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How To

How To Cook Green Beans

March 28, 2020 by Olya 1 Comment

Green beans are available all year around, and I still can’t get enough of them. Cooking  green beans with garlic brings out its best, with the flavor more concentrated than it would be if you simply steamed them. In this article I will provide you with the tips on how to cook green beans to perfection on the stove top.
how to cook green beans

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Gluten Free, Holiday Recipes, How To, Side Dishes, Vegetarian

How to store homemade muffins

September 6, 2019 by Olya 6 Comments

I just baked up a batch of delicious homemade muffins. And while my kitchen smells great, what in the world should I do with the leftovers? How long can I keep them on the wire rack before they dry out? Can I store them in the fridge? Should I freeze them? In this post I will cover all the details of how to store muffins and quick breads for maximum freshness!How to store muffins…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, How To

How to cook calamari

August 26, 2019 by Olya 4 Comments

Calamari, or squid may seem intimidating to cook at home, but the truth is, you can prepare this amazing sea creature easily. And doing so is guaranteed to impress your dinner guests. This article will describe in detail how to prepare the best calamari in the pan on the stove top to make it stand out!
How to cook calamari…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, How To

How to cook beets

February 23, 2019 by Olya 3 Comments

This step-by-step picture guide will show you how to cook beets using a few simple techniques. Once you boil and peel your beets, you can add them to fresh salads or warm them up with butter as a side dish. Sprinkle them with sea salt and drizzle with olive oil and you can eat them as a snack! You will never go back to canned beets ever again!
How to cook beets…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, How To, Vegan, Vegetarian

How to zest a lemon and store lemon zest

February 17, 2019 by Olya 5 Comments

What exactly is lemon zest and how do you make it? Lemon zest comes from the bright yellow portion of the rind. It’s colorful, flavorful and has citrusy aroma because the fruit’s essential oils reside in its rind. In this post I will show you how to zest the lemon and how to preserve lemon peel. Make the most out of your lemon peels!How to zest a lemon…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Gluten Free, How To

How to cook shrimp on the stove

February 2, 2019 by Olya 92 Comments

Learn how to cook shrimp on the stove with this easy to follow step by step photo instructions. Great juicy shrimp cooked in the pan. You won’t believe how easy this can be. Get it right first time and every time.
How to cook shrimp…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, How To, Seafood

How to make French fries in the oven

December 4, 2018 by Olya 4 Comments

How to make French fries in the oven? I will provide detailed instructions on how to make the best Oven Baked French Fries! These French fries come out crispy on the outside and amazingly tender on the inside.  Baked French fries are so easy to make with only a few potatoes, some oil and one pan!How to make French fries in the oven…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Cast Iron, Gluten Free, How To, Main Dishes

Easy Pan-Seared Pork Chops

November 16, 2018 by Olya 115 Comments

Are you in a search for a perfectly pan-seared pork chop that is still slightly pink in the center? Or, do you hate pork because it’s always overcooked and dry? In this post I will walk you through the process of how to fry a mouth-watering pork chop to golden perfection.Easy Pan-Seared Pork Chops

These pan-fried pork chops truly have more flavor that you will ever guess. It’s a guaranteed way to make sure that every single bite of pork chop disappears from your plate. This basic recipe is living proof that a few simple ingredients can create amazing results in the kitchen. 

I’ll walk you through best pork chop cuts, pork chop basics and how to achieve that perfect sear. Perfectly cooked pork chop is always cooked to a nice medium instead of the shoe leather texture and is pinkish inside.

Best Cuts of Pork for Searing

  • Boneless pork chops are excellent for searing because they are thick and tender.
  • You can also use loin chops because they are leaner than center cut chops.
  • Center cut, bone-in chops work as well. They are also very lean.

