Cooking time is critical for a moist and tender pork roast. There are many variables to pork roast cooking times. Some of those variables include the type of roast, the size and thickness of the roast and the cooking temperature. There are some rules of thumb for cooking time for the different roasts but at best they are only a guess. A two to five pound pork loin roast cooked at 350 degrees f. will require roughly 20 to 30 minutes per pound. Pork tenderloin in the one to two pound category will require the same 20 to 30 minutes per pound but at 425 degrees F. instead of 350 degrees. A two to five pound Boston butt roast will require approximately 45 minutes per pound at 350 degrees F. The extra time is to allow the connective tissue to break down and the fat to melt and mingle with the roast. The only sure way to know when your roast is done is to use a meat thermometer. If you are roasting in the oven an oven thermometer is also recommended. Oven thermostats are notoriously inaccurate. Like I said cooking pork roast is not rocket science. Following these guidelines, however, will yield a pork roast so moist and tender it will surely impress your guests and will definitely make your mother-in-law turn green with envy.
