How long does it take to cook pork tenderloin in oven at 350 degrees? Let’s find out the best recipe with the perfect cooking time and temperature!
If you don’t like cooking pork tenderloins as they become too dry then you need to cook them at 350 degrees. This article will also explain how long to cook pork tenderloins in an oven at 350 degrees.
Pork tenderloins are perfect for any cozy dinner. They are affordable, delicious, and full of healthy protein. And who does not love a perfectly delicious dish that is easy to cook as well?
Pork tenderloin is a smaller cut of meat that is easy to cook. As it’s a tender piece of meat, you don’t need to cook it for too long. That’s what makes cooking it to perfection a great deal. Too much heat becomes tough easily, and if you cook it for too long on a slow heat, the meat becomes dry and chewy.
In this article, we will see how to cook pork tenderloins at 350 degrees. The temperature is perfect for cooking pork tenderloins to perfection. We will discuss the ideal time and temperature along with a delicious recipe for baking pork tenderloins. And don’t forget to read out tips to improve the cooking results.
What is the Best Temperature to Bake Pork Tenderloin?
The best temperature depends on the size and thickness of your cut. If it’s too thick and you have a thick layer of fat, you can cook it over a high temperature above 350 degrees.
But if you have a lean cut with a minimum to no fat layer, you should cook it at a medium temperature. Too hot can burn the exterior and make it too dry and chewy. Too slow can release all the juices of the tenderloins and make them almost tasteless. So a perfect temperature and time matter a lot for cooking to perfection.
You can choose 350 degrees the temperature for cooking meat tenderloins and put them in a middle rack.
However, you can start the oven at 400 degrees with a thick fat layer and then slow it down to 350 after fifteen minutes. It gives a nice color to the meat piece and gives you tender and juicy meat as high heat seals the pork, not releasing any juices.
How long to cook Pork Tenderloin at 350 degrees in oven?
Cooking time depends on the size of meat and seasoning as well. If the seasoning includes some meat tenderizer like lime, lemon, any acidic fruit juice, or the commercial meat tenderizer, it considerably reduces the cooking time. You can leave the meat tenderloins in the oven for an hour at 350 degrees.
However, the cooking temperature may give different results each time. The size of the oven and how accurate its temperature control is can also affect your recipe’s result.
If you have a smaller oven, you can get the result done in less time.
So a fixed time and temperature may not be the guarantee of cooking the meat to perfection.
That is where a meat thermometer comes in handy. You can check the internal temperature of the meat with the thermometer, and if it’s between 145, that means your pork tenderloin is ready to take out of the oven.
It takes a few more minutes, and heat inside the meat will cook it a little more.
What is the best Pork Tenderloin cooking time?
The best cooking time for pork tenderloin depends on your recipe, type of cut, the seasoning, and how long you have left the tenderloins with the seasoning.
Ideally, pork tenderloins are soft and easy to cook cut. You don’t need more than 145º F, ensuring the meat remains juicy, tender, and full of flavor.
It also depends on how well done you like your pork tenderloins. If you like them fully cooked, leaving them in the oven for an hour should do the job. For medium-rare, you can get good results within 45 minutes.
The cooking temperature also determines the cooking time. You better keep an eye on the tenderloin for a higher temperature, or they will burn easily. Once you have cooked the tenderloin to perfection, it takes only a few more minutes in the oven to overcook the meat and notice rubbery and overcooked meat that is not what we want.
Recipe to Cook Pork Tenderloins at 375 Degrees
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- Dijon mustard
- A clove of garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Grounded black pepper
- Kosher Salt
- Olive oil
Instructions
- Mix crushed ginger, garlic, pepper, and salt into dijon mustard. It should be a coarse paste. Rub it on pork tenderloin on both sides.
- You can put that in right away, but I like resting it in a fridge for one to two hours. It seeps the flavor in meat and gives more delicious results.
- Put the tenderloins in a baking tray and shift them to a preheated oven at 375 degrees F.
- Let it cook for 30-40 minutes or until it seems done.
- You can check the meat with a thermometer. It should be 145 degrees to the thickest part inside the meat.
- Take it out of the oven and serve with roasted veggies or any other side dish you like. I personally love spreading lots of veggies around the pork tenderloins while baking.
- The juices from pork make veggies tender and flavorful.
Can I Use Frozen Pork Tenderloin?
Yes, as tenderloins are easy to cook and a smaller piece of meat, they can be cooked perfectly right after being taken out of the freezer if they have already been seasoned.
You can buy pork tenderloins, season them perfectly and throw them in the freezer for later use. It saves time, and you have a ready-to-cook meal at your hand in the freezer.
However, if it’s not seasoned before, cooking it can be time-consuming as you have to thaw the meat completely to season it properly. You can season the frozen meat, but that does not give the best results, and I like thawing the meat first, and then you can go with the rest of the process of seasoning and cooking in the oven.
Pork Tenderloin cooking time at 400 Degrees
If you like to cook meat on high meat, you can adjust the time accordingly. More heat means less cooking time.
So if you are putting it on a 400 degree, it may take less than an hour until the pork tenderloins are tender. With high heat, you may get the tenderloin browner early. So keep an eye on the meat and insert the thermometer.
If its 145 degrees inside the meat, the meat is properly cooked.
Tips to Improve your Recipe
Here are a few tips to improve the recipe:
- Pork tenderloin is lean meat and you should not cook it on slow heat. It will get dry and release all of its juices. Make sure you cook the tenderloins at 350 degrees and take them out as soon as they are done.
- Like any other meat, don’t serve the pork tenderloins right out of the oven. Put them on rest on the table for 5-7 minutes so that it reabsorbs all the juices around them.
- A little pink inside the tenderloins does not mean that it’s undercooked. It’s actually a sign of perfectly cooked tenderloins.
- You can use different types of seasoning and see what works for your taste. Adding herbs can make the tenderloins more aromatic and enhance the flavor.
- You can add little heat by including chillis or paprika in the seasoning.
- Pork tenderloin becomes complete only when you are serving some currency veggies along with the platter.
- Don’t discard the fat if your cut has some. It melts while baking and adds a lot of flavor to the dish.
- Pair the pork tenderloins with roasted or grilled veggies or some green salad with lots of fresh vegetables. It adds lots of color to the table and makes your meal nutritionally complete.
- Soaking the pork tenderloins in brine or rubbing salt and vinegar makes the meat tender and full of flavor. It improves the taste like meat is melting in the mouth.
So, do you already know how long to cook the perfect pork tenderloin in oven at 350 degrees? If you still have any question, please, leave your comment below!
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