Best Meat Tenderizer; Reviewed in 2020 and Buying Guide

Best Meat Tenderizer; Reviewed in 2020 and Buying Guide

Unless you have been a vegetarian since birth, otherwise, you should know or have heard about meat tenderizer. For meat lovers, chefs, and cooking enthusiasts, a meat tenderizer is a must-have item in their kitchen just like a meat grinder or meat slicer. Be it a slice of red meat, including beef, pork, lamb, etc., or poultry containing chicken, ducks, turkey, etc. , or even seafood comprising of fish, crabs, shrimp,, among others.  We know for sure one of these is your favorite, and its part of your everyday diet.

But, why spend a lot of money on meat which might turn out to be tough, dry and hard to chew. To avoid such disappointed, get a meat tenderizer and thanks us later. When the meat is tender, you will not have fear of entertaining yourself, family, or your friends with a delicious meal. Having recipe ingredients is one thing, but how one prepares it is a different thing. For a mouthwatering delicacy, you need proper tools to make it.

Things to Consider When Buying a Meat Tenderizer

Nowadays, we have all sorts of goodies flooding in our market, and it’s the same case even to meat tenderizers. There are many options to choose from, but the challenge now is getting the right one that will suits your needs perfectly. It’s a mind-blowing exercise and its needs your total concentration to differentiate one from another. Put your worries aside, we are here to help you make an informed decision. It’s tiresome when buying something important and you don’t know exactly the features to consider when making your final choice. These are the key features in our article you should consider before the purchase;

Type

Typically, meat tenderizers comes in three forms i.e. blades/needles, mallets and powered/ seasoning tenderizer. Let’s check out how it works and you may choose the type that will suits your cooking style.

Powdered or seasoning tenderizers which you get easily at the grocery store to soften your meat. Just sprinkle all over the meat to aid break down the tough fibers with salt, special acids or active enzymes, it leaves the meat too soft.

Blades/ Needle tenderizers are hand held devices that comprise a series of blades or needles. When you press the top of the tenderizer down the dozen stainless blades or needless emerges and pierce the meat breaking the tough tissues down. Suitable for home cooking than mallets tenderizers as one can maneuver easily.

Mallets tenderizers are used like a hammer exactly as the name sounds. They have a long handle normally made of aluminum, stainless steel or a nonstick coating. You need to strike the surface of the meat to make it soft. Some mallets have dual sides one is a smooth head for flattening meat while the other one is a ridged head for tenderizing.

Handle

The handle should fit securely in your hands, whether the design is vertical or horizontal. The handle should be made with materials that prevent your hand from slipping and easy to hold. Consider ergonomic non-slip handle meat tenderizers as it’s comfortable to hold.it will also make the tenderizing process easier, safer and quicker.

Weight

Weight also matters a lot when it comes to meat tenderizers. Meat tenderizers needs to be heavy enough for you to get the desired texture and thickness with minimal effort. Though, when the meat tenderizer is too heavy, it might be difficult to use and control. One need to decide the maximum weight of a tenderizer they can handle, depending on your strength. It will make your work easier and you will not struggle when tenderizing your meat.

Cleaning

A good meat tenderizer should be easier to clean after every use by brush and hot soapy water. However, tenderizers with small blades and needles often get meat stuck on them, making them difficult to clean. Typically, these tenderizers need to be hand-washed but one need to dissemble them carefully and remove the chunk meat gently to avoid accidents. It’s advisable to read the cleaning instruction before washing, just to ensure you don’t damage the product accidentally. For an easier cleaning process look for tenderizers which are dishwasher safe. This will enable you safe time and avoid any possible accident to the product and you too.

Durability

Look for something that will last for a long period time and which will makes you feel the worth of your money at the end of the day. Choose a meat tenderizer that is made of durable materials like a strong metal base since it won’t bend easily. It can also hold up to the meat tenderizing impact. If you are going for meat tenderizer with blades, ensure the metal wont rust or corrodes. Plastic handle tenderizers should be durable to see the taste of time without scratching losing its colors or even denting.

Price

At the end of the day price might be your determinant factor, especially if you are in a tight budget and you are not willing to spend extra coin than the allocated amount. Hence forth you will need a meat tenderizer that will fit you budget and can do the work perfectly. For someone who don’t cook meat more often his budget will differ than someone who cook meat on a daily basis. Just keep in mind that whatever you are going to spend sometimes might reflect on the type of the product you will get. As the ones that are more expensive normally has higher quality but it doesn’t mean all affordable items are not of a high quality.

Safety and Ease of Usage

When it comes to handling sharp objects then safety is the highest value you need to consider. Meat tenderizers comes in different design and style for example the bladed or needle type one can be the most intimidating tools in your kitchen. If you are not careful with them it can cause a major injury.so, make sure the product is safe to use and if it will be easier for you to use the item.

Versatility

There are many meat tenderizer that can assume more than a single role. Consider the other function the product can do and if it satisfies you, then go for it. But be sure it does the primary work absolutely.

