Best Pork Loin Recipe

Our family's favorite best pork loin recipe, homemade tenderloins as their called in these parts, combines the best of two worlds. The delicious flavor of a breaded pork loin, and the healthy aspects of baked, not fried, are combined for a fantastic, home cooked family meal. This recipe, however, can be pan fried, baked, or deep fried. The versatility of it alone makes it a fantastic choice for tonight's supper.



Step 1 '" Buying Pork Loin


Our local store has an extensive meat counter, so finding an already tenderized pork loin is pretty simple. However, if your store does not have them available or does not do personalized meat orders (such as tenderize it for you in the store), you can always do it at home. When possible, though, be sure to purchase tenderized pork loins to cut down the time you spend preparing the meal.




Step 2 '" Preparing Your Breading


For this step, you'll need two bowls; one bowl for your milk and egg mixture, and the other for the dry mixture of mostly flour.

For the milk and egg mixture, start with 1 cup milk per 1 egg. Depending on how many pork loins you are making, you may need to add more. If you like extra flavor, try using buttermilk and eggs instead of regular milk.


For the dry mixture, you'll want flour, salt, and possibly pepper. You can add a variety of spices to your dry mixture if you are looking for something different, such as ranch dressing mix or Cajun seasoning.


Tip: We've found it's easiest if your dry mixture is in a freezer-size plastic bag.




Step 3 '" Breading the Pork Loins


This is where it gets a little messy. To start, you'll want your pork loins completely dry. Use a paper towel and pat them if need be. Dip them into your flour mixture, then egg and milk mixture, then back to the flour mixture. If you like extra breading, repeat this step as many times as needed.




Step 4 '" Cooking the Pork Loins


For pan frying or deep-frying, you won't have to wait long to dig in and eat. The downside is you'll have to do them all individually. Heat up your deep-fryer to about 375*, or oil in a pan on medium high heat. Cook each side for about 5 minutes, or until the pork loins are golden brown. Keep a close eye on your pork loins, since they can easily burn or get dried out, especially with a thin cut.


Baking in the oven is going to take a little longer, but is less work overall. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and bake uncovered in a greased pan for about 45 minutes. If you like a slightly crispier pork loin, spray with butter before putting in the oven. Again, be sure to not cook for too long, or else they may be too dry!




That's it! These are especially tasty in sandwich form on homemade buns, or fresh baked hamburger buns from a local bakery. Don't forget the extras such as tomato, lettuce, ketchup, and mustard!