Why do so many people cook pork loin in a slow cooker?

Question

Why does it seem like the preferred method of cooking a pork loin is slow cooker or pressure cooker? It's a tender cut of meat. Mine always come out delicious roasted in the oven. It's easier and quicker to boot! What am I missing?

Answer

I agree with you, roasting a pork loin is the way to go.

Answer

Anybody who recommends cooking a pork loin in a slow cooker or pressure cooker is not to be trusted in the kitchen. Anybody who makes pulled pork with a pork loin is an idiot. 

So sayeth the 'pad.

Answer

Roasting is far and away the best, even better slightly pink so that it is still juicy.

Answer

File this under pet peeves.
My coworker talks about his favorite pulled pork pork loin using his slow cooker. I have to bite my tongue. 

I believe the rationale for using pork loin is a pork loin is lean - the other white meat, easy to use where there no trimming or bone to deal with, and easily available. A pork loin is a nice looking log of meat vs a Boston butt - fatty and weird, gristly looking hunk of pork. :-) In other words, as others post have mentioned, they are not to be trusted in the kitcken. lol. 

Also, smothering in sweet bbq sauce makes up for the dry, gritty slow cooked results.

Answer

Years ago, I tried to make "pulled pork" in a slow cooker. I was emboldened by something I saw on the internet. Anyway, it was a disaster. Stuff doesn't shred. As noted by others, supermarket pork loin is way too lean to cook well in the slow cooker. I have had bone in pork loin from a friend who raises fancy pigs and that stuff was fatty and delicious, perfect for oven roasting. Kinda spoiled me for regular pork loin.

Answer

What you're missing is the timing and attention oven prep demands. For busy people (and surely if you're a homeschooling momto4girls you must be one of them...), pork TENDERLOIN roast is a convenient cut to cook quickly in the oven. Pork LOIN roast is another matter -- cooking it in the slow cooker is a hands-off way to give it long, low, slow cooking without worrying about drying it out.

Answer

Not that I own a slow cooker or pressure cooker but , if I had one, pork loin is probably the last thing I would consider cooking in it. It's a fairly regular roast in this house.

Answer

I'm guilty.

America's Test Kitchen has a few recipes for pork loin that aren't bad for a rushed family. Basically, you sear the fat on the loin then sauté something like a bed of onions, beans with flavorful sauce, etc. then glaze the pork loin with something and slow cook for 2-3 hours until the roast reaches 140F. It's not the all day forget-it meal but it is great for people that have early obligations and late obligations and don't want to do the drive thru.

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Why do so many people cook pork loin in a slow cooker?

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