Baking is unarguably one of the best ways to cook pork chops (boneless and bone-in), thanks to the even heating and caramelization you can achieve. But how long do you bake them at 425°F? That's what we're here to talk about.
Boneless pork chops take between six and 15 minutes to bake at 425°F, depending on the thickness. Bone-in pork chops, however, take between eight and 20 minutes to bake, depending on the thickness. Either way, always use an instant-read digital thermometer to establish whether they're done. It'll read 145°F when the pork is ready to come out.
From a per-thickness baking timetable to seasonings to a full-blow recipe, we'll go over everything you need to know about baking pork chops at 425°F right here.
Pork Chop 425°F Baking Time Table
Since baking times depend on the thickness and whether your pork chops are boneless or bone-in, refer to this chart below to figure out how long you should bake the meat for. Remember, this is assuming your oven is preheated to 425°F.
Boneless Pork Chops | Bone-In Pork Chops | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Thickness | ½ inch | 1 inch | ½ inch | 1 inch |
Baking Time | 6 to 7 minutes | 12 to 15 minutes | 8 to 10 minutes | 18 to 20 minutes |
Some people like to sear the pork chops for a few minutes in a hot skillet before baking. If you decide to go this route, you can shave a few minutes off the bake time. Depending on the amount of sear, you should aim to reduce the duration by two to four minutes.
On the other hand, breaded or stuffed pork chops will need more time in the oven. Add two or four minutes on for best results.
Regardless, always use an instant-read digital thermometer to establish whether it's ready. When the display reads 145°F, you can remove it from the oven and let it rest for five minutes. This rest period allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring tenderness in every single bite.
How Long Do Pork Chops Take to Bake at 425°F in an Air Fryer?
Provided the air fryer is already up to temperature, pork chops will take between six and 12 minutes to bake. Unlike in the oven, you'll need to rotate them halfway through to ensure even cooking.
On top of that, you need to make sure each pork chop has enough room to bake. Overcrowding the air fryer will make it difficult to cook them evenly on all sides.
Choosing the Perfect Pork Chops
Ensuring you buy a top-quality cut is essential for tenderness in each mouthful. Look out for the following factors when shopping for pork chops for best results:
- Pasture-raised pork — This will be shown on the label, making it easy to pick only pasture-raised pork. If it isn't shown on the label, ask your butcher. Sometimes, such cuts will be more expensive than other varieties. However, it has a better consistency, quality, and taste than "farm-raised" cuts.
- Thicker cuts — Aim to purchase thicker cuts to avoid the likelihood of the meat drying out during cooking. The thicker they are, the easier they hold onto their moisture. If you're purchasing from your local butcher, ask for double-cut chops or specify the thickness you're looking for (1 ½ inches or more). If you can't find thicker options to help stop dryness, opt for bone-in cuts instead for the same effect.
- Marbling — You should have the option to look at the meat you want to buy before taking it home. At this stage, you should be looking for marbling (i.e., the presence of white fat in the meat). The ideal cut has a small amount of marbling throughout the meat without any yellow fat. The fat content retains the moisture and enhances the flavor. Plus, you can always cut it out at the end.
- Well-packaged and pink — The meat should be light pink and wrapped in clean packaging without tears or holes. As for the packaging itself, it shouldn't have any leakage and the tray shouldn't have any fluid in it. Graying or browning is a no-go as it indicates the meat is already spoiling. The same goes for smells; if you can smell sourness or anything remotely unpleasant, don't buy the chop. Always check the use-by date on the packet, too. If your meat is older, it's often safest to throw it away.
Should You Cover Pork Chops When Baking?
It's up to you.
Like chicken breasts, pork chops can dry out if they're left in the oven too long. So, some people like to wrap them with aluminum foil while baking to increase the likelihood of achieving juicy meat.
However, cooking times will be extended. You'll need to add at least ten minutes to the cooking time to ensure they're baked all the way through.
How to Season Pork Chops
You can season pork chops with just about anything you like. Here are just a few options:
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Salt and pepper
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
In fact, you can mix all the above together for a fantastic pork spice rub. Don't be afraid to get creative with the seasonings. You'll soon learn what works and what doesn't.
The Beginner Baked Pork Chops Recipe
How Long to Bake Pork Chops at 425 F (Boneless and Bone-in)
Discover how long you should bake pork chops at 425°F to ensure perfection in every bite.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless pork chops
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons paprika (sweet or smoked will work best)
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Remove the pork chops from the fridge around 30 minutes before you want to cook them. That way, they can get up to room temperature for even baking.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or use a baking dish to skip the lining process.
- Pat the pork chops dry using paper towels.
- Rub the chops with olive oil.
- Put them on the baking sheet or dish.
- Mix the onion powder, brown sugar, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the spice mixture over all sides of the pork.
- Bake the pork chops in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, assuming each pork chop is about 1-inch thick. Use an instant-read digital thermometer to ensure they're cooked properly. If it reads 145°F, the pork is ready to come out of the oven.
- Remove the pork chops from the oven.
- Allow them to rest for five minutes.
- Serve with your favorite accompaniments.
Notes
- If your pork chops are thinner than one inch, check on them after ten to 12 minutes. For bone-in pork chops, leave them in the oven for longer.
- Struggling to decide what to serve with them? Here are a few ideas to give you some inspiration — mac and cheese with white cheddar, arugula salad, maple roasted carrots with yogurt sauce, cornbread muffins, ham and potatoes, roasted spring veggies, roasted green beans, pumpkin dinner rolls, classic coleslaw, risotto, creamed spinach, Brussels sprouts with bacon, cornbread, creamy garlic mushrooms, breadsticks, roasted pumpkin wedges or Mexican street corn salad.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 366Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 649mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 37g
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