Delicious pork chops are an absolute delight for our taste buds. This juicy, meaty meal is exactly what you need to quench that hunger and replenish your body with essential nutrients. What we love about pork chops is that you can prepare them in various ways. Your choice of method comes down to a matter of preference. Pork chops are so tasty that many people cook more than enough – resulting in leftover pork chops.
This comes with a downside – reheating pork chops. You may be wondering why that is an issue. Well, it’s not, but reheating pork chops can be tricky because it can dry the meat and make it lose its flavor. That’s an unwanted scenario, and it’s the reason you should know how to reheat breaded pork chops the right way to ensure it doesn’t lose its taste and tenderness.
You shouldn’t be dreading the next time you have to reheat leftover pork chops. That’s like an anticlimax to the heavenly dining experience you had with the cooked pork chops a few days ago. So, we’ll be showing you how to reheat pork chops with care. Stay with us!
How to Reheat Pork Chops in the Oven?
- The first thing to do is preheat your oven till it gets to a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Then, add a couple of tablespoons of chicken broth (you can use water as well) to a pan that’s safe to use in the oven. Remember, the goal is to reheat leftover pork chops to retain their moisture and flavor. Using the chicken broth or water will keep the pork chops moist.
- Now, place the pork chops in the pan and cover it with aluminum foil.
- Place the pan in the oven and leave it for 10-15 minutes. Alternatively, you can reheat the leftover pork tenderloin until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check it using a food thermometer.
- Once the reheating has gone for the recommended time range or it reaches the desired internal temperature, take it out of the oven. It’s ready to serve.
If you want to use the oven to reheat pork tenderloin:
- Switch on your oven and preheat it to a temperature of 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Put the pork tenderloin on a sheet pan and put it inside the oven.
- Reheat the meat for 10-15 minutes if unsliced. If it’s sliced, heat it for 5-8 minutes. That’s enough time for the meat to get the desired temperature.
For pork loin:
- Ensure the oven preheat is at a minimum of 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Put the pork chops in a shallow oven-safe pan so they can reheat quickly.
- Now, put your pan inside the oven and allow it to reheat for 20 minutes.
- After the time elapses, remove it and check its internal temperature on the thickest part of the meat. If it gets to the recommended range, it’s ready to be served. However, if the meat is yet to reach the internal temperature, return the pork loin to the oven for an extra few minutes. Heat it until it gets to that temperature.
- For more details, check out this great post about how long to cook pork tenderloin in the oven.
How to Reheat Pork Chops in the Microwave?
Though we’ll rank the oven method over using the microwave, the latter is a viable option if you don’t have time on your hands. The trick with using the microwave to heat pork chops is that you should configure the setting at 50% power to avoid having dry pork chops. Let’s show you how to reheat pork chops with this method:
- Put the pork chops on a microwave-safe plate. Ensure you arrange it in a single layer.
- Use a damp paper towel to cover the pork chops and place pork chops inside the microwave.
- Power on the microwave, set it to 50% power and reheat pork chops at this setting for about 30 seconds.
- Once the time elapses, pop the microwave door open and check your pork chops on the microwave plate. If it’s cool, repeat the reheating process for another 30 seconds and keep at it until the pork chop is warm at the edges and its center or has an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- You can use a meat thermometer to check its internal temperature, but first, allow the pork chops to rest for a little while.
How to Reheat Pork Chops Using the Skillet Method?
We like using the stove to reheat pork chops because it gives the meat a better taste than using a microwave, and it’s faster than the oven. In fact, it’s an ideal method for reheating meat evenly.
- Get a large skillet to contain your pork chops and place it on your gas stove.
- Add some liquid to the cast-iron skillet. It could be cooking oil, water, or broth. For the latter, you can use vegetable, beef, or chicken broth.
- Now, place pork chops in the skillet, cover it, and leave it until it gets hot.
- At 3-minute intervals, flip the meat to the other side so that everywhere will be heated.
- You can add more liquid if the one in the stove is drying up to keep your meat moist.
- Continue the heating process till your meat reaches the recommended internal temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
How Do I Reheat Pork Without Toughening It?
The best way to reheat pork chops without making them dry and tough is to slow-cook them and add a little moisture to them.
Does Pork Reheat Well?
Yes, but it depends on the reheating methods you use. If you use the microwave, oven, or skillet (gas stove), the pork will reheat well as long as you heat it until it gets to the desired internal temperature.
Is It Okay to Reheat Pork Twice?
We won’t give you a definite answer, but we’ll give you a scenario where it’s okay to reheat your pork twice. If you cooked your pork chops properly and took hygiene into account, allowed them to cool properly after cooking, and stored them properly (using plastic wrap or another airtight container and storing pork chops in the freezer), then you may reheat pork chops twice. It’s ideal to use an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. Ideally, we don’t recommend it because reheating pork chops more than once will change the texture, taste, and possibly the nutritional value of the meal.
How Long Does It Take to Reheat Pork?
This depends on the size of the meat, but an optimal range will be between 10 and 20 minutes.
How Do I Reheat Slow-cooked Pork?
You can use the oven or saucepan for this because they will heat the pork chops and contain any excess moisture that drips from the meat.
What’s the Best Way to Reheat Pork?
The oven is the best way because it preserves the moisture needed to make the meat tender and also keeps its texture intact. As long as it’s wrapped pork chops you’re placing inside, they won’t dry out.
Conclusion
If you’re all about reliving that fantastic pork chop feast, then you absolutely need to know how to reheat pork chops just right! You can’t simply reheat frozen pork chops straight. That would only warm up the skin while leaving the meat all cold. And trust me, that’s a porky disaster you don’t want to be dealing with! When reheating leftover pork chops, you have to pop them into the fridge overnight and let them thaw out in that cool paradise. You can choose to wave your flavor wand in the oven, or maybe take it to a pan, or even hop on the microwave train—it’s all up to you and your reheating style! And remember, to keep these chops moist, a drizzle of broth or a splash of olive oil works well. So prep those porky wonders and get ready to indulge in pork chop paradise all over again. Bon appétit!
