Perfect Pork Chops

Ingredients

Instructions

1. 1Gather the ingredients.
2. 2Twenty minutes before you start cooking, remove 4 (1-inch thick) bone-in pork chops from the refrigerator and bring to room temperature.
3. 3Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 400 F. Thoroughly dry the pork chops with paper towels. Season to taste with fine salt and freshly ground black pepper.
4. 4Turn an exhaust fan on high or open a window. Heat a large, heavy-duty ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron (never nonstick), over medium heat for 3 minutes. It's really important to get the pan very hot before adding the chops. Once preheated, add 2 teaspoons high-heat oil, such as canola, corn, safflower, or grapeseed oil to the pan. The oil will immediately start to smoke, but this is OK.
5. 5Carefully add the pork chops to the pan with tongs; don't move them for 3 minutes. If you have a splatter screen, use it to cover the pan.
6. 6Flip the chops over with the tongs, transfer to the oven, and roast until done, 6 to 7 minutes.
7. 7Continue to roast until the internal temperature registers 145 F with an instant-read thermometer.
8. 8Remove the pan from the oven, transfer the chops to a plate, and cover with foil.
9. 9Let the chops rest for 3 or 4 minutes before serving.