How to cook frozen pork chops Instant Pot style. From rock hard to perfectly tender in minutes. This is a healthy dinner with vegetables that you can make even if you forgot to thaw the meat. You can also use a Ninja Foodi pressure cooker or a Crockpot Express.
We tried different ways to cook frozen pork chops in the Instant Pot until we got it just right. Now we can share this simple Instant Pot recipe with you all so that if you forget to make dinner, you can do it and no one will know! (affiliate links present).
Defrosting pork chops can be a hassle, taking hours at room temperature or requiring constant microwave babysitting. But with an instant pot like the popular Instant Pot, you can defrost and cook frozen pork chops safely and conveniently.
In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explain the benefits of using an instant pot to defrost pork chops and walk through the simple process step-by-step. I’ve also included some helpful tips and delicious instant pot pork chop recipe ideas to try. After reading, you’ll be able to get dinner on the table fast, even when your pork chops are frozen solid!
Why Defrost Pork Chops in an Instant Pot?
Defrosting pork chops in an instant pot offers several key advantages:
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Speed – An instant pot can defrost pork chops in 10-15 minutes significantly faster than thawing at room temperature or in the microwave.
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Safety – The controlled heating environment avoids bacterial growth issues associated with letting meat sit out to defrost
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Quality – The pressurized heat gently defrosts the meat, helping retain moisture and texture.
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Convenience – You can defrost and cook the pork chops in the same pot!
The quick defrost time means you can go from frozen pork chops to finished dinner in under an hour with minimal hands-on effort.
Step-By-Step Guide to Defrosting Pork Chops
Follow these simple steps to safely thaw pork chops in your instant pot:
1. Prepare the Pork Chops
Start with 1-2 bone-in or boneless pork chops, about 1 pound total weight. Season them with salt, pepper, herbs or a dry rub before freezing for extra flavor.
You can also quickly brown the chops before freezing for added flavor (optional). Plain frozen chops can be seasoned right before cooking as well.
2. Add Liquid to the Instant Pot
Add 1 cup of water or chicken broth to the instant pot. The liquid helps transmit heat evenly and prevents burning. For extra flavor, use chicken broth or marinade ingredients like apple cider vinegar.
3. Place Pork Chops in the Pot
Arrange the frozen pork chops in a single layer in the instant pot. Try not to overcrowd them. For 2 chops, place them side-by-side or slightly overlapping.
4. Pressure Cook on Manual Setting
Seal the lid, make sure the pressure valve is closed, and select the Pressure Cook or Manual function. Set the time based on the thickness of your chops:
- 1-inch chops: 5 minutes
- 1 1⁄2-inch chops: 7 minutes
- 2-inch chops: 10 minutes
Allow 10-15 minutes for natural pressure release after cooking, then quick release any remaining pressure. The time under pressure gently brings the chops up to a safe 140°F to defrost them.
5. Use the Defrost Function (If Available)
If your instant pot has a specific defrost function, you can use that instead:
- Add liquid and chops as above
- Select defrost mode and input weight of the chops
- The machine automatically determines the time needed
- Allow natural then quick release after the defrost cycle completes
This takes the guesswork out of timing!
6. Finish and Serve Pork Chops
Once defrosted, the pork chops can be quickly seared, cooked further in a sauce or gravy, or grilled for a few minutes per side to finish them.
Always check the internal temperature before serving. Pork should reach 145°F for food safety. Then relax and enjoy your tender, juicy pork chop dinner!
Handy Tips for Defrosting Pork in an Instant Pot
- Don’t overcrowd the pot – chops need space to defrost evenly.
- Cut thicker chops in half or layers to speed up defrosting.
- Increase cook time for thicker/heavier chops and check for icy spots.
- Add spices, herbs, onions, garlic, vinegar to the liquid for extra flavor.
- Let chops rest 5 minutes after cooking before searing or grilling.
- Cook to the proper internal temperature before serving.