Pork Chop Basics

  • Either boneless or bone-in pork chops will do. I prefer the thick cut pork chops because they are easier to work with:).
  • The lack of bone also means that they can be less flavorful, while the lack of fat can create a dry texture and it’s often recommended that you brine them prior to searing. However, I personally find that I don’t plan my meals very well ahead of time in order to brine them. Instead, I prefer to follow these tips and tricks on how to sear a perfect pork chop.
  • Take your pork chops out of the fridge and let your them rest for 20 minutes on the counter before cooking them so they come to room temperature. This will ensure they cook on the inside and the center reaches the perfect temperature.
  • Generously season your pork chops because pork chop crust is important for flavor. Being liberal with seasoning this will make for a delicious and flavorful pork chop crust.
  • To properly cook the pork chops, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, don’t rely blindly on cooking time.
  • Let the pork chops rest on a plate for 10 minutes – they will continue to cook and the residual heat will bring them to the recommended 145 F degrees.
  • Cooking time can vary based on the thickness of the pork chops.

Easy Pan-Seared Pork Chops

How to sear pork chops to golden perfection

  • Start by patting your chops dry and sprinkling them very liberally with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
  • Use a cast iron for a nice, golden sear. It conducts heat the best and will give the pork chops a nice even color.
  • Preheat your skillet to medium high and add the olive oil. When it’s shimmering hot and not a moment before, add your chops.
  • Sear over medium-high heat without moving the pork chop.
  • Resist the urge to move the pork chops around  or look underneath as they cook, it will disrupt the sear. Once the pork chops are golden brown on the first side, you can flip. Do not sear more than 5 minutes.
  • If the pork chops are stuck to the pan, try giving them more time. They generally release from the pan when they’re crisp on the outside and ready to flip. This takes about 4 minutes per side. 
  • Flip and sear the other side until browned. Remove them from the heat and let them rest for a few minutes before cutting into them.

How to tell if the pork chop is done

Not sure how to tell how done a chop is? The pros do it by feel and a steak or chop cooked medium should have a slight resistance when you press on it with your finger but not feel hard and solid.

The easiest way to check if the pork chop is done is to use meat thermometer. When they reach an internal temperature of 135 F degrees they are done. Remove them from the skillet and let them rest on a plate for 10 minutes, during which time they will continue cooking with the residual heat and will eventually reach 145 F degrees. Do remember that cooking time can vary based on the thickness of the pork chops.

More pork chop recipes

10 Best Pork Chop Recipes
Instant Pot Pork Chops in Creamy Wine Sauce
Honey Balsamic Pork Chops
Best Pork Chops in Creamy Herb & Wine Sauce

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4.94 from 48 votes

Easy Pan Seared Pork Chops

Learn how to cook a pork chop to perfection!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword how to cook pork chops, pan seared pork chops
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 238kcal
Author Olya

Ingredients

  • 4 pork chops (thick in size)
  • Italian seasoning
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil for searing

Instructions

  • Pat chops dry with the paper towel and sprinkle them very generously with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.  
  • Heat your skillet (I recommend cast iron one) to medium high and add the olive oil. When it's shimmering hot and not a moment before, add your chops.
  • Sear on one side, without moving them at all, until they are nice and golden brown on the first side, about 3-5 minutes. Flip and sear the other side until browned. 
  • The easiest way to check if the pork chop is done is to use meat thermometer. When they reach an internal temperature of 135 F degrees they are done. 
  • Remove them from the skillet and let them rest on a plate for 10 minutes, during which time they will continue cooking with the residual heat and will eventually reach 145 F degrees.
  • Do remember that cooking time can vary based on the thickness of the pork chops.

Nutrition

Calories: 238kcal | Protein: 28g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 89mg | Sodium: 64mg | Potassium: 499mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Filed Under: All Recipes, How To, Main Dishes, Pork

Easy Hummus with Roasted Garlic

November 8, 2018 by Olya Leave a Comment

Easy Hummus with Roasted Garlic is light and fluffy! Hands down, this is the best creamy hummus appetizer! And the smooth texture of chickpeas will knock your socks off. With step by step photos you are going to be a Smooth and Creamy Hummus Master in no time!Smooth Hummus with Roasted Garlic…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, Appetizers, Gluten Free, Holiday Recipes, How To

How to soften cream cheese quickly in the microwave

September 25, 2018 by Olya 2 Comments

Achieve a consistent cream cheese texture by softening cream cheese in the microwave! Softening cream cheese is usually required when you need to mix it with other ingredients evenly and to prevent lumps from forming.How to soften cream cheese in microwave…

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Filed Under: All Recipes, How To

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