Pork tenderloin, also called pork fillet, pork steak or Gentleman's Cut, is a long, thin cut of

pork Pork is the culinary name for the meat of the domestic pig (''Sus domesticus''). It is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide, with evidence of pig husbandry dating back to 5000 BCE. Pork is eaten both freshly cooked and preserved; ...

. As with all

quadruped Quadrupedalism is a form of locomotion where four limbs are used to bear weight and move around. An animal or machine that usually maintains a four-legged posture and moves using all four limbs is said to be a quadruped (from Latin ''quattuor' ...

s, the tenderloin refers to the

psoas major The psoas major ( or ; from grc, ψόᾱ, psóā, muscles of the loins) is a long fusiform muscle located in the lateral lumbar region between the vertebral column and the brim of the lesser pelvis. It joins the iliacus muscle to form the iliop ...

muscle along the central spine portion, ventral to the lumbar vertebrae, the most tender part of the animal, because those muscles are used for posture rather than locomotion.

Products and uses

In some countries, such as the United States and the Netherlands ('varkenshaas'), pork tenderloin can be bought as a processed product, already flavored with a

marinade Marinating is the process of soaking foods in a seasoned, often acidic, liquid before cooking. The origin of the word alludes to the use of brine (''aqua marina'' or sea water) in the pickling process, which led to the technique of adding flavor b ...

. A regional dish of the

Midwestern United States The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of the United States. I ...

is a

pork tenderloin sandwich The pork tenderloin sandwich, also known as breaded pork tenderloin sandwich aka BPT, contains a breaded and fried cutlet similar to the Wiener Schnitzel and is popular in the Midwest region of the United States, especially in the states of Ind ...

, also called a tenderloin – a very thinly sliced piece of pork, which is the larger, tougher loineye - or longissimus - muscle, which is battered or breaded, deep fried, and served on a small bun, often with garnishes such as mustard, pickle and onions. This sandwich is relatively common and popular in the U.S. Midwest, especially in the states of

Iowa Iowa () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wisconsin to the northeast, Illinois to the ...

and

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

. In the southern states, tenderloin is often prepared as a breakfast biscuit, typically with egg or cheese. It is quite common for pork tenderloin to be used as an alternative to beef tenderloin as it can be just as tender but costs significantly less.

In popular culture

Alton Brown Alton Crawford Brown Jr. (born July 30, 1962) is an American television personality, food show presenter, chef, author, voice actor, and cinematographer. He is the creator and host of the Food Network television show ''Good Eats'' that ran for ...

's television show ''

Good Eats ''Good Eats'' is an American television cooking show, created and hosted by Alton Brown, which aired in North America on Food Network and later Cooking Channel. Likened to television science educators Mr. Wizard and Bill Nye, Brown explores the ...

'' includes an episode titled "Tender is the Pork" about pork tenderloin.

References

{{Pigs Tenderloin pt:Lombo_(gastronomia)

Products and uses

In popular culture

See also

References