With these simple tips, you can safely defrost pork chops quickly for any recipe using your instant pot.
Delicious Instant Pot Pork Chop Recipes to Try
Once you’ve mastered defrosting pork chops in the instant pot, here are some tasty recipes to try:
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BBQ Instant Pot Pork Chops – Coat defrosted chops in a barbecue spice rub and quickly sear before pressure cooking in barbecue sauce and broth.
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Pork Chops and Gravy – Defrost chops then pressure cook in an onion, chicken broth and cream of mushroom soup gravy.
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Hawaiian Pork Chops – Marinate defrosted chops in a pineapple, soy sauce, and ginger mixture then pressure cook until saucy and glazed.
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Mexican Spiced Pork Chops – Rub chops with chili powder, cumin and oregano before pressure cooking in salsa, stock and diced green chiles for flavor.
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Italian Herb Pork Chops – Soak chops in a zesty Italian dressing marinade then pressure cook until super tender and full of flavor.
The options are endless for turning defrosted pork chops into a fast and delicious dinner!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you defrost and cook pork chops together in an instant pot?
Yes! The controlled pressurized environment makes it safe to take frozen pork chops straight to cooking in the instant pot.
How long does it take to defrost pork chops in an instant pot?
1-inch thick chops take around 5 minutes, 1 1⁄2-inches around 7 minutes, and 2-inches around 10 minutes. Exact timing can vary based on amount of chops and your model.
Should you add liquid when defrosting meat in an instant pot?
Yes, adding 1 cup of broth or water is recommended to prevent burning and help the meat defrost evenly.
Can you refreeze pork chops after defrosting in an instant pot?
It is not recommended. Refreezing after defrosting causes moisture loss and texture changes. Use defrosted chops within a few days.
Can you overcook pork chops while defrosting them?
It is possible if cooked too long. Refer to the suggested times and use a meat thermometer to confirm doneness instead of overcooking.
Get Defrosting in Your Instant Pot!
With an instant pot, you can skip the tedious onion counter defrosting and quickly thaw pork chops from frozen with the press of a button. In just 20-30 minutes, you can have juicy, tender pork ready to finish cooking and serve for an easy dinner any busy night of the week.
Give this simple instant pot defrosting method a try next time you come across frozen pork in the freezer. Just follow the step-by-step guide, and you’ll discover how easy it can be!
Instant Pot Frozen Pork Chops
That’s right, I wrote an entire post about cooking frozen meat in Instant Pot because I did it so often! You’ll be amazed at how well it works for chicken, pork shoulder, and more.
This pot without the lid can be used instead if you need simple Ninja Foodi recipes. Just press the pressure cook button. The other directions remain the same as far as the cook time.
We have a lot of easy one-pot meal recipes for you if you are new to power cooking. To begin with let’s start with a few basic tips:
- Make sure to Bookmark our InstaPot recipes page. We add new ones each week!.
- Then PRINT this Instant Pot cooking times cheat sheet to see how long it takes to cook beans, vegetables, and meat in your pressure cooker.
- I HIGHLY recommend you buy this non stick pot. Even though this better liner is better, you should still deglaze the pressure cooker after sautéing.
For reference, this is the pressure cooker I have (a 6 quart) and use for all recipe creations.
Here are a few questions you might have before you get started:
Can you put frozen pork in Instant Pot?
Absolutely. We’ve made Instant Pot frozen pork loin before and that came out great. Then we moved on to chops which we share with you here. Tender and juicy in no time.
Frozen pork roast Instant Pot style is amazing too. Now this isn’t something I do on purpose. I still would recommend cooking from raw instead of rock hard, but stuff happens. In a pinch it’s nice to have this information handy so you can still eat.
Any other method other than the slow cooker works fine. Steaming them essentially in a pressure cooker is our favorite way. Follow our steps here so you can try it too.
It will take about 50% longer than if you had defrosted pork chops. In the oven it is close to 50 minutes, in an Instant Pot it is only 12 minutes!.
