Pork tenderloin can be reheated in five different ways: using a stove, smoker, oven, slow cooker, and microwave. Personally, my preferred method is using a stove because of the unique crispiness and flavor it gives.
Reheating pork tenderloin can be a tricky process if you don’t know what to do. I’ve botched quite a few reheating attempts over the years. But that all changed after I learned the proper techniques in culinary school. Today, I’ll tell you how to reheat pork tenderloin using five methods, so you can become an expert like me! Let’s get started.
Five Methods of Reheating Pork Tenderloin
Method 01: Stove
Reheating leftover pork tenderloin on the stove is one of the best methods available. You can reheat pork tenderloin in a frying pan or skillet and get similar tasty results. But for the recipe, I use a frying pan. Bear in mind that this method takes a little over ten minutes.
Step 1
Start by slicing the pork leftovers into thinner pieces. Slicing the meat makes it sit in your pan much better and allows it to heat up evenly.
Step 2
After slicing the pork, preheat your skillet or pan over medium heat and pour in enough oil to coat the entire surface of the pan. I recommend canola oil for this step.
Step 3
Next, add the meat slices to the pan once the oil is hot, then cover with the lid. Now, reduce the heat under the stove to low. Occasionally flip the tenderloin slices every 2 minutes to ensure both sides heat up evenly. I recommend flipping the meat 3 times in the pan. You should get enough char and heat on the meat at this point.
Method 02: Oven
I particularly love to reheat pork tenderloin in an oven because it keeps the meat warm for a longer period of time.
Step 1
First, preheat your oven to 325 degrees. Then, put the pork in a baking tray. Although it’s not necessary to slice the pork tenderloin in this method, doing so will help the meat cook up more quickly and evenly.
Step 2
Wrap the top of the baking dish with foil. Now, place the dish in the oven and let it heat up for 15 minutes. Next, get your thermometer ready and check the meat’s temperature. The recommended internal temperature is 165 degrees, so reheat the tender meat until it reaches this temperature.
Method 03: Microwave
You can also heat leftover pork tenderloin in a microwave. This method typically takes less time than reheating on a stove.
Reheating in a microwave entails heating the meat for a brief period at a time, then turning it over and monitoring the temperature.
Step 1
First, slice the pork and put it in a microwave-safe dish. Cover the microwave dish with a lid and activate the reheat function of your microwave before placing the dish inside. If your microwave doesn’t have a reheat function, you can set it to medium and place your pork slices inside.
Step 2
Now, reheat pork tenderloin for 2 minutes, then take it out of the microwave and flip it over with thongs. Then, place it back in the microwave and reheat for 2 to 3 minutes. Since pork tenderloin is lean meat, you need to carefully watch the meat or else it will come out dry.
Method 04: Smoker
You can also reheat pork tenderloin in a smoker. This method is perfect if you want to infuse extra smoky flavors into your meat.
Step 1
Preheat your smoker to 250 degrees. Then, place the pork tenderloin on an aluminum baking tray.
Step 2
Now, reheat the pork in the smoker for about 15 minutes and remove the tenderloin when the temperature reads 165 degrees.
Method 05: Slow Cooker
Reheating tenderloin inside a slow cooker is an excellent option if you want extra tender pork for pulled pork. However, note that it takes some time to reheat pork tenderloin this way.
Step 1
Select the warm or low-temperature setting on the slow cooker. You can slice the pork or add your loin whole, depending on the size of your slow cooker.
Step 2
Add the pork tenderloin to the cooker along with half a cup of broth and half a cup of water and cook the meat. The addition of water and broth will keep the meat soft and moist. Cook the meat in the slow cooker for 20 minutes, then take it out.
What is Pork Tenderloin?
The pork tenderloin is cut from the central spine region of a pig. The muscles around this region are not used for movement. For this reason, tenderloin meat has a lean and tender texture. The pork tenderloin is one of the healthiest pork cuts you can get.
The meat’s mild flavor means you can incorporate it into different dishes. Moreover, the meat can absorb flavors from marinades and seasonings really well. This means you can experiment and play around with flavors when making pork tenderloin. You can even cook this meal in various ways, such as grilling, baking, or frying; no matter how you cook it, the meat will turn out awesome.
How Long to Reheat Pork Tenderloin?
The time it takes to reheat pork tenderloin depends on several factors, including:
- The reheating method
- Size of the pork tenderloin
- Whether the meat is sliced or not
In my experience, reheating pork tenderloin slices in a slow cooker or oven can take up to 20 minutes. Heating up on a stovetop or smoker will likely take about 10 minutes, while heating up in a microwave can take up to five minutes.
Even though reheating can be done effectively, I would advise using a meat thermometer. Measuring the internal temperature of the meat is proven to yield consistently delicious results instead of reheating it.
This is because the time taken to reheat the meat can vary greatly depending on the factors listed above. Your pork tenderloin will be perfectly reheated and safe to eat once it reaches a temperature of 165 degrees.
Delicious Ways to Enjoy Reheated Pork Tenderloin
Once you’re done reheating your delicious pork tenderloin leftovers, you may be wondering the best way to enjoy them.
My favorite way to enjoy reheated tenderloin is in a sandwich. You can make the sandwich however you please, but make sure you use crunchy veggies, a filling (like mayo or mustard), and thick bread or buns, and you’re good to go.
You can also use your reheated pork in a salad. This is an excellent choice if you want to enjoy your tasty tenderloin with low carbs. You can use creamy dressings, like regular salad cream, or lighter dressings, like olive oil.
Either way, your whole pork tenderloin will taste delicious. If you reheated your pork tenderloin in a slow cooker, you could pull the pork apart and use it in tacos, carnitas, and so on.
Pork Tenderloin Safety Tips
- Note that you should only keep your pork tenderloin leftovers in the fridge for four days. Make sure you discard the meat if it spends longer than that.
- If your reheated pork has been left out at room temperature for more than two hours, it is not advisable to eat it, so make sure you throw it away.
Conclusion
That’s all for today! You can reheat your flavorful pork tenderloin using any of the five methods discussed. In my experience, reheating pork tenderloin on the stovetop produces the best results; the slight char and juiciness are just amazing. Although the slow cooker is another excellent method, the cooker can change the meat’s texture.
I also like reheating sliced pork tenderloin in an oven but be careful when doing so; the meat can easily overcook and become dry if you aren’t watchful. The same thing applies when you reheat in a smoker. I’m not the biggest fan of reheating meat in a microwave because the results aren’t as good as the other methods. However, a microwave can be useful when you’re in a hurry. So, make your pick of these methods to reheat your delicious pork tenderloin.