Brown Sugar Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to sear pork tenderloin before baking? ›

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.

When ready, place pan with pork into the smoker and let it cook for about 2 hours or until it reaches 145°F (63°C) in the thickest part. If you want to crisp the bacon under the oven broiler, remove the meat at 140°F (60°C). This will only take a few minutes so watch it carefully.

Brush the pork tenderloin with additional marinade, then bake in a preheated oven at 425°F for about 15-20 minutes, until the pork reaches a temperature of 145°F, then remove it from the oven. Cooking the pork tenderloin at the high temperature of 425 degrees F helps it cook quickly and prevents it from drying out.

A good rule of thumb is to cook pork loin 25 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). The internal temperature should be at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C), so use a thermometer to know when it's done. You'll want to let your pork loin rest at least three minutes before serving.

Pork Tenderloin is a very lean cut of meat so it requires a relatively high oven baking temperature, about 400 degrees F. Lower temperatures require longer cooking times (up to an hour) which dry out the pork. By cooking at a higher temperature, the meat is cooked through before it has time to dry out.

Season with salt and pepper: Just before cooking, sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper. Wait to do this until you're ready to actually put the meat in the pan, otherwise the salt draws moisture out of the meat and you'll need to pat it dry again.

The names may be almost the same, but pork loin and pork tenderloin are different cuts of meat. A pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat that comes from the muscle that runs along the backbone. A pork loin is wider and flatter, and can be a boneless or bone-in cut of meat.

Set up your smoker for cooking at 225°F (107°C) using indirect heat. If your smoker uses a water pan, fill it up. Once the smoker is ready, place the meat directly on the smoker grate and let it cook for about 2 hours or until it reaches 145°F (63°C) in the thickest part.

For the best flavor, you should cook it fatty-side up. If you place your pork loin lean-side up, the fat will simply drip onto and through your smoker's cooking grate.

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.

Can pork tenderloin be a little pink when done? ›

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.

If you're not confident in your cooking skills, there is one foolproof way to guarantee your pork ends up on the tender side, even if you cook it too long: Soak it in a brine or a marinade. According to Hazel, these kinds of preparations always produce the most tender outcomes.

Place in the oven and bake uncovered at 400˚F for 13-15 minutes, flipping the tenderloin over halfway through baking. Bake until center of pork registers 150˚F (I have let mine get to 160 and it's still super tender) then transfer to a cutting board and let meat rest 5-10 min before slice into rings to serve.

Pre-heat oven to 325F (165C). Bake pork tenderloin in the oven UNCOVERED for approximately 20-25 MINUTES *PER POUND* (44-55 MINUTES PER KILOGRAM) Or until internal temperature reaches 155F (68C), rested to a final 160F (71C).

Sear the pork on the stove until golden brown on all sides. Finish by baking them in the oven.

It's not really necessary to sear your roast before cooking, but caramelizing the surface gives the cut an incredible depth of flavor, enhanced with the complex layers of nutty caramel and coffee-like bitterness that meat-lovers find delicious.

Pan searing is my favorite way to cook pork tenderloin to keep it from drying out. I've included a link to my recipe for Seasoned Salt, which made a great, flavorful rub, or you can use your favorite pork seasonings.

Searing meat doesn't create an impermeable barrier that prevents the release of natural juices when cooking or slicing a steak or other cut of meat. But that doesn't mean you should abandon searing altogether. You should always consider searing steaks before grilling, baking, braising, roasting, or sautéeing.