Demystifying the Size of a 4 Ounce Pork Chop

Pork chops are a dietary staple that can be prepared quickly and easily. But if you’ve ever gone to cook a recipe calling for a 4 ounce pork chop you may have wondered – just how big is that exactly? This handy guide breaks down everything you need to know about the size and dimensions of a 4 ounce pork chop.

What is Considered a 4 Ounce Serving of Pork?

• A 4 ounce serving of pork is around the size of a deck of cards or the palm of your hand.
• It’s an average single portion size that provides a good amount of protein without too many calories.
• Boneless or bone-in chops around 3/4 inch thick typically weigh about 4 ounces. Thinner or thicker chops will weigh slightly less or more.
• 4 ounces of raw pork cooks down to about 3 ounces of edible cooked meat. So a 4 ounce raw chop yields a nice individual serving.

Visualizing a 4 Ounce Pork Chop

Here are some visual references to help conceptualize the size of a 4 ounce pork chop:

• Deck of Cards: A pork chop around the size of a deck of playing cards, about 4 inches long by 3 inches wide, is right around 4 ounces.

• Palm of Your Hand: The palm area of an average adult hand, measuring about 4 inches across, is a good estimate of a 4 ounce pork chop.

• Golf Ball: A golf ball is just under 1.7 ounces. So imagine a raw 4 ounce pork chop being about 2.5 golf balls worth of meat.

• Tennis Ball: A tennis ball is approximately 2.7 ounces. Picture a 4 ounce raw pork chop being roughly 1 1/2 tennis balls in size.

• 3 Dice Stacked: 4 ounces of cooked pork is about the size of 3 dice stacked. This shrinks down from 4 ounces raw.

Average Dimensions of a 4 Ounce Pork Chop

• Thickness: A typical 4 ounce pork chop is around 3/4 inches thick, with some variation. Thinner chops weigh less, thicker chops weigh more.

• Diameter: Estimating about 4 inches in diameter for a boneless chop is a reasonable average size for 4 ounces. Bone-in chops may be up to 5 inches with the bone.

• Length x Width: An approximate 4 x 3 inch chop will generally be in the 4 ounce range depending on thickness. Somewhere between 3 to 5 inches long and wide covers the average span.

Comparing Boneless vs Bone-In Chops

• Boneless chops contain only the meat, so 4 ounces contains just pork.

• Bone-in chops include the weight of the bone. Since bone is denser than meat, a bone-in chop of the same dimensions will weigh more than 4 ounces.

• For bone-in look for chops around 1 inch thick and 5 inches long/wide to hit the 4 ounce mark. They’ll be slightly larger than boneless.

Factors Affecting Exact Size

There are a few factors that affect the precise size and weight of a pork chop:

• Bone: Bone-in chops need to be slightly bigger to equal 4 ounces of total weight.

• Fat Content: Chops with more marbling and fat will be a bit smaller at 4 ounces than leaner chops.

• Butcher Cuts: Exact dimensions vary by the butcher’s cutting style.

• Cook Loss: Chops shrink after cooking as moisture loss decreases weight. 4 ounces raw yields around 3 ounces cooked.

Buying the Right Thickness

When purchasing 4 ounce pork chops:

• 1/2 Inch Thick: Will weigh around 3 ounces raw, below the 4 ounce target. Best for fast weeknight meals.

• 3/4 Inch Thick: The ideal thickness for a 4 ounce raw chop that cooks down to 3 ounces cooked. Great for most recipes.

• 1 Inch Thick: Will be over 4 ounces raw so likely 5-6 ounces cooked. Allows for more caramelization but requires longer cooking. Best for low and slow cooking methods.

Nutrition Info for a 4 Ounce Serving

• Calories: 150-210 depending on leanness and bone or boneless

• Fat: 5-12g

• Protein: Over 20g

• Iron, zinc, B vitamins