Cooking meat properly is absolutely crucial, and it’s important that you never serve undercooked meats. If you are cooking pork chops, you need to make sure that these are cooked through, and because the meat is thick, that can be a challenge.
How long to cook 2 inch pork chops? You need to cook pork chops for different lengths of time depending on how thick the chop is. If you have a two inch pork chop, you should be cooking it for about eighteen minutes over a grill (nine minutes on each side, with turning) or sear the meat for two minutes per side in a hot pan and then cook it in the oven for fifteen minutes.
How Do You Cook Two Inch Pork Chops Over the Grill?
If you want to make pork chops on your grill, you should heat the grill to around 400 degrees F. You should start by marinating your chops if you want to, or at least adding seasoning while the grill heats.
Pat the pork chops dry with a paper towel or a clean towel before you start adding seasoning, and lightly oil the pork chops. A bit of oil will help the seasoning to stick well and gives the chops a nice, crispy exterior sear.
You can brush the grill with oil if you prefer, but you don’t need to do both, and it’s best to put it directly on the chops. You should then put the chops on the grill and leave them to cook for six minutes. You can season them with sauce if you want to, or just cook them as they are.
Flip them and do the same on the other side, allowing them to cook. Once another six minutes have passed, flip the chops again and give them a further six minutes.
Use a meat thermometer to check that the meat has reached 145 degrees F at its thickest part, and your pork chops should be done! Do not serve them until the meat has reached 145 degrees F.
How Do You Cook Two Inch Pork Chops in the Oven?
For those who would rather cook their pork chops in the oven, you might be wondering what your options are. You will need to sear the meat in a skillet first to prevent it from getting dried out in the oven, but otherwise, you can cook two inch pork chops in the oven.
To do so, oil your pork chops and season them, and then place an oven-safe skillet on your stove to warm. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
When your pan is getting hot, add the pork chops and allow the lower side to sear for two minutes. This traps the juices inside the meat and stops it from becoming dry in the oven. When it has had its two minutes, flip each chop and sear the other side for a further two minutes.
Your pork will not be cooked at this point. You now need to transfer it to the oven. If you do not have an oven-safe skillet, you can swap it to a hot oven tray instead.
Allow the pork chop to cook for around fifteen minutes and then use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the pork chops. They should again be at 145 degrees F before you take them out of the oven.
Once they have reached the proper temperature, take them out and place them under some foil to rest for five minutes before you serve them.
Can You Cook Two Inch Pork Chops in a Skillet?
It may prove more challenging to cook a thick pork chop in a skillet, because the meat needs to cook through to the center without burning on the outside. The thicker the meat is, the harder this is to achieve. It might take a bit of experimentation to get your pork chops perfect, but it is possible to achieve great pork chops just by frying them.
It’s a good idea to use bone-in pork chops for this, because the bone will help to keep the meat tender and prevent the juices from leaking out.
You should add oil or butter to your skillet and wait until it is foaming and hot. You only want it on a medium high heat, because the chops need to stay in the pan for quite a while.
Season one side of the pork chops and then place them seasoned-side down in the pan. While you are waiting for the chops to sear, season the other side of the meat. After five minutes of cooking, flip the chops over, and cook the fresh side for ten minutes.
Once the chops have had their ten minutes, flip them over again and allow them another five minutes on the first side. Both sides should have ten minutes in total.
Stand the chops on a plate for a few minutes under foil before you serve them.
Keeping the heat on medium throughout the cooking process will be key to preventing the pork chops from burning while still ensuring that they are cooked.
How Do You Know When a Pork Chop is Fully Cooked?
You should ensure that pork chops have reached 145 degrees F before you serve them to be eaten. Pork chops that have not reached this temperature are not safe and could have bacteria in them.
The first time you cook thick pork chops using any of these methods, it is very important to check that they have reached the appropriate temperature. This will ensure that even if the chops do not cook as expected, you don’t end up serving raw pork chops to your family or guests.
Final Thoughts
Thick pork chops are great in terms of juiciness and tenderness. They often taste much better than thin pork chops, which can be dry and leathery. However, they do need to be cooked with care to ensure that the centers get to the proper temperature and the meat is safe to eat.
Remember, under-cooked meat carries the risk of foodborne bacteria, so always check that your pork chops have been cooked thoroughly before you serve them.