Pork loin is a perfect meat for people who follow a healthy diet. This meat is lean, therefore, its caloric input is low, but its flavor is delicious. And it is very easy to prepare! Of course, it is important to follow the proper cooking time and to keep an eye on the meat while it is in the oven.

What is the cooking time for pork loin?

Pork loin is not only very healthy, but also very versatile. This type of meat can be prepared in the oven, which is the most common way to prepare it, but it can also be grilled, barbecued and even cooked in the pressure cooker or conventional pots.

As it is a very lean type of meat, it has almost no fat, so if it is not marinated correctly, the loin could end up dry and losing its flavor. The marinating style, as well as the cooking time, depend on the method you choose for the pork tenderloin.

The choice of the loin is fundamental to obtain a delicious stew. The Iberian loin stands out for its intense flavor, but also for its input of nutrients. This type of pork, which diet is based on acorns, has more infiltrated muscle fat, more good over bad cholesterol, B vitamins and minerals such as phosphorus and magnesium, among others. It is also high in antioxidants. When you prepare Iberian pork loin it is not only a delicious meal, but also a very nutritious one.

You should know that this type of meat should be cooked over low or mild heat as well as for a reasonably prolonged time. The marinade should also take long, when you bake or grill it.

Remember that no matter which method you use, the meat should always be at room temperature before being placed on the fire. This way, the meat will not be hot on the outside and cold on the inside. You should take it out of the refrigerator two hours before cooking in cold climates; one hour is enough if you live in a warm climate.

Cooking the pork loin in a conventional pan

Pork tenderloin is so versatile that you can also prepare it in a conventional pan. The first thing to do is to cut the portion of pork loin you want to use, season it with salt and pepper, season it with aromatic herbs and spices of your choice and coat it in flour before putting it on the stove.

Heat the pan and place the tenderloin in it, until each part is browned; this process is known as searing the meat. When the meat is browned on the outside, it is time to pour water; add enough liquid so that the meat is covered. You should add ingredients that add flavor to the tenderloin such as garlic, onion, peppers and even a splash of wine or beef broth.

The fire should be at medium temperature and you should let it cook for one hour. Turn off the heat, but do not remove the meat until after 10 minutes. During the whole cooking time, the pan should be covered. Add more liquid, if necessary, during the cooking time.

Pork loin in pressure cooker

This method will allow you to save cooking time and the result will be similar to preparing the tenderloin in the oven. To cook the tenderloin in a pressure cooker, you should marinate the meat the night before so that it takes all the flavors. Cut the pork into steaks before cooking and add a drizzle of oil to prevent the meat from sticking when you brown it.

With this method, the loin will be ready in 20 minutes. The time should be counted from the moment the steam starts coming out of the valve of the cooker.

Baked tenderloin

This is the most traditional cooking method. The meat should be left to marinate the night before, in the refrigerator, covered with plastic wrap. You should add white wine or cognac, as well as olive oil to the mixture to season the tenderloin; in addition, it is advisable to inject these liquids with the help of a syringe, along the meat.

The loin should be placed in the oven at 180º C for 90 minutes. Halfway through the time, you should turn it over and adjust the liquids and, in the last half hour, turn the heat up to 200º C. 

Grilled or barbecued

There are two ways to prepare the pork loin on the grill or barbecue; the simplest is in steaks, as this will reduce the cooking time to approximately 10 minutes. If you decide to cook the pork loin on the barbecue, cooking the whole piece of meat, then you will need approximately one hour of cooking time.

You should marinate the tenderloin the night before and place it on the barbecue, with a tray under the grate, so that the cooking juices can drip off; it is highly recommended to inject the tenderloin with cognac and oil in this case.

While the tenderloin is on the grill, over medium-low heat, you should cover it with the lid and turn the meat over after the first half hour.