Looking for the best way to cook pork? Sous vide pork tenderloin is your answer. Cooking pork tenderloin using this method results in a tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned piece of meat that is ready to be seared in a cast iron skillet and enjoyed.
I have tried my hand at cooking a few things using the sous vide method, also known as the water displacement method. It may sound fancy, but sous vide is just the french term that literally means "under a vacuum."
This cooking method takes a food, often a cut of meat, and seals it in a plastic bag with seasonings and then that bag is placed in water. The sous vide machine (either a stick or a larger device like the Ninja Foodi Deluxe) is then set to a specific temperature and it cooks the food at that precise temperature for the duration of the time.
The result? Perfectly tender food that is never overcooked. It is ideal for lean meats or other foods that get tough when overcooked, like venison backstrap.
So if you are wondering if you can sous vide pork tenderloin, the answer is a resounding yes.
Can I just say I love my Ninja Foodi Deluxe? This machine does it all! From air frying, to sous vide, to pressure cooking. I love it because I can try out all different methods without have a bunch of separate devices. I just made an air fryer t-bone steak and it was amazing!
Why you'll love this recipe
- Tender and juicy. The pork tenderloin can be cooked to the perfect temperature without risk of overcooking. The result is a perfectly tender cut of pork that is very juicy.
- Cast iron seared. The one downside of cooking sous vide is that the meat doesn't brown at all. To add a little of the seared flavor and seal in the juices, simply cook it in a hot cast iron skillet for a minute or two. Here's instructions if you prefer to make the entire pork tenderloin in a cast iron skillet.
- Hands off. Like the Instant Pot or slow cooker, sous vide is a largely hands off cooking method. You are free to do other things or just relax.
- Season to preference. The seasoning possibilities are completely up to you! Dry rub, fresh herbs, aromatics like garlic, fresh lemon, place whatever you would like in the bag with the meat to infuse the flavor.
- Beginner Friendly. Cooking pork tenderloin sous vide is a great beginner friendly way to begin sous vide cooking. It requires very few ingredients and yields a delicious result! Warning-- it may get you hooked!
Ingredients
- pork tenderloin
- seasoning of choice
- garlic
- salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- oil
How to sous vide pork tenderloin
Preheat heat sous vide water bath for 5 minutes to desired finishing temperature. Remember that the meat will go up around 5-10 degrees when you finish it on the stovetop to sear. Set between 135 to 150 degrees.
Pat pork tenderloin dry with paper towels and coat with seasonings.
Place into sous vide bag and seal. There are specific bags for cooking sous vide that use a vacuum sealer. If using, follow the instructions on the sealer to remove as much air as possible. I use a stasher bag which is made from food grade silicone and safe for sous vide cooking.
Place bag into the water bath and set cook time between 1-4 hours.
When the time is up, heat oil in cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
Remove bag from water bath and remove pork from bag. Place in skillet and quickly sear, just to form a crust on the outside of the meat, about 1-2 minutes.
Place on cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
How long does pork tenderloin take in a sous vide machine?
Cook pork for between 1-4 hours at your desired temperature. I generally do between 2 and 2 ½ hours.
Is it ok for pork to be served medium rare?
Yes! I know this may be surprising to some, but most whole cuts of pork are now completely to safe to consume medium, even medium rare. As long as the pork is of good quality, it's just as safe as beef to consume rare.
The recommended lowest temperature to serve pork is 145. Here is more extensive pork safety information.
Recipe serving suggestions
- Serve with simple mashed potatoes and roasted carrots and green beans.
- Top with a tarragon cream sauce.
- Pork pairs really well with mushrooms. Try serving this pork tenderloin recipe with either spinach mushroom casserole, mushroom risotto, or garlic butter mushrooms.
Storage
To be honest, this one of those "cutting board meals." You know the type. Where it is so good, that you are literally taking bites off the cutting board as you are slicing it up to serve. All that to say, the chances of leftovers for this juicy pork tenderloin are slim.
If you do happen to have some meat leftover, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Did you enjoy this Easy Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin? I would love for you to let me know by leaving a comment and star rating. I can't wait to hear from you!
Easy Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1-2 small pork tenderloins
- 2 tbsp. italian seasoning
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp. oil
Instructions
- Preheat heat sous vide water bath for 5 minutes to desired finishing temperature. Remember that the meat will go up around 5-10 degrees when you finish it on the stovetop to sear. Set between 135 to 150 degrees.
- Pat pork tenderloin dry with paper towels and coat with seasonings.
- Place into sous vide bag and seal. There are specific bags for cooking sous vide that use a vacuum sealer. If using, follow the instructions on the sealer to remove as much air as possible. I use a stasher bag which is made from food grade silicone and safe for sous vide cooking.
- Place bag into the water bath and set cook time between 1-4 hours.
- When the time is up, heat oil in cast iron skillet over medium-high heat.
- Remove bag from water bath and remove pork from bag. Place in skillet and quickly sear, just to form a crust on the outside of the meat, about 1-2 minutes.
- Place on cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving.
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