By Jim Hess
The perfect pork chop. Everyone wants to grill the perfect pork chop. It really is not difficult to enter pork heaven. Follow these five easy steps to outdoor pork cooking perfection.
1. Start with a good quality piece of meat, purchased from a reputable butcher shop, or from the meat counter of a good quality grocery store. I usually ask my butcher for a center-cut pork chop, three-quarters of an inch to one inch in thickness. I like my pork chops pretty thick. You want a little bit of fat around the edges, and if it is still on the bone, in my opinion, it is even better. I like the bone. It adds flavor when cooking.
2. Set up your grill for cooking with direct heat on one side, and indirect heat on the other. If using charcoal or wood, build the fire towards one edge of the grill. If using a gas grill, put the burners on high on one side, and either off or very low on the other side.
3. Put your favorite spice rub on the pork chop. I' a little bit lazy here, and I buy one from Penzey Spice. I'm lucky enough to have a store near me. My favorite to use for pork and chicken is what they call Ozark Spice, which is really just a blend of salt, pepper, garlic and other spices. Take whatever spice blend you like and apply it liberally to your pork chops, rubbing it in well on both sides.
4. Place your chops directly over the high heat area of your grill and let them cook about five minutes on the first side, then flip them and go another five minutes on the second side. After this initial cooking period, move them to the cooler side of your grill/cooker, close the lid, and let them cook to your desired level of done. To make sure you have safely cooked the pork, check with an instant read thermometer, to the safe range for pork.
5. If you like to use some sort of barbecue sauce, either a home-made recipe or a commercially prepared sauce, now is the time to apply the sauce, the last few minutes of cooking. Liberally apply the sauce (if using) and leave the chops on the grill for a final few minutes, applying sauce to both sides. When the chops have reached the desired temperature, remove the meat from the grill, loosely tent with aluminum foil and let rest five minutes before serving. Serve one chop per person, with whatever sides you like to serve with your delicious grilled pork chops
There you have five simple steps to the perfect grilled pork chop. Enjoy!
To get a free out-door cooking recipe and join my monthly newsletter with fantastic grilling and barbecue ideas click here: http://www.bbq-jim.com. Jim Hess is an expert author who loves to cook and eat and write about outdoor cooking.
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