I'm trying to learn to cook, and follow the parts of recipes that used to intimidate me. I can't figure out what's meant by this part of a recipe for pan-seared pork chops, and google hasn't helped.
The ingredient list calls for:
2 (12-to 14-ounce) bone-in pork rib or center-cut chops, 1½ inches thick, trimmed and brined if desired
It's the "trimmed" part that confuses me. I'd guess that trimming either means cutting off the bones or the fat. But if there weren't supposed to be bone when you cooked them, why would it specify bone-in? And then the first step of the recipe is:
Cut 2 slits, about 2 inches apart, through outer layer of fat and silverskin on each chop.
which seems to imply that all fat should be left on as well.
So my question is: What does "trimmed" mean in this context?
Best Answer
Depending on how your pork chops arrive from the butcher, trimmed simply means to remove excess fat (you are going to want to leave a reasonable amount, as that is where a significant amount of flavor comes from), silver skin (if you can, sometimes not possible on a chop), or other less desirable parts for two reasons. Firstly, some of those elements make eating a cut of meat unpleasant. Secondly, one would trim for even and consistent cooking. You would want your chops to be about the same size and shape, so that they were finished cooking at the same time. The same is true for a single piece of meat, like a roast. A consistent shape allows for even cooking. In the case of a large piece of meat, it is often tied after trimming for this reason. While just throwing them in the pan will work, considering these details is one of the ways to elevate your cooking.