Have you ever heard the expression don’t carry on like a pork chop?? Well, no one is going to accuse you of carrying on in any way whatsoever when you put a plate of sous vide pork chops in front of them. They are succulent. They are delicious. And to be frank, if you have tried sous vide pork chops, you haven’t fully lived!
Photo credit: Sous Vide pork chops with miso soy from Savoring the Good
Read on for our guide to creating the most epic pork chops in the world that will have every dinner guest (including yourself) begging for more.
Why sous vide cooking works with pork chops
Over cooked pork chops are a food of the past with sous vide cooking.
Unlike some other meats, which can take a long time to cook with the sous vide cooking method, sous vide pork chops are pretty quick to make. And you will never experience more juicy, succulent pork chops with any other cooking method.
Sous vide cooking brings out the flavor in pork chops and creates tender and moist meat every day (without it turning to mush!).
Time and temperature suggestions for sous vide pork chops
The time of your sous vide cook and the temperature you set your water bath it will vary depending on your sous vide machine. Each immersion circulator or water oven manufacturer usually offers a basic time and temperature guide for cooking meats sous vide.
Related article: Sous Vide Cooking Time and Temperature Guides
Based on our research, most sous viders cook their pork chops from between 137 degrees Farenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit. For those who cook at 137 degrees, most cook for around 60 minutes (but the exact timing will depend on the thickness of your pork chops and “doneness” preferences.
For those of you who prefer your pork chops a little more well done, try 140 degrees for 60 minutes. Rare fare is not for everyone!
Here’s Sous Vide Everything’s video (just under 5 minutes run time) showing how they cook sous vide pork chops from frozen:
Related article: Sous vide temperature checks – Measuring water bath food temperatures
Sous vide pork chop seasoning ideas
Here are a few sous vide pork chop seasoning ideas for inspiration.
- Salt, pepper and a little garlic powder and perhaps a little dried thyme or rosemary
- Peppercorns, lemongrass, sugar and maple
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper and smash a fresh stalk of rosemary on each chop
Of course a store purchased seasoning mix of your choice is never a crime either!
How to prepare your pork chops for sous vide cooking
The sous vide method of cooking may sound daunting at first. But in fact, it is a very straight forward cooking method. Basically you put your food into plastic bags (yes, BPA free) that you vacuum seal. You then submerge those food pouches into a water bath that has been pre-warmed to a specific temperature.
Photo credit: Sous Vide Pork Chops from Salt Pepper Skillet
The rest of the cooking process takes care of itself. You just need to keep an eye on the time and take your food pouches out, ready for serving.
Many sous viders like to pan sear their pork chops AFTER they sous vide them. It gives the external pork skin a little crispen up that creates an even more delicious meal.
Related Content: Sous Vide Hub How to Guides
Hints and Tips for creating sous vide pork chop heaven
No one ever says no to a few hints and tips right? Here are just a few ideas to help you make the most of cooking pork chops sous vide.
- Let’s say your guests all like their pork chops cooked slightly differently. For those who prefer a less pink pork chop, sear theirs for a little longer at the end of your sous vide cook
- If you are looking to create cost effective pork chops, consider buying a full pork loin from somewhere like Costco and cut that into 1.5-2 inch steaks. Season them, bag them and toss them in the freezer for whenever you need them next.
- Rest your sous vide pork chops for 5 minutes before serving. Consider adding a little sea salt and fresh herbs for added tastiness.
- If you are into batch cooking, you can cook up some sous vide pork chops at the start of the week and store them in the fridge for 3-4 days. Simply give them a quick grill or pan sear to warm them back up before serving.
Related article: Freezing sous vide meat – cook, freeze eat or freeze, cook eat
7 of our favorite sous vide pork chop recipes
OK. So we can’t write an article about sous vide pork chops without providing some lip smacking, juicy, delicious examples of to die for recipes we’ve found. Here’s just a few:
Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen – Sous Vide Double Cut Pork Chops with Raw Summer Corn and Tomato Salad
Dash of Savory – Sous Vide Miso Soy Pork Chops
Two Kooks in the Kitchen – Sous Vide Pork Chops with Apple Chutney
Salt Pepper Skillet – Perfect Juicy Sous Vide Pork Chops
Sous Vide Ways – Sous Vide Balsamic and Sage Pork Chops
Savoring the Good – Sous Vide Boneless Pork with Rosemary Cream Sauce
The Bearded Hiker – Sous Vide Pork Chops with Blistered Tomatoes
Social media and sous vide pork chop mania
Can’t get enough sous vide pork chop goodness? Head to the following social media channels to learn more and up your sous vide pork chop cooking game.
Photo credit: Sous Vide Pork Chops with balsamic and sage from Sous Vide Ways
Reddit is always a great place to hear from other sous viders who are only too willing to offer specific sous vide pork chop cooking hints and tips. Check out the link below as an example:
Opinions on sous vide pork chop meals (Costco pork chop)
Sous Vide Pork Chops on Instagram
Now if you are an Instagram fan, check out the hashtag #sousvidepork to see some lip smacking sous vide pork dishes created by other sous vide enthusiasts around the globe.
And if you are looking for some hints and tips on some tantalising sides or sauces to go with your sous vide pork chops, the hashtag #porkchops is worth a look as well.
Sous Vide Pork Chops on Facebook
Facebook has a couple of super helpful sous vide cooking groups you might like to join too if you are looking to up your sous vide pork chop cooking game. Exploring Sous Vide (Public Group) and Sous Vide Enthusiasts (Closed Group) are both groups filled with people passionate about sous vide cooking. If you have a sous vide question, someone in those communities will have an answer for you!
Which sous vide immersion circulator should I use to create epic pork chops?
There is no right sous vide immersion circulator for everyone. The two most popular brands on the market at the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Immersion Circulator and the Joule Precision Cooker or latest release sous vide Nano. You can also purchase all in one sous vide water baths to create culinary masterpieces.
Photo credit: Sous Vide Pork Chops with apply chutney from Two Kooks in the Kitchen
The best sous vide machine for you will depend on a number of factors, including your budget, kitchen counter top space, technology inclination etc. The great news is that there is a sous vide machine for everyone.
That means you, your family and guests can enjoy the restaurant quality results of sous vide cooking in the comfort of your own home at any time of the week, day or night.
Related article: Sous vide water bath vs circulator
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Photo credit: Sous Vide Pork Chops with blistered tomatoes from The Bearded Hiker
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Further Reading and Resources
Serious Eats: The Food Lab’s Complete Guide to Sous Vide Pork Chops