve the salt in the water. Add the tenderloin.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes but ideally 2 hours.
- Remove the tenderloin from the liquid and rinse. Discard the liquid.
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Tuck the skinny side of the tenderloin in and secure it with metal skewers.
- Season with salt pepper and whatever else you’d like. Just remember that you already brined the tenderloin in salt so only go in with a little bit of salt here.
- Put the pork tenderloin in a baking dish that fits it easily without needing to bend it at all.
- Bake for 20-27 minutes, until the internal temperature on an instant read thermometer is at 145°F.
- Let the tenderloin rest on a cutting board for 5 minutes and then slice it in about 1/2-inch slices and serve.
1/2 of a pork tenderloin1260 g1223 mg2.5 g0.7 g23.9 g73.7 mg
This post originally appeared in December 2017 and was revised and republished in August 2018.
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This looks so good! I’ve never made pork tenderloin myself. I’ll have to try your method sometime! Thank you!
You’re welcome, Andrea!
I dont think I’ve ever had one! Except at a resturant but it was made for deep frying and breaded for sandwiches
Something new to try then, Saundra! Let us know how it works for you.
I’ll be making some this week.
Great, Cheryl!
My father use to marinate his in something over night but I never got his recipe, it was so good but I have not been able to figure it out.
If you figure it out, let us know, Jennifer!
Nice lean cuts, definitely would like to have this some time at home.
Thanks, Calvin!
Love pork tenderloin,so many uses for it,love all the spices youve used!
Thanks so much, Debbie!
I start pork tenderloin on the stove top.
Heat a cast iron pan over medium high heat, add a tablespoon of olive oil then sear the tenderloin for 2-3 minutes turning to sear all sides then finish in a 375 degree oven . Start checking the internal temperature at 15 minutes and remove at 140 degrees. Let the pork rest for 5 minutes, the internal temperature will increase to 145+ while you deglaze the pan for a pan sauce.
Thanks for sharing your method, Warren!
I have an 8.365 pound pork tenderloin to roast in the oven. What is the cook time? Thanks
Dar, are you sure it’s a pork tenderloin? Tenderloins are at most 1.5 pounds. You probably have a pork loin roast. If so, head over here for the info https://cookthestory.com/how-to-roast-pork-loin-perfectly/