One of the most important decisions a housewife faces in her day-to-day life is what to cook for the whole family.
Pork fritter and pork tenderloin are two favorite dishes of a vast majority of Americans, but a common misconception is that they are the same thing.
So what is the truth? We’ll explore the difference between these two types of meat below in this article.
What is pork fritter?

Pork fritter is a popular dish in the United States, especially in Indiana.
As the name implies, it is a delicious and savory dish made from ground pork (usually the tenderloin cut) with bread crumbs, onions, garlic, and seasonings.
The mixture is breaded and deep-fried until it reaches the crispy crust but still remains juicy in the center.
It’s easy to make and can be served with a variety of sauces such as BBQ sauce or marinara sauce, alongside eggs and grits or potatoes with gravy.
Pork fritter is also commonly served as a delicious filling for sandwiches.
If you want more flavor there is always the option of adding bacon bits and cheese to your batter before frying it up.
The possibilities are endless when making this dish because they taste great no matter what way they’re cooked or if you add any extra flavors to them.
What is pork tenderloin?

Pork tenderloin is the cut of meat taken from the center of a pork loin.
It’s an excellent source of protein and contains less fat than other cuts.
Pork tenderloin is the most tender part, that’s why it is one of the most expensive meat cuts from the pig.
Pork tenderloin can be cooked using any method you like, such as grilling, roasting, or frying, but it tastes best when roasted or grilled to medium doneness (145 degrees Fahrenheit).
This will result in the juicy meat in the center that is tender enough but not melt in your mouth like stewing or braising dishes and still a little perfectly chewy.
Pork tenderloin is also ideal to serve with salad and sandwiches.
What are the differences between pork fritter vs tenderloin?
The best way to distinguish between pork fritter and pork tenderloin is by looking at how each one looks when it’s served up on your plate or bun.
Let’s figure it out via our comparison table below:
Pork fritterTenderloinFormCooked Pork fritter is breaded deep-fried pork tenderloinCan refer to the uncooked or cooked form The uncooked tenderloin is a center cut from the pork loin The cooked form can be any dish made from pork tenderloin: roasted, grilled, or fried tenderloinTextureCrispy outside and tender inside, grainier feel and a little tougherTenderCooking timeShorter because the tenderloin is ground before being fried, so it takes less timeLonger because the tenderloin dish usually uses the whole cut |
What are the similarities between pork fritter vs tenderloin?
In addition to the aforementioned differences between pork fritter and pork tenderloin, there are also numerous likenesses found in these two pork dishes.
1. You can make your own pork fritter from pork tenderloin
The ground pork in the pork fritter recipe is mainly made from pork tenderloin because it is tender and juicy.
Therefore, if you want to save money and make a pork tenderloin sandwich from scratch, you can buy raw tenderloin and make your own pork fritter by mincing or grinding the pork and mixing it with other ingredients.
2. They have the base taste
Since pork tenderloin and pork fritter are actually one thing with two different forms, they have the same background taste no matter what dishes you are cooking from pork tenderloin.
Of course, your dishes’ flavors will be also impacted by other ingredients and condiments they go with.
3. They are perfect for sandwiches
You can order pork tenderloin or pork fritter sandwiches at any fast-food store throughout the country.
This is because this crispy and tender pork is perfect to go with salad and sauce in the middle and two buns wrapped out.
Which one is better?
Product Comparison | Advance Food Deluxe Whole Muscle Pork Fritter, 4 Ounce -- 40 per case. | Pork Loin Tenderloin Step 1 |
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We have unraveled any frequently met misconceptions between pork fritter and pork tenderloin.
Hopefully, this has helped you understand more about the tenderloin pork cut and the popular dish made from it.
There are numerous mouth-watering recipes to make from the tenderloin, including pork fritter.
So with a single cut, you can create the whole-week menu and decide which variation of pork you like the most.
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