Weeknights are busy and the quicker the meal, the better! Pork Chops offer a lean source of protein and are super easy to cook, taking just 10 minutes on the stove top!

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Last year I spent a day at Google’s headquarters with an amazing group of Pork industry leaders and pig farmers from around the country. You’re probably wondering what a group of pig people were doing at Google…..well you’d be surprised how much technology is used in this industry, on the farm and beyond! Our time at Google was incredible. It was inspiring, motivating, and sent me back to Iowa with a whole new perspective on technology. One of my favorite websites that Google owns is Google Trends. It’s fascinating to learn what people are searching for and something that I can use daily in my job.

Twice a year, staff members from each of the state pork organizations get together to learn and collaborate. With social media and digital marketing becoming more and more influential each day, it’s important for us to stay relevant in this space. As the three day staff meeting was finishing up last week, we were discussing trends in pork. We brought up the fact that the quickest rising search term related to pork on Google Trends was “Pork Chops in the Instant Pot.”

Skip the Instant Pot & Grab a Skillet!

Several of us wondered if maybe we needed to create a recipe video to show how to make pork chops perfectly tender and juicy in the Instant Pot, but came to the conclusion that it just doesn’t make sense. Have you ever made pork chops in a pressure cooker? It’s nearly impossible to get them to just the right temperature and not over or under-cook them.

I’m all about a quick recipe – I’m about as impatient as they come (my mom would testify to this, I’m sure!). I’ve always been impatient – on car rides, waiting in line, waiting for a holiday, and waiting for a package in the mail. Heaven forbid a package take longer than the Amazon-promised two day shipping! Ha! And nowadays, by the time I leave work, stop at the daycare and drive home, there’s a 0.001% chance McKinley (or myself!!) will be patient enough for a meal that will take more than 20 minutes. That’s exactly why pork chops in the skillet are perfect – they’ll go from fridge to table in 10 minutes, they’re packed with lean protein, and super tender and juicy……when cooked properly!

Properly Cooked Pork

Cooking pork is not rocket science – the biggest thing to know is that pork should be cooked to 145 F (and no further!). If you see some pink in your pork, that’s actually a good sign that you’ve cooked it properly! Cooking it beyond this 145 F temperature will pull more and more moisture out, making it a heck of a lot less desirable. If you don’t have an instant-read digital thermometer, I’d highly recommend getting yourself one. It’s one of my favorite kitchen gadgets that I use all the time!

We love grilling when the weather is nice, but sometimes that’s just not in the cards. (You can call me a fair-weather griller if you want ;)) No need to pull out the Instant Pot or wait for the oven to heat up, just grab a skillet and a couple chops and dinner is just around the corner!

Added to the Weekend Potluck and Meal Plan Monday.