FOOD NEWS
How Long Should Pork Chops Bake For The Best Doneness?
BY Matthew Spina
Baked pork chops can be a perfect weeknight meal as they are quick to make and require little cleanup. However, there is still a concern about undercooking the meat.
Luckily, there's a simple way to enjoy medium and medium-rare pork chops without concern about eating undercooked meat by searing them first and then finishing them in the oven.
Bake the seared pork chop at 400 degrees Fahrenheit to get a brown outside without overcooking the center. It will be a tender medium in about seven to eight minutes.
You'll hit medium exactly at the 150-degree internal temperature normally recommended for pork, so use a meat thermometer to check and be careful not to go over.
If you're only cooking with an oven, baking pork chops with 3/4 to 1-inch thickness at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 to 16 minutes is recommended to achieve a medium doneness.
For thicker pork chop cuts, reduce the oven's temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and extend the baking time. It can take between 20 and 30 minutes for the pork to finish.