The Absolute Best Ways To Reheat Pork Chops
A nice, juicy pork chop is just what the doctor orders when summer comes around and you start feeling extra hungry. Pork chops are not only a wonderful source of protein and certain minerals, like zinc, selenium, and iron, that should be included into a healthy diet, per Healthline, but they can also be an easy and tasty round of leftovers as well.
Such a classic comfort food that can be prepared in so many different ways, but still tastes delicious no matter which method you choose, is a comfort food that should be treated with care — even a couple days after your original meal. Reheating pork chops runs the risk of drying them out and losing their flavor, so handling the reheating process with careful attention is a must. Comfort foods shouldn't make you feel uncomfortable to heat back up again. So next time you've got some leftover pork chops, try one of these go-to methods.
Microwaving with a wet paper towel
If you've got leftovers of any kind, it's almost second nature to toss them into the microwave and just live with the results, but pork chops (and some other meats as well) tend to dry up and get tough, and it's very avoidable if you just know how. According to Kitchenous, there are a couple things to try with your microwave to prevent your pork chops from becoming jerky.
Covering the pork chop with a wet paper will prevent them from drying out quite as quickly; the paper doesn't have to be dripping wet, but should be well moistened. You can also set your microwave settings to a lower power, which will slow the reheating process (thus retaining more of the juices in the pork chop) and will allow you some more control. You can also reheat at smaller intervals of about 30 seconds, checking after each heating stint to make sure that your pork chop is adequately warm and not too dry.
Simmering in a skillet
If you're willing to forgo the microwave, reheating pork chops in a skillet or frying pan is a wonderfully easy method that lets you get a little more chef-y. Essentially what you're going to do is to braise your pork chops in a liquid of your choice, per Livestrong. Just place the pork chops into a skillet and add some sort of broth, water, a touch of oil, and simmer. Remember to flip the pork chops to both sides so the flavors and textures are even throughout the chop.
This method allows the pork to absorb some of the juices and flavors as it slowly cooks in the broth, which not only prevents it from drying out, but also provides an opportunity to change some things up. Adding spices and aromatics to the broth that you're simmering the chops in will add another dimension of favor to your meat and may leave you with an additionally flavorful broth to use in other recipes.
Warming up in the oven
This oven method is similar to that of the skillet method, albeit a bit more hands-off. The chops are similarly braised in a liquid of your choosing to make sure they retain and absorb the juiciness that makes pork chops so great in the first place. Just place your pork chops in an oven safe container (a cast iron skillet will also work) and add broth and other ingredients, so as to impart some more subtle flavors.
According to The Kitchn, all you have to do is cover the chops in foil and place into an oven at 350°F. After 10 to 15 minutes you should end up with some delicious pork chops, good as new (or maybe even better). This method is sometimes even good for revitalizing pork chops that maybe were a bit overcooked, as it can impart some of the juiciness that makes pork chops so delicious.