Can You Cook Pork Chops From Frozen?

Are you limited on time and plan to cook the pork chops directly from frozen to get a quick and tasty meal? Will the texture and flavor of the pork chops be affected? Should you defrost the pork chops first? Let’s find out!

With a little patience and a few tips, you can get a juicy pork chop cooked directly from the frozen, and nobody will notice that it wasn’t thawed. However, you should pay attention to many things, which will be more complicated than if you cook the pork chops thawed.

Let’s explore all the advantages and disadvantages if you plan to cook your pork directly from frozen and what you should pay attention to ensure that the pork chops will remain moist and tender.

Can You Cook Directly From Frozen?

If you have time, it is always recommended to thaw the meat before you start cooking it as the cooking process will be a lot easier. You can control and adjust the meat’s cooking temperature and internal temperature by cooking it thawed.

Will the Texture and Taste Change?

While cooking the meat from frozen, you almost all the time should cook the meat on low heat; otherwise, the meat will be overcooked on the edges and undercooked in the middle. Or even worse, the pork chops may become dry and tough.

How Long Does It Take?

The cooking time depends on how big the pork chops are and the cooking method you plan to use. If you’re following a recipe, you will need to add about 30-50% more time than was originally called in the recipe.

To ensure that the pork chops are cooked just enough, use a meat thermometer to check the inner temperature of the pork. The pork meat is considered safe to eat when the internal temperature of the pork reaches 145°F in the thickest part of the meat.

Should You Thaw Before Cooking?

It is not necessary to thaw the pork chops, but it will simplify your cooking process, making it much easier to cook tasty pork meat with much less effort.

When cooking pork chops directly from frozen, you should always be with an eye on the meat and check the temperature of meat because it is very easy not to cook the meat evenly as it may be overcooked on the edges and undercooked in the middle.

How to Thaw?

You may find different ways to thaw the pork chops, but I will mention only those I’m regularly using in the order that will give you the best texture and flavor from the frozen pork chops.

In the Fridge

When I have time, I let the pork chops defrost in the fridge overnight because, in that way, the pork chops will save their texture and flavor.

Pro Tip: As a general rule, the more we try to shorten the thawing time, the more we will lose from the original texture of the meat.

Quick Note: You may be tempted to defrost the pork chops on the countertop at room temperature to shorten the defrosting time, but in that case, there is a high chance that bacteria will start to grow, the meat will spoil, and it may poison you. Because of that, defrost the meat only in the fridge at low temperatures.

If you don’t have so much time until the meat thaws, try the next method to defrost the pork chops.

Under Cold Water

If you are pressed by time and can’t leave the meat for at least 6-8 hours to thaw slowly in the fridge, then you may defrost it quicker by putting the frozen pork chops in a plate with cold water.

It is important to have the water cold but not warm because, like leaving it on the countertop, the bacteria will grow quickly and spoil your meat.

To defrost the pork chops in cold water, you should:

1. Put the pork chops in a sealed bag that is closing well.
2. Put the sealed bag with pork chops in a deep bowl.
3. Pour cold water until the pork meat is covered.
4. Every 30 minutes, replace the cold water.

In the Microwave

While this method is not the best, and I’m trying to avoid it, it is still best than cooking the pork chops directly from frozen.

The downside of thawing the pork chops in the microwave is that the temperature of the meat on the edges will be higher, and when you cook the pork chops, it will be harder to cook it evenly on the inside and on the edges of the meat.

How to Know When the Pork Chops Are Done?

There are several ways to know that the pork chops are cooked enough, but the most reliable method is to check the inner temperature of the meat using a meat thermometer.

When the temperature of the pork chops in the thickest part reaches 145°F, it means that the pork is safe to eat.

Quick Note: Don’t cook the pork higher than 145F because the meat will become dry and tough. When it reaches 145F, remove the pork chops from the heat and let the meat rest for half of its cooking time.

Another way to find if the pork chops are cooked enough is to press your finger or fork on the meat. It feels firm, and the meat has some resistance, then it is done. This method is usually called the “poke” method.

And the third method is to cut the pork chops into the thickest part and to check visually how the meat is. The pork meat is considered done when it doesn’t contain pink color.

Bottom line

Cooking pork chops directly from frozen can be an effective way to save some time and to put delicious pork chops on the table if you don’t have time to thaw them first.

Whatever cooking method you will use, let it cook slowly, and use a meat thermometer to find when the pork chops will be cooked just enough without drying the meat.