Whole food · Pork Products
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the lean, tender cut from the center of the pork loin, prized for its mild flavor and fine-grained texture. When roasted, it develops a delicate golden crust while remaining juicy and succulent inside. It's a nutritional powerhouse, delivering an impressive 26 grams of high-quality protein per 100 grams with virtually no carbohydrates.
People love it for its incredible versatility and mild, non-gamey flavor that acts as a perfect canvas for marinades and seasonings. Its quick cooking time and consistent tenderness make it a reliable weeknight dinner hero, easily elevated to a special occasion centerpiece.
Its extreme leanness means it can dry out quickly if overcooked, leading to a tough, chalky texture. To counteract this, use a meat thermometer to pull it at 145°F (63°C), let it rest before slicing, and consider brining or marinating beforehand to lock in moisture.
Pork tenderloin is one of the leanest cuts of meat available, with a fat content (3.96g/100g) comparable to that of a skinless chicken breast.
| Water | 69.1 g |
| Energy | 147 kcal |
| Energy | 615 kj |
| Protein | 26.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 4.0 g |
| Ash | 1.2 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.00 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0.00 g |
| Total Sugars | 0.00 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 6.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.1 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 29.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 265 mg |
| Potassium, K | 419 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 57.0 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.4 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.11 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.01 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 38.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.00 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.94 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.39 mg |
| Niacin | 7.4 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.73 mg |
| Folate, total | 0.00 ug |
| Folic acid | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, food | 0.00 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 0.00 ug |
| Choline, total | 88.5 mg |
| Betaine | 4.3 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.57 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 1.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.08 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.02 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.02 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.02 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 10.0 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 0.30 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 1.4 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.83 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.47 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.5 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.09 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.4 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 1.4 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.57 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.48 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.47 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.02 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.02 g |
| TFA 18:2 t,t | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.01 g |
| Cholesterol | 73.0 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.27 g |
| Threonine | 1.2 g |
| Isoleucine | 1.3 g |
| Leucine | 2.2 g |
| Lysine | 2.4 g |
| Methionine | 0.72 g |
| Cystine | 0.30 g |
| Phenylalanine | 1.1 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.99 g |
| Valine | 1.4 g |
| Arginine | 1.7 g |
| Histidine | 1.1 g |
| Alanine | 1.5 g |
| Aspartic acid | 2.5 g |
| Glutamic acid | 4.2 g |
| Glycine | 1.2 g |
| Proline | 1.1 g |
| Serine | 1.1 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.07 g |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
How do I prevent my roasted pork tenderloin from drying out?
The key is not to overcook it. Use an instant-read thermometer and remove it from the oven when the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Let it rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing; the temperature will rise a few degrees, and the juices will redistribute.
What's the best way to add flavor to this mild cut?
Marinating for at least 30 minutes (or up to 24 hours in the fridge) is excellent. Dry rubs with spices like paprika, garlic powder, and cumin also work well. For a quick flavor boost, sear it in a hot pan before finishing in the oven to create a tasty crust.
Is pork tenderloin the same as pork loin?
No, they are different. The tenderloin is a small, narrow, very tender muscle from under the loin. A pork loin is a much larger, wider roast from the back. Tenderloin cooks much faster and is generally more tender.