Benefits of Using the Best meat Tenderizer

Whatever the case in our daily life, the word benefits just pop out necessarily or unnecessarily. Benefit has been put in a fore forth in everything we do in our life and its saddening sometimes because it has made people sound selfish in other situation. For now, let leave that aside and concentrate on the meat tenderizers benefits. For your information we have numerous benefit of using meat tenderizers and we cannot be able to discuss them all. Here are the main ones that we felt it will make a great deal for you:

Makes Meat Soft and more Juicer

When you use a meat tenderizer it will make your meat soft to chew. Soft meat is normally suitable for young and old people who don’t have the energy to crush hard meat and bones. Chewing and digestion is easy when the meat is soft. Juicer meat is possible with the help of holes that tenderizer creates on a piece of meat as well as getting rid of bad odor that raw meat has. As the meat penetrate inside the holes, they shrink and meat contracts folding flavored moisture.at the end you will enjoy a nicely cooked meat that remain moisturized with spices all through.

Excellent flavor and texture

It doesn’t matter if you are a pro or not in the kitchen. Whatever meat one is planning to prepare, a meat tenderizer will enables you to perform great cooking. The secret of meat dishes lies basically in the texture and excellent taste. The tender meat with several holes is easy to marinate with the desired flavor entire piece. End results being excellent taste and better texture.

Fast cooking

Tenderized meat cooks 50% faster than the normal meat which has not be tenderized. Many cuts created by the meat tenderizer enables the heat to pass through easily. Hence reducing the time taken while cooking meat as well as money for your gas or electricity consumed.

Even cooking

Thanks, to meat tenderizers nowadays the issue of under or overcooking meat has been dealt with and now you cook your meat evenly. This is achieved by the tenderizer uniform cuts. Yes, we agree some meat tenderizer have blades with different thickness but by discretion you know the deep and thick cut need to be at the center for even cooking.

Kitchen Serenity

There is nothing that is fulfilling than having a peace of mind when cooking in your kitchen. With meat tenderize one is certain with the duration of cooking and how the end result will taste. This power and control has been bestowed on us by meat tenderizers in or modern kitchen. So, free yourself from unnecessary stress and enjoy your cooking time knowing fully you have everything under control.

Our Top Six Rated Meat Tenderizers in 2020

Based on various features that each of these meat tenderizers have and the customers reviews from genuine sources. Plus our own experience on each one of them has let us come up with these top six best tenderizers in the market. Each one has something special and unique about them, let check what each one has to offer;

1. Jaccard Supertendermatic 48-Blade Tenderizer

Made of white ABS plastic handle, the sturdy Jaccard Supertendermatic 48-blade Tenderizer comes with forty-eight retractable stainless steel blades which fits securely to the holding plate on the bottom of the unit. The one point five inches penetration by the blades allows seasoning, marinades or spices to penetrate faster .While also creating tiny heat channels in your meat allowing it to cook up 40 percent faster. The absorption of flavors is estimated to be 600 percent meaning the taste of your meat will be excellent.

The product is comfortable and easy to use in any type of meat be it beef, pork, chicken, turkey veal, venison just to mention a few. Its blades doesn’t create any visible marks on your meat, the shape of the meat will remain intact. It also ensures your meat doesn’t shrink unnecessarily but cook evenly.

Pros

• Affordable and durable product
• Retractable 48 stainless steel double-edged blades
• No 1 choice of professional chefs worldwide
• Ideal for all type of white and red meat
• Reduce shrinkage and allows meat to cook evenly and faster

Cons

• The blades can be difficult to clean

https://www.amazon.ca/Jaccard-200348-Supertendermatic-48-Blade-Tenderizer/dp/B001347JK6/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=jaccard%2Bsupertendermatic%2B48-blade%2Btenderizer&qid=1589568872&sr=8-2&th=1

2. Oxo Good Grips Good Grips Meat Tenderizer

It’s also one of the Oxo industry remarkable devices that you might consider to be part of your kitchen equipment. Stylized Oxo Good Grips Good Grips meat tenderizer is made of solid aluminum which makes it sturdy while using it. The device soft handle cushions your hand to absorb pressure anytime.

Yes, it’s a dual sided device, one texture side for tenderizing while the flat side enables you to pound you meat. The upper part is made of stainless steel to avoid rusting. The device is can be cleaned easily and it’s easy to use. Actually, it can relieve your stress when you want to vent it out on something, without even hurting your hand. Just take a piece of meat and start pounding, you will feel better within some few minutes.

Pros

• Two sided meat tenderizer for both texture and meat flattening
• Soft handle to absorb pressure
• Easy to use and clean
• Sturdy device due to solid aluminum construction
• Pocket friendly device with stunning performance

Cons

• Not ideal for thick large piece of meat

https://www.amazon.ca/OXO-Good-Grips-Meat-Tenderiser/dp/B00004OCJJ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=high+rated+meat+tenderizer&qid=1589566724&sr=8-1

3. Weston Manual Heavy Duty Meat Cuber Tenderizer [07-3101-W-A]

It doesn’t matter whether you have a busy restaurant to run, hunter, gardener or food enthusiasts, the Weston meat cuber tenderizer will be excellent for you. The device comes with 31 sharp stainless steel blades that are capable of piercing through tough connective fibers to tenderize and flatten your meat cuts. The sturdy base of the device and the 2 C-clamps enables mounting and counters.

