What Ingredients Are In Pork Loin Roast
Now lets see what ingredients we need in order to make this pork roast recipe:
Pork loin This can be whatever size you need for dinner. Most people buy boneless pork loin roast but you can also buy a roast with bones if you prefer.
Seasonings Spices are an essential part of cooking, either a small amount or large amount will give your food the needed flavor to keep you coming back for more. Salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, Montreal seasoning, and paprika are always good to use.
Butter Makes a great base for making a nice, rich sauce for this pork roast recipe.
Olive Oil A good fat that when mixed with the butter it adds a great richness to the pork loin roast.
Parsley This is one of those herbs that gives food a fresh taste. Mixed with the butter and oil it makes a well-flavored blanket on top of the baked pork loin.
Pork Tenderloin Internal Temperature
Pork is a little finicky to prepare. Undercooking can lead to illness while overcooking will lead to tough, flavorless meat.
Many folks insist that you must cook all pork until it reaches 145 degrees internally. However, this preparation method removes the pork from the oven at a much lower temperature. As the meat rests, the internal temperature continues to rise. This is called carry-over cooking.
Carry-over cooking occurs when the ingredients are removed from the heat source , but the cooking continues as the temperature is released from the meat.
Depending on the recipe, the internal temperature of the food can increase by 5-25 degrees in a matter of minutes during carry-over cooking. This method is 100% safe and the risk of foodborne illness is no more than any other preparation method.
Depending on the weight and thickness of your pork tenderloin and how you like your meat prepared, you may choose to roast it a little longer or allow it to rest longer than noted. Please see the notes in the recipe card below!
With all of that said, this is where a meat thermometer comes in handy! Seriously, it will make life so much easier.
What Temp Is Pork Roast Most Tender
Pork is usually most tender when cooked at around 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
It depends on the cut of pork, but generally speaking, a roast will be more tender when cooked at a lower temperature. This is because a lower heat breaks down the collagen in the meat, making it softer and more delicate
. This is also why pork roasts are often cooked in the oven: because its easy to maintain a consistent temperature in an oven, this is the perfect way to cook pork. So if youre looking for something definitely not tough and chewy, opt for a roast cooked low and slow in the oven.
Recommended Reading: Mac And Cheese Oven Recipe
How To Store Pork Loin
The best way to store a pork loin roast after cooking it is to place the meat in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag and seal it up. Then store it in the refrigerator.
Roast pork loin will last in your refrigerator for about 4 days if your family hasnt gobbled it down yet.
As with most foods that are leftover, the better that you wrap them the longer that they will stay fresh.
Grilling Pork Loin Roast

When grilling pork loin I like to marinate the meat so that it will stay moist on the grill.
Also Check: Toaster Oven Microwave Air Fryer Combo
Should You Brine Pork Roast
I do not brine my pork loin, it is not a necessary step. The reason you would brine pork is to get a juicier pork roast in the oven, but in my opinion, if you cook the pork loin in the oven to the proper temperature it will be juicy.
If you decide to do it, it takes about 20 minutes to brine pork loin and you would combine:
Rinse the meat after brining to remove the excess salt before roasting the pork loin.
Is Pork Loin Healthier Than Beef
Another common question is whether pork or beef is healthier? We did a comparison with pork loin vs. top sirloin and here is what we found:
- Both are similar pieces of meat, having about the same amount of fat.
- They are pretty similar when it comes to vitamins and minerals, probably because they are both considered red meats.
- Beef has a few more calories and saturated fat than pork loin, but pork loin has a little more cholesterol than the beef.
Recommended Reading: Ge Profile Electric Double Oven
Can Pork Roast Be A Little Pink
You may be wondering if its ok to eat oven-roasted pork when its pink. YES it is perfectly fine for the meat to be a little pink, in fact, that is how it should be eaten to get the most enjoyment out of it.
Some people say they dont eat or enjoy pork because its dry. However, if you leave the roast a little pink, it will not dry out and will be juicy and flavorful.
How Long Does A 3 Pound Pork Loin Take To Cook
For a 3-5 lb. roast, this will be 20-25 minutes per pound. (I actually take mine out at 135-140°F but that isnt recommended to be safe. The 145°F temperature and the 20-25 minutes per pound are recommended to be safe and are the correct times and temperatures according to the the National Pork Board.
