A very lean and tender piece of pork is known as pork tenderloin as it is a filet mignon of pork. There are many ways to cook pork tenderloin with many options of seasoning.
You can cook pork tenderloin in the oven, skillet, or in the latest sensation ‘air fryer‘ which is my personal favorite to cook things these days because it cooks the best mouth-watering pork tenderloin that you’ll ever have!
So, here I am bringing you the delicious recipe of air fryer pork tenderloin to cook on your busy weeknights with all the necessary information that you should know about pork tenderloin.
Let’s get started.
Ingredients
- Pork tenderloin- Pork tenderloin is easily available at most grocery stores, take approx 2 pounds of it.
- Garlic- Minced garlic brings great taste to pork tenderloin.
- Olive oil- Oil adds moisture to the recipe and absorbs the spice blend from the meat.
- Brown sugar- This brings savory flavor to the dish.
- Chilli powder- Add kicks to the taste.
- Onion powder- Onion powder creates a good flavor by mixing with other ingredients.
- Cumin- Cumin gives an earthy taste to the meat.
- Dried thyme- This herb helps to highlight the flavor of pork.
- Kosher salt- This salt also enhances the taste.
- Pepper- Because salt and pepper go together in everything.
Instructions
- Step 1- Clean the pork tenderloin by removing the silver skin from it then pull off the silver area gently with the help of a knife.
- Step 2- Take a bowl and put salt, pepper, thyme, chili powder, onion powder, and cumin then mix them.
- Step 3- Then add olive oil and minced garlic and mix it well with other ingredients and rub this mixture on pork tenderloin.
- Step 4– Now preheat the air fryer to 400° F.
- Step 5- Put the pork tenderloin in an air fryer basket and let it cook for about 15-18 minutes or until its internal temperature reaches 145° F, it would be better to take it out some degrees before as the internal temperature will keep on rising while resting too.
- Step 6- Let the pork tenderloin rest for a few minutes before slicing and serving it.
Tips
- Keep an eye on pork tenderloin while air frying as it shouldn’t be overcooked or else you would be left with harsh, dried, and ruined meat, so keep checking it in minimum time with a meat thermometer.
- The thickness of pork tenderloin decides its cooking time so adjust the cooking time accordingly. I would suggest you take out the tenderloin from the fridge before 15 minutes of cooking.
- Silver skin on pork tenderloin is tough to cook. If you see any pale silver skin on it, slice it away by using a sharp knife.
Nutritional chart
| Calories | 248kcal | Fiber | 1g |
| Fat | 10g | Sodium | 480mg |
| Saturated fat | 2g | Potassium | 641mg |
| Proteins | 32g | Sugar | 4g |
| Carbohydrates | 6g | Calcium | 30mg |
You can also check out the following video to know how to cook the best pork tenderloin in the air fryer.
What can be served with pork tenderloin?
There are many options of side dishes to prepare while cooking pork tenderloin in the air fryer. However, the following are the suggestions for a side dish to complete your tenderloin meal.
- You can add some carbs as a side dish like rice, pasta, or potatoes.
- You can add any fresh fruit or vegetable alongside pork tenderloins like garlic butter string beans or glazed carrot as it would compliment the meat.
- You can also serve pork tenderloin with any type of bread.
How do you store and reheat the pork tenderloin?
Storage- You can store leftover pork tenderloin in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
Reheating- First preheat your air fryer to 375° F degree then put the pork tenderloin in the air fryer straight from the fridge and let it cook for 3-4 minutes until it is fully heated.
However, you can also freeze the pork tenderloin by slicing it into pieces to put in the freezer. You can keep it there for 2-3 months. Before reheating, don’t forget to thaw it in the refrigerator.
Is there any difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin?
Yes, there is a major difference between pork tenderloin and pork loin as these both come from different parts of the animal.
Despite having identical names, pork tenderloin and pork loin are very different cuts of meat
Pork tenderloin is a tender and lean piece of meat that comes from the muscle of the backbone and is an expensive cut of meat.
While pork loin is a thicker and fatter cut of meat from the back of the animal which doesn’t cost you much.
But the best part is, both of these cuts of meat taste delicious and can be used in roasting pork.
Is pork tenderloin supposed to be pink after air frying?
If it is little pink from the inside then you don’t have to worry about it as long as the internal temperature of pork tenderloin is 145°F.
If you’re cooking the thickest part, make sure to adjust the cooking time according to it by keeping an eye on pork tenderloin because remember, it shouldn’t be overcooked!
Why is letting pork sit before cutting important?
It is important to let the pork or any other meat sit before cutting because when meat is hot, fiber contraction happens which squeezes out its juices.
If you cut meat too quickly after taking it out from the air fryer, you would lose all of its flavor and juices and you would be left with dry and tasteless meat.
So, if you don’t want to lose its taste, it’s better to wait for a little and let the pork/meat rest for a few minutes before slicing until the meat reabsorbs all its juices again.
Is it necessary to trim the fat off the tenderloin before cooking?
Pork tenderloin is a lean cut of meat, so no fat need to be removed before cooking.
But it’s the fact that it’s small and lean that makes pork tenderloin such an easy cut of meat to prepare. There are only a few things you need to perform to ensure a successful outcome. The first has to do with removing something called the “silver skin.” The second step is to ensure that the tenderloin is of comparable thickness.
How long should pork tenderloin be cooked?
A pork tenderloin will take 30 to 40 minutes to cook in a 375-degree oven. It only takes around 20 minutes to cook in a 375-degree air fryer.
Pork tenderloin is a delicious, melt-in-your-mouth cut of meat when cooked properly. If it’s overcooked, the outcome can be a dry cut of meat that’s difficult to bite into. As a result, timing is critical when it comes to preparing this staple protein, both in terms of food safety and flavor.
Conclusion
Air fryer pork tenderloin gets ready to eat in less than 30 minutes which makes it perfect for serving to your guest as well.
- Air fryer pork tenderloin is a tender and lean cut of meat cooked at 400° F.
- If you notice some pale and silver skin on pork tenderloin, remove it with the help of a knife as it is the tough part.
- Keep an eye on pork tenderloin while air frying as it shouldn’t be overcooked or else it would become dry.
- As long as the internal temperature of pork tenderloin is 145° F then no need to be worry if it is little pink from the inside.
- Let the pork tenderloin sit for a few minutes before slicing it.