The stylish all metal design meat tenderizer is durable and features steel combs that prevent jamming the machine. This device allows you to cubes your meat after tenderizing as per your desires. Cleaning the device has been made easier by its 2-piece housing design that can be disassembles easily.

Pros

• High quality device with 1 year warranty
• Dishwasher safe
• Sturdy cast aluminum construction
• The heavy duty base and crank handle is good for food safe coating

Cons

• Not suitable with chicken or marinated meat
• Your meat may come out torn and scattered

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00307RV7A/?tag=chefsre-20

4. Norpro Grip-EZ Stainless Steel Meat Pounder

The mirror-polished stainless steel head of this meat tenderizer gives it a stylized look and can fit in any modern kitchen. Norpro Grip-EZ Stainless steel meat pounder is a little bit higher in terms of its prices as compared to other tenderizers. But its simplicity and maneuverability compares to none of meat tenderizers in the market. With it you can whack away any meat cuts without suffering from hand fatigue.

The weight of this device enables flattening and thinning your meat without feeling fatigued in your hands. Its ability to pound different type of meat uniformly enabling even cooking makes it remarkable.

Pros

• Its smooth surface ensures the meat doesn’t tear when pounding
• Fits Comfortably in your hands to avoid slipping
• Easy to clean

Cons

• If not handled carefully chances of breaking granite surface is high since its heavy

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004UE7C/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=cookjunkies-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B00004UE7C&linkId=45663a6fabd261495df516b6cd03efb4

5. XSpecial Meat Tenderizer Tool 48-Blades Stainless Steel

The high quality device made of ABS plastic handle that is durable, strong, comfortable to use. Its 48 retractable razor- sharp stainless steel blades are long lasting and it doesn’t rust, discolor, dull or change its shape over time.

The device is suitable for all kind of meat and the blades are designed in such a way that they don’t tear or disfigure your meat. Not only the device is simple to use and clean, it also make your cooking faster as it enable your spices to be absorb easily giving you a great taste. The device has two colors to choose from i.e. black and white

Pros

• High quality device with several blades for quicker operation
• Dishwasher safe
• 2 inches penetration into the meat

Cons

• Harder to use with thicker meat
• Might make smaller pieces of meat too flat

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01G4I9HFK/?tag=chefsre-20

6. OXO Meat Tenderizer, Black & Silver

This dual sided hammer like device is commonly used by professional butchers, chefs and meat lovers to pound and tenderize their meat. It has ergonomically engineered handle that is non-slip for comfortable use.

The dual hammer like head has both texture and flat sides. The flat side is normally used to pound and flatten your meat. While the textured side is for tenderizing and breaking down tough meat fibres.both sides is compatible to all kind meat you may desire. Just for your info OXO is a famous brand in the industry and has different remarkable product in the market. The hole in the handle enables you to hang the device after use meaning it can suit even in your small kitchen perfectly.

Pros

• Durable one- piece aluminum construction with non-stick coating
• Easy to clean and use
• Has both smooth and textured sides
• Dishwasher safe materials

Cons

• Not suitable for large thick piece of meat

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-86151-SoftWorks-Meat-Tenderizer/dp/B000066OJD/ref=zg_bs_760360_17?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=VH8C22860GC8EYSWE54N

Frequently Asked Question about Best Meat Tenderizers

Q1.Why should I tenderize Meat?

Well, if you have gone through our article, we have mentioned main benefits you gets when one tenderize their meat. If not, go through it to learn more. You should also understand that not all local counter have tender meat cuts other are tough. Tender cuts might be available but they are a bit pricey compared to cheap cuts which are there. But when you have the meat tenderizer you don’t need to worry, since your tenderizer will handle any cut.

Q2. Is there any meat I should avoid tenderizing?

Not all the type of meat should be tenderize. For example that expensive steaks some have in their substance significant amount of fat which actually act as a natural tenderizer. Furthermore delicate meat such as chicken, fish or pork may lose their structure and shape when tenderized. Avoiding them will be advantageous to you.

Q3.what type of meat cuts require needle tenderization?

Any other beef cut should be put into consideration though tough cut gives you admirable results than the soft ones. When you needle-tenderize the toughness will reduce multiple times making your work easier.

Q4.which one among the three type of meat tenderizers suits one more?

All the three types of tenderizing meat be it powered/seasoning, blades/needle or mallets does a great job. But depending on your personal preference and needs one way might be suitable for you over the other.

Q5. Can I get a multipurpose meat tenderizer?

Yes you can, as we said earlier our market offers several choices. It’s up to you now to consider the features that is relevant to you and choice one that satisfies your needs. Go for one that interest you more.

Final verdict

When everything is said done, deep down inside there! It’s still a personal preference that matters but never overlook the quality of a product, it is everything. Meat tenderizers makes our food delicious and tender to cut by breaking down the collagen in the meat by changing it to gelatin. This make it easier for us to chew and apply spices easily while preparing them. To ensure your tenderizer remain in a good condition, one should clean it thoroughly after every use and store in a dry place.