Cooking a boneless pork loin roast in an Instant Pot is a fast and easy way to make a delicious weeknight dinner. The moist heat and pressure cooking of the Instant Pot results in pork that is tender and juicy, never dry or tough. In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to make perfect Instant Pot pork loin roast every time.
Benefits of Cooking Pork Loin Roast in an Instant Pot
Here are some of the benefits of using your Instant Pot to cook pork loin roast
-
Tender, juicy meat: The combination of pressure cooking and moist heat helps break down the pork’s collagen into gelatin, keeping the meat incredibly moist and tender. No more fighting with dry, tough pork loin!
-
Time saver Pork loin roast can take 1-2 hours to cook in the oven. But in the Instant Pot, it’s done in less than 30 minutes thanks to the pressure cooking. This makes it an easy weeknight dinner option.
-
More flavor: Cooking the pork in liquid creates a flavorful gravy or sauce right in pot. The pork soaks up all that delicious flavor as it cooks.
-
Set it and forget it: Just throw everything in the pot, lock the lid, and let the Instant Pot work its magic. No need to babysit your roast in the oven!
-
Versatile: Finished pork loin roast is great for sandwiches, salads, or served alongside your favorite sides. And the leftovers reheat beautifully.
Tips for Choosing a Pork Loin Roast
When selecting a pork loin roast for the Instant Pot, keep these tips in mind:
-
Boneless Choose a boneless pork loin roast, Bone-in cuts are difficult to fit in the Instant Pot,
-
Size: Look for a 2-3 pound pork loin roast. Larger cuts likely won’t fit properly in the pot.
-
Trimmed: Find a roast that is trimmed of excess fat. You want some marbling in the meat for flavor and moisture. But large chunks of hard fat can make the cooked pork greasy.
-
Shape: Try to pick a roast that is evenly shaped. Odd shapes can lead to uneven cooking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for tender, juicy Instant Pot pork loin roast.
1. Prepare the pork
-
Pat the pork loin dry with paper towels.
-
Season the pork all over with a spice rub. Ideas: garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
-
For extra flavor, you can let the seasoned pork rest in the fridge for 30-60 minutes before cooking.
2. Sear the pork roast
-
Select the Saute function on your Instant Pot. Let it heat up for 5 minutes.
-
Add 1 Tbsp olive oil or avocado oil to pot. Swirl to coat bottom.
-
Carefully add pork roast and brown for 2-3 minutes per side.
-
Remove pork to a plate when browned.
3. Deglaze the pot
-
Pour 1 cup chicken broth or stock into the Instant Pot.
-
Use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
4. Add flavorful ingredients
-
Stir in your choice of sauce ingredients like soy sauce, hoisin, honey, ketchup, etc.
-
You can also add sliced garlic, ginger, herbs, etc.
-
Use about 1/2 cup total of liquid sauce ingredients.
5. Return pork to pot
- Place the browned pork roast back into the liquid in the Instant Pot.
6. Pressure cook the pork
-
Secure the lid and set the steam release valve to Sealing.
-
For a 2 lb roast, cook on Manual High Pressure for 14 minutes.
-
For a 3 lb roast, cook for 18 minutes.
-
Allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes after cooking.
7. Check doneness and finish sauce
-
Carefully remove lid. Pork should be 145°F internally.
-
Transfer pork to a cutting board to rest.
-
Optional: Thicken pan sauce if desired using cornstarch slurry.
8. Slice and serve!
- Slice pork roast and drizzle with pan sauce. Enjoy!
Flavorful Sauces for Instant Pot Pork Loin
One of the best parts of cooking pork loin roast in the Instant Pot is that you can infuse tons of flavor into the meat with sauce ingredients. Here are some tasty sauce ideas:
-
Soy sauce, honey, garlic: A simple Asian-inspired sauce.
-
BBQ sauce: For easy pulled pork sandwiches.
-
Apple cider sauce: Apple cider vinegar, sliced apples, brown sugar, garlic, and thyme.
-
Mushroom gravy: Sauté mushrooms and make a pan sauce with stock and cream.
-
Tomato sauce: Diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, garlic, red wine.
-
Mustard cream sauce: Chicken stock, Dijon mustard, cream, thyme.
Serving Suggestions
Boneless pork loin roast is very versatile. Here are some ideas for sides:
- Mashed or roasted potatoes
- Rice or quinoa
- Roasted vegetables like broccoli, carrots, Brussel sprouts
- Fresh green salad
- Buttered noodles or pasta
- Dinner rolls or biscuits
Leftovers are great for quick meals too. Enjoy sliced pork roast on sandwiches or salads, or dice it up for fried rice or pasta dishes.
Common Questions
Here are some common questions about making Instant Pot pork loin roast along with my tips:
Q: My roast wasn’t fully cooked, what should I do?
A: First, always use a meat thermometer to check for doneness instead of relying on cook times. If your pork is undercooked, you can simmer it in the sauce for 5-10 minutes with the lid off using the Saute function until it reaches 145°F.
Q: How can I avoid a “burn” error message?
A: Deglazing the pot well after searing is key. Also make sure your liquid is covering at least about 1/3 of the pork roast.
Q: Do I need to use the trivet or steamer basket?
A: No, you can cook the pork roast directly in the liquid ingredients. No accessories needed.
Q: Can I cook it from frozen?
A: Yes, but add 5-10 minutes to the cook time if starting from frozen. And make sure it is fully thawed before checking temperature.