Sous Vide Pork Tenderloin

Sous vide is the most foolproof way to get pork tenderloin on the table with consistently great flavor and a buttery, ultra-tender texture that you can't get with traditional methods.

Small enough to cook relatively quickly, but large and elegant enough to make a centerpiece roast, this is the kind of roast to pull out when you're feeling extra fancy on a weeknight.

Medium Rare: 130°F / 54.4°C for 1 to 4 hours - Buttery tender, very juicy

Medium: 140°F / 60°C for 1 to 4 hours - Firm but still tender, moderately juicy

Medium Well: 150°F / 66°C for 1 to 4 hours - Fully firm, moderately juicy

Well Done: 160°F / 71°C for 1 to 4 hours - Dry with a firm, tacky texture.

Author

J. Kenji López-Alt

J. Kenji López-Alt is the Managing Culinary Director of Serious Eats, author of the James Beard Award-nominated column The Food Lab, and a columnist for Cooking Light. He lives in San Francisco. A New York native, Kenji cut his cooking chops the old-fashioned way by working his way up through the ranks of some of Boston's finest restaurants. With an education in science and engineering and as a former Senior Editor at Cook's Illustrated and America's Test Kitchen, Kenji is fascinated by the ways in which understanding the science of every day cooking can help improve even simple foods. He earned a James Beard award for his first book, The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science, which he released in September 2016. It is available for purchase from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Prep Time: 01:00

Recipe Time: 01:00

Temperature Options:

Medium Well - Fully firm, moderately juicy

150F / 65.6C

Medium - Firm but still tender, moderately juicy

140F / 60C

Medium Rare - Buttery tender, very juicy

130F / 54.4C

Well Done - Dry with a firm, tacky texture

160F / 71.1C

Ingredients

• 1 Whole Pork Tenderloin, about 1 pound
• Kosher salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 6 to 8 Sprigs Fresh Herbs (Fresh thyme, oregano, or rosemary - optional)
• 2 Garlic Cloves (optional)
• 2 Small Shallots, Sliced (optional)
• 1 tbsp / 15 ml Vegetable, Canola, or Rice Bran Oil
• 1 tbsp / 15 g Butter

Directions

1. Preheat a water bath using the Precision Cooker to the desired finishing temperature according to the chart above.
2. Season pork generously on all sides with salt and pepper.
3. To bag the pork, start by folding the top of a vacuum-seal or zipper-lock bag back over itself to form a hem. This will prevent juices from getting on the edges of the bag which would interfere with the seal or provide vectors for contamination. Slide the pork into the bag along with any aromatics such as fresh herbs or spices (if using), then unfold the edge before closing the bag.
4. Seal the bag either using a vacuum-sealer or, if using a zipper-lock bag, by using the displacement method. To do this, seal all but the last inch of the bag, then slowly lower your bagged pork into a pot of water, letting the pressure of the water press air out through the opening of the bag. Seal the bag just before it completely submerges. It should be completely air-free.
5. Place the bag in the water bath, using a binder clip to clip it to the side of the container to prevent it from floating around and blocking the air intake in the cooker. Cook for at least 45 minutes and up to 4 hours.

Finishing Steps - Stovetop

1. Remove the pork from the water bath and remove it from the bag, discarding any aromatics. You can save the juice to deglaze your pan later on for a pan sauce if desired. Carefully pat the pork dry using paper towels.
2. Heat a tablespoon of oil over high heat in a heavy skillet large enough to fit the pork (you can also cut the pork in half to fit into a smaller skillet). When shimmering, add the pork and cook, turning occasionally, until it is well-browned on most sides, about 2 minutes total.
3. When you get to the final side, add a tablespoon of butter along with fresh aromatics like shallots, garlic, thyme, or oregano (if desired).
4. Spoon the melting butter and aromatics over the pork. continue cooking until the final side is browned, about 45 seconds longer. Transfer the pork to a wire rack set in a rimmed baking sheet. If you're planning to make a pan sauce, skip to the next step. Otherwise, pour the drippings over it.
5. OPTIONAL: If you'd like a simple sauce with your pork, add one tablespoon of minced shallot to the skillet and sauté until aromatic, about 15 seconds. Add a cup of dry white wine or vermouth and let it reduce by half. Add a dollop of whole grain mustard, the liquid reserved from the sous vide bag, and a tablespoon of butter. Swirl until the sauce is emulsified and season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
6. Discard the aromatics, slice the pork, and serve, spooning the sauce on top or simply with a sprinkle of coarse sea salt.