Foolproof Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Get the recipe: Grilled Pork Tenderloin, shown here with a fruit salsa.

In theory, pork tenderloin is the perfect cut for grilling. It’s dressy enough to be served at an elegant dinner party, yet casual enough for weeknight supper. It’s substantial enough to be treated like red meat, yet mild enough to stand in for chicken or fish. It’s economical, healthy, readily available. Even its small size is attractive—except when you try to cook it. From my experience, pork tenderloin is just a little too small to be treated like a roast and a little too big to be treated like a steak.

Create the perfect crust

After much experimentation, I’ve concluded that grilling pork tenderloin in a covered gas grill solves the problem. (I rarely go to the trouble to light a charcoal fire for two pork tenderloins, but you can of course use this method with charcoal; see the Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe for details) A gas grill heated to high with the lid down can effectively cook a pork tenderloin directly (like a steak) and indirectly (like a roast) simultaneously.

The key with this method is to get this sear and cook the pork tenderloin as quickly as possible, before it has a change to dry out. To develop an impressive crust (and to keep the grill from losing heat), I’ve developed the "7-6-5" method for timing the pork

The "7-6-5" Method

The "7-6-5" method for grilling pork tenderloin refers to the amount of time each side gets, with the burners on high heat: seven minutes on the first side, six minutes on the second side, and then five minutes with the grill turned off and the lid closed. The method is so reliable that I can set a timer and go about my business. I don't even have to worry about a grill flare-up: pork tenderloins are lean enough so that there's no threat of dripping fat. Here's how the timing works:

7 minutes to sear the first side, over direct, high heat. Keep the grill covered.

Next, grill 6 minutes on the second side—keeping the fire hot—so the whole tenderloin is now nicely seared.

Finally, turn off the heat, keep the lid closed, and let the tenderloin coast for 5 more minutes until it reaches an internal temperature of 145° to 150°F.

After the grill has been preheated for ten minutes, seven minutes is all it takes to fully sear the tenderloins with appetizing grill marks. Since the second side has already started to cook, it doesn’t take as long to sear as the first side. In fact, if left for the same amount of time, it would start to char. So the second side should look the same as the first side in just six minutes.

At this point, the tenderloins are fully seared, but they will probably only register 125° to 130°F at their thickest parts: not done yet. Clearly they don't need more direct heat. The tenderloins are so close to being done at this point and the grill is so hot that I simply turn off the grill and, in five minutes, the residual heat will fully cook them. For me, "fully cooked" means that a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest section of the pork registers 145° to 150°F.

Keep it Juicy with a Brine

Pork tenderloins may have the texture of red meat, but their flavor isn’t quite as exciting. For this reason, I’ve found that soaking them in a salt-sugar brine helps immensely. Depending on my schedule, I’ve developed two brine strengths. When I’m in a hurry, I use the stronger brine and soak the pork tenderloins for just 45 minutes. With this brine strength, the tenderloins tend to taste a little salty on the surface, so I rinse them and pat them dry.

If I have more time, I halve the amounts of sugar and salt in the brine recipe and soak the tenderloins for 1-1/2 hours. With this weaker brine, I’ve found the tenderloins don’t need to be rinsed. I simply pat them dry. Either way, brining not only improves the flavor but also helps the pork stay juicy.

Amp up the Flavor with a Fruit Glaze

Finish with a Bright Sauce or Salsa

For a knockout presentation, make a quick sauce or a colorful salsa to top your pork tenderloin (see my recipes for Fruit Salsa, Orange Balsamic Sauce, and Mango Chutney Sauce).

Fruit Salsa

Orange Balsamic Sauce

Mango Chutney Sauce