Pork chops are the most delicious part of the pork, in fact, they’re often compared with beef steaks and can be just as pricey. Since it can be quite difficult to get perfectly cooked pork chops every time, some people would rather cook many at the same time and then refrigerate them.

If you’re wondering whether you can reheat pork chops, the answer is yes, you can and you also have a choice on how to do that!

Which brings us to the question, what is the best way to reheat pork chops? The best way to reheat pork chops is using the oven or the stovetop, but if you’re up for something different you can try the microwave or an instant pot.

The Best Ways To Reheat Pork Chops

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Whereas bacon comes from the belly of the pork and sometimes its sides, pork chops come from the loin of the animal and the name can actually refer to different cuts that can be cooked in different ways, but the reheating methods are the same for all of them.

Reheating pork chops can be as challenging as cooking them because when it comes to meat it’s hard to maintain the same juiciness and taste without drying it out after you reheat it.

However, even before you think about how to use your leftover pork chops, you need to make sure they are well-preserved. In fact, leaving pork chops out of the fridge could not only ruin the meat but also provoke a bacterial infection, even if it’s just one night.

That’s why you should always store pork chops in the fridge as soon as you can, where they can last up to 4 days. In the case, you’re not sure when you’re going to reheat pork chops again, you should instead store them in the freezer, where they can last for 3-4 months.

We have several options to reheat a pork chop in our kitchen and we want to share these tips with you. Some of these methods are without a doubt the best way to reheat pork chops, others can be a little bit of a stretch, but give good results when you’re in a rush or you don’t have much cooking experience.

How to reheat pork chops in the oven

The best way to reheat pork chops and keep them moist is to use the oven. Since they were originally baked in it, it will be like cooking them again and you will be able to preserve the juiciness and keep your meat from drying out.

Reheating meat is in fact a little more difficult than reheating most other foods because there are more things to consider. The oven is the best way to reheat grilled pork chops, but it’s also a great way to reheat smoked pork chops.

The first thing to do is to take your pork chops out of the fridge 20 minutes in advance. If they were frozen, you need to take them out 4-5 hours in advance or you can use the Defrost option of your microwave.

Once defrosted, you can start the reheating process. Here are the steps to reheat pork chops in the oven:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Pour the sauce into a baking pan. It can be anything from simple water or meat broth (you can make it at home or buy it ready-to-cook). It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as it’s liquid, as it will prevent the meat from drying out.
Place the pork chops inside the baking pan.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
Reheat at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
Check the inner temperature of pork chops with a food thermometer. The internal temperature should be 165°F to be safe for consumption and avoid the risks related to uncooked meat.
If needed, leave them in the oven for a few minutes longer but don’t forget to check frequently.
Take out of the oven and serve.

Whether it’s grilled, fried, smoked, or breaded, you can safely reheat pork chops in the oven and be sure to always get good results. However, if for whatever reason you cannot use the oven, don’t worry because similar results can be achieved by reheating pork chops in a skillet.

How to reheat pork chops on the stovetop

The stovetop is another great way to reheat food and in the case of pork chops, it’s a very versatile method that allows you to reheat breaded pork chops and reheat fried pork chops in the easiest way and with the best results.

These types of pork chops have a breading that can be easily ruined by reheating them the wrong way. Instead, when you reheat pork chops in a pan and add a little bit of olive or canola oil to the sauce, you can basically make them as good as freshly cooked.

Just like the oven, this method requires that your pork chops are already defrosted, so make sure to take them out in time.

Here are the steps to reheat pork chops on the stovetop:

Choose a pan that is large enough for all of your pork chops to lay flat on one side and that possibly leaves a little space between them. The safest way would be to heat one pork chop at a time, but it requires a longer time.
Pour a little oil on the pan (¾ of a tablespoon should be enough for one medium pork chop, so adjust the amount of oil accordingly).
Preheat the pan and oil on low heat and spread the oil all across the surface.
When the oil is slightly heated and nicely spread, place the pork chops inside.
Pour meat broth or any type of broth inside the pan. Water is fine too, but the broth is better for the flavor.
Cover with a lid and put on low/medium heat.
The liquid will soon start to evaporate, keeping the meat moist, but if you feel like the meat is too dry, add more broth.
Heat for 3 minutes, then flips the pork chops on the other side and heat for another 3 minutes. For breaded and fried pork chops, you can flip them several times to make sure they get a perfectly crispy finishing.
This method is quicker than the oven, so after 6-8 minutes your pork chops should be ready.
Turn off the stovetop and serve your juicy pork chops.

