By Meagan Cramer on August 24, 2022
What’s the difference between pork loin and tenderloin?
Pork is a tasty, healthy and versatile protein. If your recipe calls for pork loin or pork tenderloin, know there is a difference. At first glance, they sound like they could be the same cut, right? Wrong. We’ll dive into the differences between pork loins from pork tenderloins.
Pork Loin
One of the easiest ways to tell a pork loin from a pork tenderloin is the size. A pork loin is a wider cut of meat and is typically sold in pieces weighing 2-4 pounds.
Fun fact: This is where pork chops come from.
The pork loin is the muscle that runs along the back between the back fat and the ribs. If the butcher does not remove the backbone or the rib bones, the pork roast may be sold as a pork crown roast or rack of pork.
Pork loins are best roasted in the oven or grilled over moderate heat.
From our kitchen
Pork Tenderloin
Pork tenderloins are narrow and slender and usually weigh about a pound. It’s a delicate muscle that runs along the spine and is one of the most tender cuts of pork.
Pork tenderloins do well with rubs or marinades and can be pan-seared, roasted or grilled.
FROM OUR KITCHEN
No matter what type of pork cut you use, remember USDA recommends all cuts of pork be cooked to an internal temperature of 145 F.
Meagan Cramer
Meagan Cramer is a homegrown Kansas girl who loves connecting the farm with foodies. She enjoys seeing the light bulb come on when someone steps foot on farm soil and hears directly from Kansas farmers and ranchers. Her favorite thing is celebrating farmers and food.
