How to cook the perfect pork

When it comes to cooking pork, mastering the art of preparation is key to achieving a succulent and flavourful dish. Whether you're a culinary enthusiast or a novice in the kitchen, this guide will take you through the steps to cook the perfect pork, covering pork fillet, pork chops, pork belly, and roast pork.

Pork fillet

Pork fillet, also known as tenderloin, is a lean and tender cut that deserves the utmost care in cooking. To ensure a moist and flavourful outcome, follow these steps:

• Trimming: Start by trimming any excess fat and silver skin from the fillet. This will make your pork more tender.
• Marinating: Marinate the fillet in a mixture of herbs, garlic, and your favourite spices for at least 30 minutes to enhance its flavour.
• Searing: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and sear the fillet on all sides to lock in the juices.
• Roasting: Finish the cooking process in the oven at 190°C until the internal temperature reaches 63°C. Always cook to temperature, not time. 
• Resting: Allow the fillet to rest for a few minutes before slicing to ensure a juicy end result.

Serve with creamy potato dauphinoise, white wine from Pattingham Valley, braised cabbage and caramelised apples for the perfect winter warmer.

Pork chops

Pork chops are a timeless classic that can be easily elevated with the right techniques. Here's how to cook the perfect pork chops:

• Brining (optional): Brine the pork chops for a few hours to add moisture and flavour.
• Seasoning: Season the chops generously with salt and pepper - keep it simple.
• Searing: Start by searing the chops in a hot pain to create a delicious crust.
• Baking: Transfer the chops to the oven at 200°C until they reach an internal temperature of 63°C - this should take around 10 minutes.
• Resting: Allow the pork chops to rest for a few minutes before serving to retain their juiciness.

Enjoy with baked beans and silky mashed potatoes for the perfect, fuss free, mid week dinner.

Pork belly

Pork belly, known for its rich and indulgent flavour, is a versatile cut that can be cooked to perfection with these steps:

• Score the skin: Score the pork belly's skin to allow the fat to render while cooking.
• Salt: cover the skin in salt and let sit for 30 minutes to draw out any excess moisture (if you can, allow to dry out uncovered in the fridge overnight. Pat dry with a paper towel before cooking.
• Marinating: Marinate the pork belly with a mixture of soy sauce, garlic, and honey for a sweet and savoury profile. Keep the skin dry.
• Slow roasting: Cook the pork belly at a low temperature (around 135°C) for several hours until the meat is tender - anything above 90°C is classed as “pullable”. 
• Crisping the skin: Increase the oven temperature to crisp up the skin, or finish under the grill for the perfect crackling. A little trick we like to do is to ladle boiling vegetable oil over the skin.
• Resting: Let the pork belly rest before slicing into cubes or slices.

Perfect with rice and pak choi, or in a fragrant Pho.

Roast pork

Roast pork is a timeless dish that can be the centrepiece of any gathering. We’d suggest Pork Shoulder or a Pork Loin Joint. Here's how to achieve the perfect roast pork:

• Seasoning: Rub the pork roast with a blend of salt, pepper.
• Salt: cover the skin in salt and let sit for 30 minutes to draw out any excess moisture. Pat dry with a paper towel before cooking.
• Preheat the oven: Start by preheating the oven to 180°C.
• Roasting: Place the pork roast in a roasting pan with some garlic, rosemary and thyme and cook until the internal temperature reaches 63°C, Around 30-35 minutes per KG.
• Basting: Baste the roast periodically with its own juices to enhance moisture and flavour.
• Resting: Allow the roast to rest for at least 15 minutes before carving to ensure a juicy and tender result.

It goes without saying but serve this with all of the trimmings - potatoes, parsnips, carrots, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing and tonnes of gravy and a helping of apple sauce.

We hope this short guide helps you to perfect your pork cooking skills. Please share your pictures with us and tag us with your best pictures on instagram!