Name: Slow-Cooker Pork Loin
Total time: 11 h
Ingredients: 4 teaspoons kosher salt; 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary; 1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme; 2 teaspoons pepper; 4 pound boneless pork loin roast , trimmed; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 onions , chopped fine; 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 cup apple juice; 3/4 teaspoon pepper; 5 apples (Pink Lady, Gala, or Fuji), peeled, cored, halved, and cut into 1/2-inch pieces; 1/2 cup raisins

Why This Recipe Works

The slow cooker is a pro at braising, but a lean, relatively quick-cooking cut of meat like the boneless pork loin presents a challenge. To keep our pork moist and rosy after 4 hours in the slow cooker, we came up with a few methods for gentler cooking. Wrapping the roast in foil insulated it, and elevating it on an inverted loaf pan kept it away from the hot bottom surface of the cooker. Salting the meat ahead of time and rubbing it with herbs gave our roast plenty of flavor without having to brown it on the stove. Instead of a sauce or vegetables, we opted for a sweet and tangy apple compote to complement the pork.

Before You Begin

A pork loin roast about 9 inches long will fit best. Nestle the inverted loaf pan into the apple mixture in step 4 so that the pork fits on top and the cooker can close.

Instructions

for the pork

Combine salt, rosemary, thyme, and pepper in bowl. Pat pork dry with paper towels and season with salt mixture. Wrap pork in 18-inch square of heavy-duty aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 6 or up to 24 hours.

for the apple compote

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, sugar, and salt and cook until onions are golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add 1/2 cup apple juice and pepper and simmer until syrupy, 1 to 3 minutes. Transfer to slow cooker.

Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter in now-empty skillet over medium-high heat. Add apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/2 cup apple juice and cook until liquid is nearly evaporated and apples are fork-tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in raisins. Transfer to slow cooker.

Nestle inverted disposable pan into apple mixture. Place foil-wrapped pork on top of disposable pan, cover, and cook on low heat until pork registers 140 degrees, 4 to 5 hours. Transfer pork to carving board, open top of foil, and let rest for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, discard disposable pan, gently stir apple compote to recombine, and transfer to serving bowl. Carve pork into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Serve with compote.