The 4 Things You Need in Order to Make Perfect Pork Chops
It’s not hard to make the most tender, juiciest pork chops you’ve ever had. Trust us — we help readers do it all the time. In fact, our post about how to make pork chops is consistently one of our most popular posts, week after week.
See the steps: How To Cook Tender & Juicy Pork Chops in the Oven
Luckily, aside from some great instructions and, well, some pork chops, you don’t really need all that much. Here are the four things you’ll need. Bonus: You’ll use them for more than just pork chops on a weekly (sometimes even daily) basis in the kitchen.
1. Good-but-inexpensive olive oil
You don’t need expensive, fancy-pants olive oil here. A good bottle from the supermarket will do. (We suggest giving this a read: Our Favorite Grocery Store Olive Oil.) You’ll want to rub both sides of your pork chops with olive oil before adding your salt and pepper. Why? Because fat is a carrier of flavor and can aid in browning, crisping, and caramelizing. All things you want with a pork chop!
Buy: California Olive Ranch Olive Oil, from $10 for 16.9 ounces
2. A shallow dish
This isn’t even totally necessary unless you plan on brining your pork chops (an optional step!). Brining adds flavor and ensures juiciness in the finished chop — even if you just do it for brief period of time. That’s where this glass baking dish comes in. Place the pork chops in the dish and pour the brine so that it covers the meat. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Buy: Pyrex Basics 2-Quart Baking Dish, $11
3. A large cast iron skillet
Yes, you can technically use a stainless steel skillet or another oven-safe skillet, but we will always vote for a cast iron skillet. When it comes to searing meat, cast iron is just the best way to go because it can go from stovetop to oven without question.
4. Sturdy tongs
You’re going to have to flip each pork chop once. If you don’t have a good pair of tongs, you can’t go wrong with these. The scalloped, angled heads are heat-resistant up to 600°F. Plus, we love the nonslip grip and the fact that the tongs lock closed for storage.