Instant Pot Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin | Slimming Eats Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is my pork tenderloin tough in Instant Pot? ›

Why is My Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin Tough? If your pork tenderloin is tough, it's likely been overcooked. To make sure you don't overcook your pork, follow the tips listed in the question box below.

Once the pork loin roast reaches 145°F on an instant-read thermometer, remove it from the oven, and let it rest on a cutting board for 20 minutes. This gives the meat time to reabsorb all its juices. You can also brine the pork before you cook it, which ensures the meat stays tender, juicy, and well-seasoned.

The size and structure of a tenderloin make it perfect for cooking quickly on high heat. You want to be able to brown the outside while still keeping it a little pink on the inside.

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat.

Pork shoulder is rubbed in a perfect blend of spices and then pressure cooked in a luscious subtly sweet, slightly savory liquid that produces tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork that is irresistible!

Unlike the more lean tenderloin and chops, pork shoulder is an incredibly forgiving cut of meat. It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cook time, so even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long, you won't suddenly end up with something dry or rubbery.

How do you tenderise pork for stir fry? Velveting is a Chinese technique that helps keep meat tender during stir frying. Adding cornstarch and bicarb to your meat during the marinating process helps to coat your meat, giving it a velvety feel that makes the meat feel extra soft.

The most obvious difference between pork loin and pork tenderloin is the size. Pork loin is wide and thick, with a sizable fat cap running along the top. Pork tenderloin, on the other hand, is narrow and thin, with little to no visible fat.

Apply dry rub and refrigerate the pork for at least 8 hours.

Create your dry rub by combining 2 tsp (6 g) of salt, 1 tsp (2 g) of dried herbs, and ½ tsp (1 g) of black pepper. Blot each side of the pork chops so they're totally dry, and then coat the meat with the seasoning.

Is it ok if my pork is slightly pink? The short answer to this common question is yes! Due to the ingredients and natural preservatives found in many pork products, it's entirely possible that your meat may still be slightly pink even when it's fully cooked. In fact, pork can even be enjoyed medium-rare.

Should you salt pork tenderloin before cooking? ›

Seasoning the pork simply with just salt and pepper works, but this lean cut of meat takes well to a spice rub or marinade. Marinating the tenderloin in a mix of apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, onion powder, and salt makes it even juicier—find the full recipe for Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin here.

Sear + Roast

This cooking method is a surefire way to make moist and juicy pork tenderloin without much fuss. Searing the meat first gives it that golden-brown crust before a quick roast in the oven finishes it off. It's an easy, crowd-pleasing meal for any night of the week.

What Happens If You Overcook Pork in an Instant Pot? Overcooked pork can turn into a dry and tough mess. Once the meat is cooked beyond its optimal temperature, it loses most of its natural moisture and becomes dry and tasteless. The texture of the meat changes, and it becomes stringy and tough.

If you find that your instapot pulled pork is tough after cooking, it's likely because you did a quick pressure release instead of a natural pressure release. Make sure you do a natural pressure release for 2 minutes before opening the vent.

The thinner your pork chops are, the higher your chances of getting tough meat is going to be. In my recipe, I specify the thickness of the chops as 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick. Like most home cooks, I just eye-ball it when I'm cutting my chops.

Overcooking can cause the meat to become dry, tough, and difficult to shred. Similarly, if you don't cook the pork long enough, it may be undercooked and tough. It's also important to avoid using a quick release or pressure, as this can cause the pork to seize and toughen.

However, when it comes to making a juicy and flavorful loin roast, there are a few general guidelines you can follow: Brine the pork to maintain moisture by soaking it in a mixture of salt and water, baking soda, vinegar or even milk.

And since overcooking shrinks meat fibers and squeezes our juices, overcooked pork is tough and dry. It's well worth investing in a meat thermometer or slender multi-use digital thermometer, to take away the guesswork .

Cook Low and Slow

Add your other ingredients and liquids, then set your cooker to “low.” Plan for 6-9 hours of cooking time for your warming slow cooker meal. This long, slow braise breaks down the connective tissue and fat, creating deliciously soft and juicy meat.