Mastering the Perfect Pork Roast – Cook Times and Temps

A tasty way to roast pork loin so that it is juicy in the middle and brown and crusty on the outside.

Awhile ago I posted my method for roasting pork perfectly. That pork roast recipe has gotten a lot of great feedback in the comment section. There are also a lot of questions there too. A question that comes up a lot is whether the same method can be used on pork loin or only on pork butt as the recipe says.

My answer is always no. Because pork loin is leaner than pork butt, the long way I cooked it would make the pork roasts very dry. I decided to try different ways to roast pork loin because I get asked about it a lot. This recipe for juicy oven-roasted pork loin is the best of the best.

What Is The Reverse Sear For Roasting Meat?

Like with the roasted pork butt, I use the final-sear method that I first learned from roasting prime rib according to Serious Eats’ instructions.

Basically, you put the roast into a moderate or low oven (I used 350°F for the pork loin). When the right temperature is reached (145°F for pork loin), you take it out and cover it with foil. Let it rest for 30 minutes. This lower temperature cooking and the rest time, keep the pork loin nice and juicy.

Finally, you heat the oven to 475°F and give the roast one last blast for 10 minutes. That extra heat really browns and crisps up the outside of the roast, giving it more flavor and texture, but it doesn’t go all the way through to dry out the meat we just made juicy. Then you carve it immediately and serve. No need to rest it again because the inside of the roast already had its resting time. It’s pretty cool, right? We’ll use this method to make pork loin that is both juicy and crusty, which isn’t always easy to do.

I’ve gotten a lot of questions about roasting pork loin in the comment section below. Here’s a summary of the most common questions with my answers.

Yes. Use a large roasting pan so that there’s space. In a large bowl, mix carrots and potatoes that have been cut into pieces about 1/2 inch thick with salt and pepper. Add just enough olive oil to coat the vegetables. Put the potatoes and carrots around the roast for the last 45 minutes that it’s in the 350°F oven. They should be in a single layer, not piled on top of each other. Take them out when you take the roast out to rest. You can keep the vegetables warm or let them rest. Then, put them back in the hot oven with the roast for one last blast of heat.

No. Different cuts of pork have different shapes and sizes, but more importantly, they have different levels of leanness. If you want to cook a large lean cut like a loin, you cook it differently than a small lean cut like a tenderloin. You also cook a large fattier cut like a pork butt differently. This recipe is specifically for the shape and leanness of pork loin. If you have pork butt or pork shoulder, please use this recipe. On the other hand, if you have pork tenderloin, which is different from pork loin, head over here.

Yes, so long as the loin fits in your air fryer. Here are the instructions for cooking a pork loin in the air fryer.

According to the National Pork Board, it is now safe to eat pork once it has reached 145°F. However, many people grew up in the days where pork needed to be cooked to 160°F. When they see slightly pink pork meat, which is what you get at 145°F, it bothers them. If you are bothered by the slight pinkness, cook yours to 160°F. If that doesn’t bother you and you want juicier pork, then cook it to 145°F.

The celery is just a rack to keep the meat off the ground so that air can flow under the roast and cook it more evenly. You can use carrots instead. Or you can use an oven-safe metal rack.

Once the pork is finished cooking, carve it and serve. If you aren’t eating the roast immediately, don’t carve it. Refrigerate it whole and then slice it once it is cold. With that method, you can get thinner slices because the roast is firmer and all of its juices have been reabsorbed. If you have sliced pork, put it in a container that won’t let air in or on a plate that’s been covered in plastic wrap. You can keep it in the fridge for up to 4 days. In a freezer bag, it will keep in the freezer for 2 months.

It’s easiest to reheat it in the microwave. Put pork slices on a plate. Add a few drops of water or stock. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or another microwave-safe cover. Microwave 40 seconds at a time until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat a pan of slices in the oven. Put the slices in a slightly overlapping layer on a large pan. Drizzle with a bit of water or stock (1-2 drops per 4 slices). Cover with foil. Heat at 300°F for 20 minutes, or until heated through.

When you roast a pork loin, the juices that drip off of the meat don’t always come out in large amounts. Instead, you might only get a little drip, and if it hits the hot roasting pan, it can catch fire. If you were to deglaze that pan to make gravy later, the burned food would give it a bitter, burned taste. A little bit of broth or stock in the pan gives the drippings somewhere safe to fall. They’ll drip into the broth/stock and then won’t burn. The flavor that broth gives makes it better as juices for gravy later. Also, as the broth evaporates, it leaves some brownings on the sides of the roasting pan. Make sure to either mix those into the gravy or add more broth to get rid of the flavor. So, if you’re making gravy, then put some broth or stock in the bottom of your roasting pan. Half an inch will do. If you’re not making gravy, then the broth isn’t necessary.

I think this is because pork loin roasts are cylindrical. They’re essentially the same thickness no matter how much they weigh. The differences in weight come from how long the roast is. Six-pound pork loin roasts are the same size around, but eight-pound roasts are twice as long. For roasts, cooking times are based on how long it takes for the heat to reach the inside from the outside. Since the 8-pounder and the 4-pounder are the same distance from the sides to the middle, it won’t take much longer for the heat to reach the middle of the 8-pounder.

