Pork tenderloin is one of those easy foods to get on the table even after having the busiest day.
Nevertheless, the best thing about pork tenderloin is that the leftovers can be used to make dinner all week long.
Reheating pork tenderloin is difficult as it can dry out easily. I can attest to this, as I have microwaved pork tenderloin in the microwave and ended up with dry, tough meat.
However, I have finally figured out how to reheat pork tenderloin the right way and retain the meat’s moisture.
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Can You Reheat Pork Tenderloin?
Of course, you can reheat pork tenderloin. However, there are some safety considerations for reheating pork tenderloin.
First, do not reheat more pork tenderloin than you can reheat. Once pork tenderloin has been reheated, you cannot reheat a second time.
Every time you reheat the pork tenderloin, its quality decreases. This means it will get drier and drier every time it gets reheated.
Furthermore, if your pork tenderloin has tenderloin has sat at room temperature for more than 2 hours, throw it away.
In the same way, you should also discard pork tenderloin stored in the refrigerator for more than 3 days should be thrown away.
How to Reheat Pork Tenderloin
No one likes dry reheated pork tenderloin. Therefore you need to learn how to reheat pork the right way.
How to Reheat Pork Tenderloin on the Stove
Whether you choose a cast-iron skillet or a frying pan, reheating pork in a frying pan is super easy. Just make sure your skillet has a lid that fits snugly.
In addition to this, if your pork tenderloin does not fit into the skillet, you may need to cut it into slices so it fits in the skillet.
Place your frying pan over medium-high heat and add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan.
Add the pork tenderloin to the pan and place the lid on top. If you are reheating pork tenderloin slices, arrange them in an even layer in the skillet without overcrowding the skillet.
Depending on your pork tenderloin’s size and thickness, cook the pork for 10-15 minutes, turning it over every 2-3 minutes until it is thoroughly heated and has a temperature of 165°F.
If you are reheating pork tenderloin slices, you need to cook it for 5-10 minutes, turning it over every minute.
How to Reheat Pork Tenderloin Using a Slow Cooker
Reheating pork tenderloin using a smoker is an excellent way to prevent it from drying out. In addition to this, slow cookers do not take up a lot of kitchens space.
Slow cookers are excellent tools to cook or reheat food without constantly monitoring the food. Slow cookers have 3 heating functions: low, high, and warm. The warm function reheats pork beautifully.
Place your leftover pork tenderloin into the slow cooker. If your pork tenderloin does not fit in your slow cooker, cut in 1/2 or slice it, so it can fit in the slow cooker.
Add 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup of gravy. If you do not have gravy, add 1 cup of beef, chicken, or vegetable broth to the pork tenderloin.
The liquid will prevent the pork tenderloin from drying out as it reheats.
Cover the pork tenderloin and set the slow cooker to low. Cook the pork tenderloin for 2-4 hours until it is thoroughly heated and has a temperature of 165°F.
How to Reheat Pork Tenderloin Using the Oven
Whether you are reheating pulled pork,brisket, or pork tenderloin, the oven is the best way to reheat any food.
To reheat your pork tenderloin in the oven, heat your oven to 325°F.
Place your leftover pork tenderloin into an oven-safe baking dish. If your pork tenderloin does not fit into the baking dish, cut it in half, or carve it into slices.
Cover the pork tenderloin with foil and bake it for 20 minutes until the pork tenderloin is thoroughly heated and an infrared thermometer aimed at the meat reads 165°F.
Return it to the oven if the pork tenderloin is still cold or has not reached the correct temperature.
Cook the pork tenderloin for another 3-5 minutes until it has a temperature of 165°F.
How to Reheat Pork Tenderloin in a Smoker
If you own an electric smoker or a pellet smoker, then you know smokers can be used to cook several types of food, including pork tenderloin.
In the same way, you can use an offset smoker for cooking pork tenderloin; you can use an offset smoker to reheat pork tenderloin.
This method works well if most of your pork tenderloin goes uneaten.
To reheat your pork tenderloin in a smoker, place the meat in an aluminum baking pan. Let your smoker heat to 225°F, then place the pork tenderloin in the smoker.
Cook the pork tenderloin for 10-15 minutes until your smoker thermometer reads 165°F.
How to Reheat Pork Tenderloin in the Microwave
Yes, the microwave can reheat food in 2-3 minutes. However, it can also reheat food unevenly, leaving you with hot and cold spots.
You should only use the microwave as a last resort to reheat pork tenderloin.
To reheat your leftover pork tenderloin in the microwave, cut it into even slices. Then, arrange the pork tenderloin in a microwavable dish and place the lid on the dish.
Press the reheat function on the microwave. If your microwave does not have a reheat function, heat the pork tenderloin on medium power.
Heat the pork tenderloin for 5 minutes until it has a temperature of 165°F and it is thoroughly heated.
If your pork is not at the right temperature or is still cold, heat it in the microwave in 1-minute intervals until it has a temperature of 165°F.
Final Thoughts
Pork tenderloin is hands down one of the best cuts of pork.
Although pork tenderloin is coveted because it does not contain much fat, the lack of fat could pose an issue when reheating it.
However, this will not be a problem as you know how to reheat pork tenderloin the right way.
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I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.