You’re aiming to achieve a perfect dish of pork tenderloin that is moist and juicy, but you’re not so sure of the procedures involved? Well, worry no more because we’ve got you covered. If your goal for tonight’s dinner of pork tenderloin is simply for it to be delicious and tender, you’re in the right place.
Here, we’ll walk you through the simple step-by-step instructions, guidelines, and some useful tips for cooking pork tenderloin using a slow cooker. You’ll be very surprised at how easy to make and simple this recipe dish is once you’ve fully understood the processes involved in cooking it.
Pork Tenderloin Nutrition Facts
Tips for Cooking Pork Tenderloin in a Slow Cooker
Marinate the pork – marinating a cut of pork or any other kind of meat cut is very essential if you want to achieve a nice, savory taste with this recipe dish. You can make a seasoning mix using just a few ingredients and marinate the pork for a half hour or so. This really helps the meat with its flavor and smell.
Use some butter – you don’t necessarily have to use oil when cooking this dish in the slow cooker; butter does the trick. And even better, it gives a creamy and sweet taste to your dish. Just melt some butter in the pan, mix with a couple of garlic, honey, and vinegar, and pour the mixture on your pork tenderloin in the slow cooker; you’ll be stunned by its amazing taste.
You can make gravy – what’s a dish of roasted pork tenderloin without some gravy? Gravies are really simple to make; it would even take up to half an hour. Just combine the liquid you get from cooking the meat and some cornstarch slurry to make it thick, and there you have it. To make a cornstarch slurry, mix 50% cornstarch and 50% water in a bowl or bottle and shake until it’s well mixed.
Add some honey – you might not believe it, but honey tastes absolutely amazing when added to cooking pork tenderloin. Just like the butter, it gives off a strong sweet flavor and aroma that is simply irresistible. Add honey to your recipe and thank us later.
Rest the meat – resting the meat after you’re done cooking is very necessary because it allows the meat to absorb back its juices. It also allows the heat to penetrate through the meat’s surface, giving it a little room to cool off without actually getting the whole food cold.
You can use wine – although this tip is optional, it helps with flavoring the pork tenderloin if you’re aiming at a more professional taste. Red wine is the most excellent choice for your pork dish as it gives off a mildly tangy taste that’s absolutely pleasing to the tongue.
Carving the pork – after the pork is done resting, carve it with a small knife only when you’re ready to eat it and in one direction. If you cut up the meat when you’re not eating it immediately, some of its juices may run out, which in turn will cause a change in its taste.
Defrost the pork – defrosting the pork before you begin to cook it will help it to be less tough when you’re done cooking. The pork will already be warmed and ready for the slow cooker. It also helps the pork to cook faster than if it was cooked in its frozen state. To defrost the tenderloin, place it on a bowl or flat surface and allow it to come to room temperature.
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Cooking Time for Pork Tenderloin in a Slow Cooker
Below, we’ve compiled the necessary timing guidelines you should always carry out whenever you attempt to cook pork tenderloin in your slow cooker.
Cooking procedure | Cooking time |
Cooking pork tenderloin in the slow cooker | 10 hours |
Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin Recipe (5 to 6 servings)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Wash your pork or if frozen, leave it on your work surface to thaw at room temperature. Combine all the seasonings for the spice rub in a small bowl and set aside. Rub some olive oil on the meat surface and sprinkle the seasoning mixture on top. Use your hands to spread the mix on the pork. Repeat this on the other side of the meat.
- Next, take the pork tenderloin into a pan and flip it around on ‘low’ for a couple of minutes, or until it’s a golden brown color. Take it out of the pan and into the slow cooker. In the same pan, add 3 tbsp of butter, minced garlic, honey, and vinegar, and mix until well combined.
- Pour the honey mixture into the slow cooker, and cook together with the browned pork for 10 hours. After the 10 hours are up, take it out of the slow cooker and cover with foil or a tight lid.
- Add the meat liquid into a pan, then pour in your cornstarch slurry. Cook on high heat until it starts emitting steam. After the gravy is ready, allow it to cool off while you start carving the pork tenderloin. Pour the gravy on top of the pork slices, and your simple and tasty pork tenderloin dish is ready to be eaten.
You can try this recipe dish with some rice, mashed potatoes, or even a simple salad as a side dish. It doesn’t really matter the kind of sides you use; it’s sure to taste excellent with the pork tenderloin dish.
This recipe for pork tenderloin is great in many ways, one of them being the fact that you can leave it to cook and walk away for a couple of hours without having to worry if the juices are drying out or if it’s burning.
If you’re looking for more tips on how to cook pork tenderloin in the slow cooker, please check out this video.