Since pork chops are easily overcooked, reheating them on the stovetop is the best way to avoid this mistake. Reheating pork chops on the stovetop allows for slow cooking that will not only preserve the integrity and juiciness of your meat cuts but also their flavorful sauce.

How to reheat pork chops in the microwave

The quickest way to reheat pork chops is without a doubt the microwave. The microwave offers a double advantage because most microwaves nowadays have a dedicated defrost setting, so you can defrost your pork chops from the freezer and reheat them soon after using the same appliance.

The downside is that the microwave is famous for drying out the meat. Also, with pork chops that are fried or breaded, there’s a risk of the breading becoming soggy, that’s why for these two types of pork chops it would be better to use the stovetop or the oven.

As for the others, if you’re out of time and the microwave is your only savior, we have some tips to improve your reheating experience with meat.

Here are the steps to reheat pork chops in the microwave:

Choose a microwave-safe container large enough for all the pork chops you want to reheat.
Place the pork chops on a single layer, avoid overlapping and try to leave a little space between them.
Damp a paper towel and cover the plate with it.
Set the microwave on medium heat. If you have specific options for meat dishes, use the most appropriate one, but the heat should never be high.
Reheat for about 30 seconds.
Touch the pork chops. If they’re still cold, add another 30 seconds.
Repeat until the meat is well-heated on every side and at the center. Do not exceed the 30-second heat cycle.
Take out of the microwave and let them rest for 3 minutes.
Check the internal temperature with a food thermometer. If it’s 165°F or higher, the pork chops are safe and ready to serve.

Checking the inner temperature becomes essential with the microwave because oftentimes microwave heating is only temporary and it’s important that the meat is well-cooked all throughout before eating it.

Usually, using an inverter microwave is the safest option, because inverter technology guarantees that the food is fully heated both on the inside and outside.

How to reheat pork chops in the instant pot

The instant pot is most likely not the first option that pops into your mind when you need to reheat pork chops, but it can be surprisingly quick and efficient.

We already mentioned the great advantages of reheating food with the instant pot: whether it’s meat, vegetables or other dishes, this appliance guarantees great results and it’s very easy to use, that’s why it’s growing more and more popular among home cooks.

There are many different models of pressure cookers, some of them already have meat-specific options. If that’s your case, just go with it and enjoy the tasty results!

But even when you don’t have such options, you can still reheat pork chops with the instant pot by following our tips.

Here are the steps to reheat pork chops in the instant pot:

Place a steamer basket on the bottom of the pot. If you don’t have one, coat the bottom of the pot with a little olive oil.
Place the pork chops inside the pot.
Add just enough broth or water to moisten the meat without soaking it. For frozen pork chops, additional liquid isn’t really necessary, since the ice is bound to melt anyway, but if you want to add flavor, do pour some beef, chicken, or even vegetable broth along with the pork chops.
Use the Steam function. If not available, the Sauté function will work just fine.
Keep the temperature low and allow for slow heating.
5-10 minutes should be the average cooking time, but depending on the number and thickness of your pork chops, it could be longer.
After 5-10 minutes, check the inner temperature of the pork chops with a food thermometer. If it’s 165°F or higher, they’re safe to eat.
Take out of the instant pot and serve.

With the instant pot, you can actually reheat several types of meat or mixed-meat dishes, like stuffed vegetables or stews. It is actually a better way to reheat pork chops than the microwave because the final result is a dish that tastes freshly cooked instead of reheated.

Can you reheat pork chops?

Yes, you can reheat pork chops, although reheating meat is never your best option because, unlike many foods, meat is always best eaten fresh and you can hardly get that fabulous taste again when you reheat it.

You have several options if you want to reheat pork chops, so you need to choose a method based on the type of pork chop you have.

Breaded or fried pork chops would reheat better in a pan on the stovetop or in the oven, where you can preserve the crunchiness of their outer layer.

Grilled and smoked pork chops are best reheated in the oven, but the stovetop can be a quicker option that also helps maintain a flavorful sauce.

The microwave is always the quickest option to reheat food, and in the case of frozen meat can also work as a defrosting method. However, remember to cover your pork chops with a damp towel, because the microwave can turn meat really dry.

Last, but not least, the instant pot is a not yet famous but great way to reheat pork chops. In fact, it’s almost like cooking them again, because the end result is a juicy and tasty meat dish. The instant pot is extremely quick and easy to use, almost as quick as the microwave, and with far better results.

Now that we gave you the best tips on reheating pork chops, it’s your turn to take over the kitchen and put them into practice. As long as you follow our advice and pick the best reheating method for your dish, you’re sure to enjoy a yummy meal!

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Michael Cook

Passionate chef, in love with everything related to food and cooking it to perfection!