How to Grill Pork Chops

Pork chops not cooked properly can leave you with an unflavored, tough piece of meat. However, cooking the perfect pork chops need not be a pain anymore with these simple tips.

The trick to getting great, non-leathery grilled pork chops every time is to get the temperature just right and marinating the pork for at least 6 hours before grilling it. So for all those who want to enjoy the succulent and tasty grilled pork chops cooked just right, here is a step-by-step guide and tips for grilling pork chops.

For cooking the perfectly grilled pork chops, you need to pick out your meat with care. Check the cut and ensure that there is an amount of fat on each slice. You should preferably pick pork chops that are cut lean and have a sufficient amount of fat on the outer edges.

Sprinkle meat tenderizer like white vinegar and salt on exposed side of the pork chop. Use any of your favorite marinades. To help the seasoning set into the pork chops, rub it into your pork chop until it is fully set in. Now sprinkle oregano onto the pork chop and press the seasoning into the meat. Once a side of the meat is cooked, flip it, and repeat.

A great way to letting the flavors sink in is to marinate the chops for at least 6 hours before putting them on the grill. You can place the pork chops into a resealable plastic bag and put the bag into the refrigerator. If you have less time, then prick the pork chops with a fork to help it absorb the marinade faster.

Once you have reached the desired temperature, you need to find the hot and warm spots on your grill. On a gas grill, turn one side of the grill off, or in case of a charcoal grill, move the coals to one side of the grill. The warm spot of the grill will be the side where there is no direct heat source.

Remove the chops from the plastic bag and use tongs to place them on the hot spot of the grill. Sear each side of the chops for 1-2 minutes by turning the chops over with a pair of tongs. Now turn down the fire to low and close the lid on the grill. Cook the chops until the juices run clear when slitted or an instant-read meat thermometer reads 150ºF.

Remember not to place pork chops over direct flame or heat as it can cook the pork chops too fast and also possibly burn. Once the chops are cooked, take them off the grill, and let them rest for 5-10 minutes under a foil tent. After they have rested, you can now serve the pork chops with either grilled baked potatoes, grilled veggies, or rice.

Ingredients

• 8 (½-inch thick) pork chops
• 8 green onions, finely chopped
• 2 stalks of lemon grass finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons black pepper
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons brandy
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes (optional)

Directions
Add the chopped onions and lemon grass in a large bowl along with salt, pepper, and sugar. Mix all the ingredients together until it becomes a thick paste, and then add fish sauce, brandy, and chili flakes. Coat each pork chop with seasoning and refrigerate it for a couple hours before grilling them.

Ingredients

• 6 boneless pork chops
• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• ¼ teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes

Directions
Add lime juice, garlic, red-pepper flakes, and ¼ teaspoon salt in a bowl. Now add oil in a slow stream while you are whisking it well. Add the cilantro. Now pat the pork with the marinade and season it with salt and pepper.

Oil the grill rack and then the grill pork chops, covered, turning over once, until just cooked through. To cook the pork chops thoroughly, you need a total of around 5 to 6 minutes.