Recommended Reading: Ge 1.6 Cu Ft Over The Range Microwave Oven
Can I Cook Pork Roast On The Stove Instead
Yes, you can cook your pork loin on the stovetop in a dutch oven. Just make sure that your pork loin roast is not too big in size. If you use the dutch oven, you can:
Here is a small guide to use when cooking the pork loin in the crockpot:
- 2 lbs: 3.5 hours on low
- 3-5 lbs: 4-5 hours on low
- 6 lbs: 6 hours on low
What Is Pork Loin
Pork loin comes from the area of the pig between the shoulder and the beginning of the leg. Pork loin is a really good cut of meat with a lot of flavor.
If you are looking for a lean piece, pork loin does not have much fat on it, just a tiny bit. It is often referred to as a pork loin roast because of its size.
Pork loin can be sold with on-the-bone or boneless. It is usually a boneless roast and comes in many lengths, usually from 4 pounds all the way up to 10 pounds.
In fact, I went to Costco a couple of weeks ago and bought a 7 lb pork loin for only $11, and they had some that were 10 pounds.
Even though a 10-pound roast would be too large to put in most baking pans, you can buy it cheap like that and slice it raw into multiple roasts, or slice it into boneless pork chops. That way you can have a lot of meals at a low cost.
Read Also: How To Clean Wolf Oven
Best Damn Oven Roasted Pork Loin
This tender and juicy pork loin is seasoned with just a few simple, common ingredients, then roasted to perfection in your oven. Ready in about an hour, its excellent for a family dinner any night of the week.
Pork roast is very versatile and can be seasoned any number of ways. Our approach with this recipe is to let the flavor of the pork be the superstar, while we bring out the natural, savory flavors with a simple seasoning rub, then roast it in the oven. We start out with a high temperature for 15 minutes to help develop a nice crust, then drop the temp and roast to tender, mouthwatering perfection.
Safe Internal Temperature For Pork Loin Roast

It is important to cook pork loin to the correct internal temperature. We will show you how to cook a roast that will come out of the oven at a perfect temperature, not too raw and not too dry.
Here is a small chart to guide you to make the best pork loin recipe:
- Medium-Rare 145-150 degrees slices will be somewhat pink and moist
- Medium 150-155 degrees slices will be a little pink and moist
- Medium-Well 155-160 degrees the pink color fades and the moisture starts drying up
- Well Done 160-165 degrees totally brown, overcooked, and dry
Recommended Reading: Le Creuset 5.5 Dutch Oven Sale
Easy Pork Loin Recipes In The Oven
What should I make for dinner tonight? This might just be the number one question that we ask ourselves almost daily over here.
Then you have come to the right place, we have rounded up 21 easy pork loin recipes in the oven that we have shared over the years.
Plus, there is such a variety of flavours in these recipes, so you are sure to find something for you. Most of these recipes are quick and easy ones made especially for busy weeknights.
What Is The Difference Between Pork Loin And Pork Loin Roast
Pork loin is a cut of pork that comes from the lower part of the pigs back. It has a good amount of fat and is therefore prized for its flavor and texture. Pork loin roast, on the other hand, is a boneless cut that comes from the shoulder or upper part of the pigs back.
As such, it doesnt have as much fat as pork loin, so it can be less expensive to buy. The main difference between them is how theyre cooked: pork loin roast usually gets grilled or roasted over an open flame, while pork loin gets seared in a pan before being finished off in the oven.
Recommended Reading: Sweet Potato Recipes In Oven
Why This Recipe Works
- This pork loin is so so flavorful and juicy. The dry rub is super flavor packed and the glaze helps lock in the flavor and keep the pork loin moist. As pork can dry out easily if not cooked properly.
- Pork loin is a inexpensive cut of meat. Costo usually puts them on sale several times a year. I think I paid $1.72/lb. Not bad at all.
- This wholesome recipe is full of fresh vegetables, herbs and spices. It is a meal you can really feel good about feeding your family.
Why Is Pork Loin So Dry
Pork loin is dry when it gets overcooked, its as simple as that. So dont have any fear of it getting dry if you take it out of the oven at the proper temperature.
If anything, its better to slightly undercook it. You can always put it back in the oven if the roast is not quite done the way that you like it.
However, you cant go backwards and once its overcooked you cant all of a sudden go back to an undercooked piece of meat.
Recommended Reading: Double Oven Electric Slide In Range
Allrecipes Community Tips And Praise
“This roast was excellent! I followed the directions exactly and it was so flavorful. As an added bonus our house smelled wonderful, too! It did not take as long to cook as it said, though. Next time I will check the roast at an hour and a half,” says Sarah Paul.
“We really liked this. It came out great. I’m not the best cook, but this was easy. It was tender and flavorful, the best pork roast I ever had. Since there were only two of us, we had leftovers, but not much. We mixed the leftovers with veggies and cream of chicken soup and served over noodles as a meal. The flavor of the meat makes great leftovers, if you have them,” raves TURTLEEMU.
