As air fryers make cooking easier, more consumers are buying frozen pork cutlets, and a survey found that fat and protein content varies by up to 1.5 times depending on the product.
The Korea Consumer Agency (KCA) on the 16th released results of tests on the quality and safety of 12 types of frozen pork cutlets sold on the market. Compared with the daily reference values for nutrients, these products were relatively high in fat and protein but low in carbohydrates.
Specifically, per 100g, loin pork cutlets contained 16–24g of fat, and cheese pork cutlets contained 18–25g. Protein was 11–16g and 15–21g, respectively, showing up to a 1.5-fold gap even within the same type.
Among loin pork cutlets, the product with the most fat was Dongwon F&B's "Cuisine Crispy Pork Cutlet Whole Loin" (24g), and its protein was about 44% of the recommended daily amount. Among cheese pork cutlets, Emart's "No Brand Whole Loin Cheese Pork Cutlet" and Dongwon F&B's "Cuisine Crispy Pork Cutlet Mozzarella Cheese" were the highest at 25g.
For protein, NongHyup Moguchon's "Twice-fried Extra Crispy Whole Loin Pork Cutlet" and Homeplus' "Homemeal Domestic Pork Whole Loin Pork Cutlet" were highest at 16g, while among cheese pork cutlets Pulmuone's "Block Cheese Tonkatsu" recorded the highest at 21g.
In a consumer survey, 50.5% of respondents said their serving size of frozen pork cutlets was "one piece at a time," accounting for half. One piece of pork cutlet (140g) contained 41–65% of the recommended daily amount of fat and 27–53% of protein, but only 4–9% of carbohydrates. The consumer agency said that eating it with rice or salad can supplement lacking nutrients.
The consumer agency also conducted a sensory evaluation with a consumer panel, comparing perceived taste characteristics of frozen pork cutlets by product, including appearance, taste, aroma, and texture. LOTTE Wellfood's "Chefood Loin Whole Pork Cutlet" received favorable reviews in the "crispiness of the batter and the thickness and tenderness of the meat" categories. Among cheese pork cutlets, Pulmuone's "Block Cheese Tonkatsu" scored high for "amount of cheese and chewiness, and meat texture."
In safety tests, no heavy metals such as lead or cadmium and no enterohemorrhagic E. coli were detected, and the volatile basic nitrogen levels used to check meat freshness all met standards.
Among the frozen pork cutlet products tested, the price per 100g was 1,976–3,160 won for loin pork cutlets and 1,773–2,852 won for cheese pork cutlets, a gap of up to 1.6 times within the same type. For loin pork cutlets, "Gourmet Whole Loin Tonkatsu (CJ CheilJedang)" was the cheapest at 1,976 won, and "Chefood Loin Whole Pork Cutlet (LOTTE Wellfood)" was the most expensive at 3,160 won. For cheese pork cutlets, "No Brand Whole Loin Cheese Pork Cutlet (Emart)" was the cheapest at 1,773 won, and "Pulmuone Block Cheese Tonkatsu (Pulmuone Foods)" was the most expensive at 2,852 won.