Pork Chop Marinade
Perfect for the BBQ
Pork chops can be cooked various ways, but the general consensus seems to be that they are a real treat from the barbecue or grill. Unless a real disaster takes place, your pork chops should always come out tender and juicy. A good pork marinade will give your meat even more flavor.
There are numerous ingredients you can use for a pork chop marinade. You can choose from any one of these (and even more) to get the perfect taste you are looking for; rosemary, basil, thyme, Italian oil and vinegar salad dressing, balsamic vinegar salad dressing, salt, pepper, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, lemon juice, honey, coriander, tomatoes, horseradish, oregano, onion, coriander, maple syrup, sugar, vegetable oil, olive oil, vinegar, brandy, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, bay leaves, ginger, curry powder, ginger, oregano, paprika, dill, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, cumin and chili peppers. Pork chops really lend themselves to a variety of seasonings and also go well with many types of fruits.
The standard pork chops that come with the bone attached to them are basically the pig's equivalent to the cow's T-bone steak. The pork chops are cut from the loin and they are the most tender part of the pig. You can also buy boneless loin chops. These pork chops are cut thicker than the standard chops and they will generally need a little more time to cook.
The standard pork chops are usually cut just a little over a quarter inch thick. These chops will cook pretty fast so you will have to keep your eye on them, so you don't overcook them, especially on the barbecue. They should be cooked in about ten minutes over a hot bed of coals, just five minutes per side. The thicker pork chops, which are about three quarters to an inch thick, should be cooked in about 30 minutes or less. However, there is really no accurate way to estimate cooking times on a barbecue as no two fires or grills will put out the same amount of heat. The best way to tell if your pork chop is ready to eat is to make a small slit into the thickest part of the meat with a sharp knife. The pork chop will be finished when there is no more pink in the center of it. If you are having a dinner party, it's a good idea cook one extra pork chop to use for the testing. That way your pork chops won't be served with cut marks in them.
When creating your pork chop marinade, remember to wash anything that comes in contact with the raw pork. Just enjoy yourself and have fun experimenting with pork chop marinades. There's not really a right way or wrong way in creating one, as long as you like it.