What Is Pork Tenderloin and How Is It Different From Pork Loin?

Pork loin and pork tenderloin sound familiar, but they can't be used interchangeably.It's important you know the distinction before you pick up one or the other at the store.A pork tenderloin is a long, narrow, boneless cut of meat that comes from the muscle that runs along the backbone.A typical pork tenderloin weighs about one pound, and looks like a foot-long cylinder about three inches wide.Tenderloin is lean, so it can easily dry out. A brine can help keep it moist, but proper cooking is always your best bet.A pork loin is wider and flat, and can be a boneless or bone-in cut of meat that comes from the back of the animal.Pork loin is mild like pork tenderloin, though additional fat may render it a bit "meatier.".When cooking pork loin, try searing it in a sauté pan, then finishing it on an oven. You can also grill it over medium heat.The two cuts' shapes, thickness, and sizes are different enough that it's not a good idea to use them interchangeably