Even though they’re on the same pan, treat the two roasts as if they were different things in the oven. That is, calculate the cooking time for each one separately, and then do not add those times together. So, if one roast is 3 pounds, it will cook for 60-75 minutes. If the other is 4 pounds, it will cook for 80-95 minutes. Do not add those times together. Instead, you now know that the roasts will go in the oven together for 60 to 95 minutes. After about an hour, check on the smaller roast. After about eighty minutes, check on the bigger roast. When one reaches the desired temperature, take it out and let it start resting. It’s fine if one rests for longer than the other. Then they can both go back in at the same time for the high heat final sear.

When you cover a roast with foil or a lid, you are essentially wet-roasting it. That’s like braising. The meat steams. That’s great for some cuts of meat, especially pot roasts. However, if you want a nice browned and crunchy crust on your roast, you can’t cover it. It shouldn’t burn though. If you notice any over-browning, you can cover it with foil. Just make sure that you do not then cover it for the final blast in high heat. For the above recipe, the roast is NEVER covered when it is in the oven. It is only covered during the resting time in between its two visits to the oven.

There are so many side dishes that you can serve with pork. If you’re making the gravy, I highly suggest mashed potatoes, but Parmesan Roasted Potatoes are excellent as well. Add some color with green beans, Brussels sprouts, or a fresh salad.

Yes, it is totally safe to cook a pork loin straight from frozen. The only issue is that the timing isn’t going to be as straightforward. It typically takes 1. It takes 5 times longer to cook meat from frozen than from fresh, so each pound will take 30 to 37 minutes instead of 20 to 25 minutes. That being said, the time can change depending on the temperature of your freezer and the size and shape of the roast. My advice is to do the following. Cook it for about 28 minutes per pound and then start testing it with an instant read thermometer. Then, check it every 15 minutes (15-minute blocks, not minutes per pound) until it reaches the right temperature. The roast needs to get to at least 145°F (poked in a few places) to be safe. But see the section above about pork temperature in case you like yours more well done. An additional thing to note is about seasoning. It’s difficult to get seasoning to stick to a frozen roast. It’s best to let it cook for a while so that the outside has a chance to thaw. Then, add the spices and keep roasting it.

I hope that answers all of your questions about roasting pork loin. If not, please leave a question below. And if you make this recipe and love it, please tell me and everyone else who visits the site. Also, please give it five stars! Have a great day!

Video: How To Roast Pork Loin Perfectly

To start, you can brine the pork. Here are my steps and suggestions for How to Brine Pork Loin. Otherwise, start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Mix together 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/4 teaspoon salt.

Sprinkle it all over the pork loin roast.

Rub it all over until it’s coated.

Put the roast on a rack in a roasting pan. If you don’t have a rack that fits in your roasting pan, you can use three celery stalks arranged in this way:

Put the roast into the oven.

Roast until the internal temperature is at 130°F-150°F. That will take 18-28 minutes per pound at 350F. You should start checking it after 18 minutes per pound, and then every 10-15 minutes after that. Keep in mind that the temperature will have to be at least 145F by the end of this recipe for the pork to be safe. You will take it out at 130F if you want it to be that temperature. If, on the other hand, you don’t want any pink to show in your pork, you will want the oven temperature to be 160F at the end of the recipe, so take it out at 150F now. The resting and final cooking will bring the temperature up.

Tip: An instant read thermometer is the best way to make sure you have the perfect cook and are at a safe temperature.

Cover roasting pan with foil and let rest for 30 minutes.

Heat oven up to 475°F. Uncover roast and remove the thermometer. If there are any drippings in the pan, you can pour those out to make gravy (see below). You can also take the roast out of the pan, add some stock or broth, and stir it around to loosen up any juices. Then, pour that out to use as gravy.

Then, either clean the pan well or put the roast in a new pan that has been cleaned. Roast for another 10 minutes. Check the pork to make sure it’s at least 145F and the right temperature for you.

Note that the clean pan or wiping is needed mostly to help with clean up later. Any brown bits or liquid that were left in the pan from the first cooking round will stick to the pan when it hits high heat, making them tough to get off. Using a new pan, or wiping the pan well, will make clean up much easier.

Use those 10 minutes to make gravy, if desired. If the first roasting pan gave you nice roasting juices, you can use them to make my Pork Gravy recipe. If you didn’t get juices, then here is how to make gravy without drippings. Remove roast from oven, carve, and serve immediately.

Cooking Temperature for Pork Roast Recipe

FAQ

Is it better to cook a pork loin at 350 or 400?

What temperature is best for pulled pork roast?

How long do you cook pork in the oven at 350 degrees?

What is the rule for cooking pork roast?

What temperature should a pork roast be cooked to?

The National Pork Board recommends cooking pork loin to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). This is the temperature at which the pork is safe to eat and will be juicy and flavorful. To achieve this temperature, preheat your oven to 425°F (218°C). Once it’s ready, place the pork roast in the oven on the middle rack and roast for 15 minutes.

How do you cook a pork roast in the oven?

To cook a pork roast in the oven, first combine oil, pepper, and salt in a bowl. Rub the oil mixture over the pork and refrigerate while the oven preheats to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C). Place the pork on a roasting rack set in a large roasting pan and roast in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the pork from the oven and reduce the heat to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).

How long does it take to cook a pork roast?

It takes approximately 25-30 minutes per pound to cook a pork roast. The desired internal temperature is 190 – 200°F (88°C) for pulled pork. Cooking at a slow and low temperature results in more tender meat with Butt Roasts.

What temperature should ground pork be cooked to?

Ground pork should always be cooked to 160° F. The National Pork Board designates doneness for some pork cuts as ‘tender,’ which may not be easily tested with a thermometer or cook slowly at low temperatures.