“This was the best recipe for pork roast. I served it for my family and they all loved it even those that didn’t like pork. So easy to make,” according to justbeingjan.
Editorial contributions by Bailey Fink
Storing Pork Loin Roast Before Cooking It
A pork loin should be kept in the refrigerator until you are going to use it. When you buy it, there will be a use-by date on the label that will guide you in knowing how long that it will stay fresh.
Make sure to keep it wrapped tightly in plastic wrap until you are ready to cook the pork loin, otherwise it may leak in the fridge. Its happened to me countless times.
Read Also: How To Fix Pilot Light On Gas Oven
Should You Rinse Pork Loin Before Cooking
One question that a lot of people worry about is if we should rinse our meat before cooking it? After doing some research on it, it is not necessary to rinse pork loin before cooking it.
Even though you may have heard that rinsing meat is the right thing to do , rinsing meat is NOT a good idea. It only spreads all of the meat germs all over your sink and counters.
If you do it because you are worried about bacteria, dont. It will disappear during the cooking process.
Do You Cut Fat Off A Pork Loin Before Cooking

There is no need to cut off any fat from the pork loin before cooking it because there is not too much fat on a pork loin to start with.
It is usually just a small amount of fat on the top which you want to keep to add some flavor for the roasted pork loin. So this is not a cut of meat that requires cutting off any fat.
Read Also: Stove With Double Oven Gas
Can You Freeze Pork Loin
Most leftover cooked meat can be frozen and oven-roasted pork loin is no exception. When you freeze it, just make sure to wrap it well with plastic wrap or a Ziploc freezer bag. Then place it into an airtight plastic container for double protection.
You can also put the meat directly in an airtight plastic container and then put the container in a Ziploc bag or wrap the container in freezer paper.
It will last 3-4 months in the freezer if wrapped properly.
When it comes time to take the baked pork loin out of the freezer, thaw it out in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it at 350 degrees, for about 10-15 min.
How To Cook A Pork Loin Roast
It is best to start a few hours in advance. First I trim any large amounts of excess fat over 1/4 inch off the pork. A small amount of fat is good because it keeps the roast moist and flavorful. Then combine all the spices and rub them it into the loin and let it sit for 1-2 hours in the fridge. Next sear it in a Dutch oven or large skillet until is a deep golden brown on both sides. Now place in a large casserole dish with the potatoes, carrots and onions. Place it in a preheated oven while you make the basting sauce.
Now in a small saucepan over low heat melt the butter. Add the garlic and cook for a minute stirring constantly. Next add the honey, spicy brown mustard, soy sauce, ketchup, cider vinegar, fresh grated ginger and pineapple juice. Then baste the pork loin every 20-30 minutes while roasting. Cook the roast until it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit and then let it rest loosely covered for 15-20 minutes.
Don’t Miss: Hello Fresh Oven Ready Meals
Cooking Pork Loin Per Pound
As a rule of thumb for most meats, including roast pork loin, the common measurement is 20 minutes per pound. However, the exact cooking time for a pork roast in the oven will depend on several variables:
- The size of the roast.
- The temperature of your oven.
- How many other things may be in the oven at the same time.
- The temperature that you cook the roast at.
How To Make Slow Cooker Pork Loin
This recipe can also be made in the slow cooker! If you want to cook your pork loin in the slow cooker, heres how:
- Season the pork, sear it, and place it in the slow cooker.
- Pour prepared sauce over it cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours to 6 hours. Check for doneness with an Instant Read Thermometer it should register at 145F when done.
Don’t Miss: Best Air Fryer Convection Oven
Can I Cook Vegetables With Pork Loin Roast
Vegetables are a good addition to the pork loin roast, just like you would also add in the oven with roast beef, roasted chickenetc.
Some of the best veggies that would roast well would be mushrooms, onions, carrotsetc.
Its best to add the veggies within the last 30 minutes of cooking so that they stay firm instead of mushy.
Should You Sear Pork Loin
The reason for searing pork is to seal in the meat juices and as long as you dont overcook the oven-roasted pork loin, it will be juicy.
Many people sear pork loin before baking it, but it isnt necessary. In fact, I usually do not sear it.
The problem with searing a pork loin is the size of it. Most times when I buy a pork loin its way longer than any of my pans that I would sear it in.
Pork loin is a roast that you cook slowly and doesnt need searing whereas pork tenderloin is a roast that cooks quickly and benefits from searing it.
Don’t Miss: Kitchenaid Oven/microwave Combo Troubleshooting