Choosing the right cut makes a huge difference in tenderness, juiciness, and flavor. This guide to cooking pork at home covers top pork cuts, buying tips, cooking advice, reader favorites, and quick weeknight options.
Wondering how to cook pork without drying it out?
- Season simply with pantry spices, dry rubs, or BBQ sauce.
- Use a meat thermometer to test for doneness, and test with a fork for tenderness.
- Match the cooking method to the cut. Pork chops and tenderloin work best with fast, high heat, while country-style ribs shine with slow oven cooking.
- Rest your pork before slicing for juicy results every time.
Table of Contents
🔪 Pork Cuts You Should Know
Pork Tenderloin
- What it is: Long, narrow, lean muscle along the backbone; the most tender cut
- Buying tips: Choose a consistent shape, avoid “enhanced” solutions on the label
- Cooking: Fast and high heat, such as roasting, grilling, or pressure-cooking
- Recipe to Try: Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
Pork Loin Roast
- What it is: A thicker, larger roast from along the back, more marbled than tenderloin
- Buying tips: Look for a thin but even fat cap to help moisture
- Cooking: Best roasted low and slow; rest before slicing
- Serving: Makes perfect leftovers for sandwiches and tacos
Pork Shoulder (also called Boston Butt or Picnic Roast)
- What it is: From the upper shoulder; very marbled, with lots of connective tissue
- Buying tips: Choose shoulder with good streaks of fat for best results
- Cooking: Best low and slow, such as an oven, smoker, or slow cooker, to break down the connective tissue
- Uses: Pulled pork, stews, carnitas, and country-style ribs
- Recipe: Instant Pot Pork Carnitas
Ribs
- Country-Style Ribs
- What they are: Strips cut from the pork shoulder, meaty and sometimes bone-in
- Buying tips: Look for meaty pieces with some marbling
- Cooking: Best oven-baked or slow-cooked
- Recipe: Instant Pot Country Style Pork Ribs
- Pork Spareribs and St Louis Ribs
- What they are: Belly-side ribs, larger and meatier than baby backs, with more fat and connective tissue. St. Louis Ribs are a square cut of spareribs.
- Buying tips: Choose even racks without bones poking through the meat
- Cooking: Low and slow in the smoker or oven to get them meltingly tender
- Recipe: Baked St Louis Style Ribs
- Baby Back Ribs
- What they are: Ribs from the upper part of the rib cage, near the spine, but below the loin. The bones are curved and shorter than spare ribs.
- Buying tips: Choose even, meaty ribs ideally with the silverskin removed.
- Cooking: Oven, Instant Pot, air fryer, and slow cooker are all great options for making moist, tender ribs.
- Recipe: Easy Baby Back Ribs in the Oven
Be sure to check out my Master Guide to Cooking Ribs
Pork Chops
- What they are: Slices from the loin, with or without bone
- Buying tips: Choose chops around 1-inch thick to help avoid overcooking
- Cooking: Quick sear on skillet, grill, or bake
- Recipe: Juicy Thick Cut Pork Chops
🛒 What to Look For When Buying Pork
- Color: pinkish-red, not pale or gray
- Fat: a thin, creamy fat cap helps preserve flavor
- Packaging: avoid excess liquid or torn wrapping
- Labels: choose “natural” or minimally processed with no added solution
🔥 Pork by Cooking Method
Instant Pot Pork – Always a great option for quick meals and not heating up the kitchen. Great for lean cuts such as loin or pork tenderloin
Air Fryer – Perfect for cooking pork fast with a browned crust, moist interior, with much less oil. These Johnsonville brats are an easy summertime choice
Skillet Pork – Good for quick searing to get a great crust, such as in these pork chops with cream of mushroom
Oven-Baked Pork – Perfect for shoulder, spareribs, or loin roast. This method is ideal for country-style pork ribs
Slow Cooker Pork – Ideal for shoulder, stews, and shredded meat. Try this for a game day feast with these slow cooker BBQ ribs.
Grilled Pork – Best for pork chops, loin, and ribs
🕒Quick Pork Dinners for Busy Weeknights
Sweet and Sour Pork Stir-Fry
Sheet Pan Polish Sausage With Potatoes
Instant Pot Pork Tenderloin
🧂Rubs, Marinades & Seasoning Basics
Pork is a great canvas for adding flavors in so many ways. It all depends on your taste, cuisine, cut, and occasion. Often, it can depend on what you have in your pantry!
- Marinades are great for roasts and chops. A marinade combination that is both tasty and tenderizing would include soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, pepper and mustard.
- Rubs are the crowning feature of many rib recipes. Our all-time favorite rub is this dry rub for country style pork ribs.
- Seasonings of many types and combinations work well with pork because it has such a neutral taste.
- For chops or ribs: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, black pepper
- For tenderloin: Dijon mustard, maple syrup, rosemary
- For the shoulder: chili powder, brown sugar, cumin, garlic
🏠How to Cook Pork at Home Perfectly
- Bring to room temperature for even cooking
- Pat dry for a good sear, and spices and rubs adhere to the meat
- Use a good thermometer to test for a safe internal temperature of 145°F (140°F before resting)
- Rest before slicing or serving to allow the juices to reabsorb
- Slice against the grain for tenderness
⭐ More Must-Try Pork Recipes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to cook pork so it stays juicy?
Use a meat thermometer. Cook until the temperature reaches before resting. While resting, the temperature will continue to rise to a safe 145°F. Searing first helps lock in juices, and resting the meat before slicing makes it stay moist.
How do I season pork without making it too salty?
Stick to kosher salt and balance with herbs, spices, or a small amount of sweetener like maple syrup. Taste-test marinades before applying to keep the salt in check.
What cut of pork is best for quick dinners?
Pork tenderloin and pork chops are both great for quick weeknight meals. They cook fast and pair with many sauces
Can I use the Instant Pot for pork ribs?
Yes, the Instant Pot makes ribs tender in less time. Finish them under the broiler for a caramelized crust.
