Stack of grilled pork chops on a black plate on a wood table.

Cider-Brined Porterhouse Pork Chops

Name: Cider-Brined Porterhouse Pork Chops Recipe
Prep time: 2 h
Cook time: 15 min
Yield: 4 Servings
Cuisine: Pork
Ingredients: 4 Porterhouse (bone-in loin) Pork Chops (about 3/4-inch thick); Brine:; 1/3 cup Table Salt (OR fine sea salt); 1 cup Water; 1/3 cup Maple Syrup; 2 tsp Dried Thyme; 2 tbsp Fresh Thyme; 1-1/2 cups Hard Cider (chilled, 12-oz bottle OR apple cider); 1 tsp Hot Pepper Sauce (such as Tabasco, divided); 1/2 cup Ice Water; 1/2 cup Water, additional; Sauce:; 1/4 cup Maple Syrup, additional; 1 tsp Hot Pepper Sauce, additional; Additional Items:; Small Saucepan; Resealable Plastic Storage Bag; Small Bowl; Paper Towels

Recipe and Photo Courtesy of Pork Checkoff

Makes: 4 servings
Prep Time: 60 - 120 minutes
Cook Time: 8 - 15 minutes

Ingredients:

Porterhouse (bone-in loin) Pork Chops (about 3/4-inch thick)

Brine:

Table Salt (OR fine sea salt)
Water
Maple Syrup
Dried Thyme
Fresh Thyme
Hard Cider (chilled, 12-oz bottle OR apple cider)
Hot Pepper Sauce (such as Tabasco, divided)
Ice Water
Water, additional

Sauce:

Maple Syrup, additional
Hot Pepper Sauce, additional

Additional Items:

• Small Saucepan
• Resealable Plastic Storage Bag
• Small Bowl
• Paper Towels

Directions:

In a small saucepan, add water, salt, maple syrup, and thyme over medium heat until salt dissolves and water is hot, but not boiling.
Remove from heat.
Add cider, ice water and hot sauce and stir until ice dissolves to create brine.
Put chops in a self-sealing plastic bag, pour in brine, and seal bag.
Refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, no longer.
In small bowl, mix sauce ingredients, then set aside.
Prepare a grill to medium-high heat (about 450℉).
Remove chops from brine and pat dry with paper towels.
Grill chops over direct heat until the internal temperature reaches between 145℉ (medium rare) and 160℉ (medium), on a meat thermometer, 4 to 5 minutes per side.
During the last 2 minutes, brush chops on both sides with remaining syrup mixture.
Remove chops from the grill and let rest for 3 minutes.
Serve and enjoy.