The meat you prepare should be succulent and tender…
…regardless of whether it’s a roast, steak, chicken, or any other type of meat.
You may want to use a meat tenderizer to make sure your meat cuts…
…meet your expectations.
While it cooks, meat tenderizers physically…
…break down the dense protein bonds…
…allowing moisture to penetrate the meat.
A meat tenderizer uses sharpened needles and blades…
…or blunt mallets to break apart these bonds…
…resulting in a much more palatable meal.
The size and thickness of the meat…
…the amount of counter space you have to work with…
…and the protection features that will ensure your safety are factors to consider…
…when choosing a meat tenderizer.
Let’s hear Jacob’s story first…
Meat is my favorite food!
It is hard for me to cook tender meat for me and my girlfriend every time.
I feel frustated. As time goes on, I know I need meat tenderizer so that my meat is perfectly tender.
I follow the instructions for using the meat tenderizer.
I’m quite confident now that I know how to use it well.
She also said my steak is so tender; she loves it. I could not ask for anything more.
Now…
Find out more about selecting the best meat tenderizer for your kitchen…
…by looking at the top products listed below.
Meat Tenderizers Types
Meat tenderizers are classified into three types: mallets, needles, and blades.
Listed below are the categories and their breakdowns.
Mallet
Mallets are commonly used to tenderize beef, pork, and poultry with thick cuts.
The edges of mallets are frequently shaped like pyramids…
…which are ideal for breaking down tough muscles.
You can use it to flatten the meat so that it cooks more evenly on the other side.
These kitchen tools are effective and easy to use.
Use the mallet like a hammer to strike the meat on one side.
Make sure you have enough room to swing the mallet without making a mess.
In addition, you may want to cover your counters with an apron.
As the meat is being tenderized, it can splatter.
Needle
To tenderize meat, needle meat tenderizers use a set of razor-sharp metal needles…
…that penetrate the meat to a depth of 1.5 to 2 inches.
By tearing apart muscle tissue, the needles provide narrow channels for seasonings…
…rubs, and marinades to penetrate.
Furthermore, these piercing cuts can reduce the cooking time…
…since heat and moisture are able to permeate through the muscle fibers.
Thinner cuts of meat are not suitable for needle meat tenderizers.
As a result, the piercing needles can tear the meat apart…
…instead of simply tenderizing it.
Tenderizers may also have safety features such as retractable needles…
…or a guard to prevent accidents.
Blade
As far as function is concerned, blade tenderizers are similar to needle tenderizers.
Through the use of piercing blades…
…blade tenderizers create channels through which seasonings, rubs…
…and other flavors can permeate the meat and increase its tenderness.
Tenderizers with blades have a wider cutting blade…
…that is better suited for large, thick cuts of meat.
Using these tenderizers comes with the same inherent risks…
…as using needle meat tenderizers…
…so it is best to invest in a product with safety features.
You should refer to the manufacturer’s instructions on how to clean your tenderizer.
Useful tips for you…
What to Look for When Choosing a Meat Tenderizer
Here are a few things to keep in mind before you start shopping for a meat tenderizer.
Design or Type
It is imperative that you prioritize quality over all else…
…when shopping for a new meat tenderizer.
You should avoid mallets with seams or mallet heads that are poorly balanced…
…for instance, since these can be difficult to use and are easily broken.
Tenderizers come in a variety of shapes and sizes.
In general, large, heavy meat tenderizers are best for large cuts of meat…
…while smaller meat tenderizers are best for poultry and thin pieces of meat.
Furthermore, you should decide whether you want a meat tenderizer…
…that can be washed in the dishwasher or if you prefer to handwash it.
Blades
Another factor to consider is the blades of a needle or blade meat tenderizer.
To ensure maximum efficiency as a kitchen tool…
…your blades should be durable and sharp.
After several uses or when you try to use a very tough piece of meat…
…weak blades are likely to break.
When the blades are not sharp enough…
…they can actually become stuck in the meat, requiring you to remove them.
The number of blades on the meat tenderizer should also be considered.
Tenderizing meat is easier when there are more blades.
As a result, a large number of blades can tear apart smaller cuts of meat…
…so they aren’t always appropriate.
“If you buy a needle type meat texturizer, there will be blades attached to it. It is with these that the tenderization is done. It is ideal is to have at least 48 blades if you want to treat large pieces of meat at the same time. The depth of each cut is also vitally important to saving time and stress.”
Mary J. Shepard – Professional Chef & Writer at Chef Resource
Handle
Ideally, the handle of the meat tenderizer…
…should be ergonomically shaped to fit your hand.
During tenderizing, you’ll have the best control possible.
Additionally, you can choose a tenderizer with a non-slip grip…
…which is especially important for mallets.
The handles of needle and blade meat tenderizers are horizontal.
All you have to do is grab them and press down.
It is typical for mallet handles to swing the head of the mallet in an arc…
…using your hand as a fulcrum.
In addition, there are mallets with vertical handles (called pounders)…
…which can be used to tenderize meat using clenched fists.
Maintenance
Another aspect that is easily overlooked is how the tenderizer…
…should be cleaned dried, and stored.
You can wash most mallets and some needle…
…and blade meat tenderizers in the dishwasher.
Ensure there are no pieces of raw meat in between the blades of the dishwasher…
…needles, and pyramid-shaped points before loading anything into it.
It is best to wash meat tenderizer by hand using a durable brush…
…if they can’t be washed in the dishwasher.
You can then clean any remaining food pieces and prevent accidental cuts with this.
Some products even include a brush specially designed to fit the size…
…and shape of the blades, needles, or points.
Safety
Use kitchen tools carefully when you’re working with meat tenderizers…
…to prevent yourself from getting injured.
Simple safety features can prevent injuries…
…such as retractable blades, blade locks, and guards.
Here’s what you’ve been waiting for…
Our Top Picks for Meat Tenderizer
Now that you are more thoroughly aware of what a meat tenderizer can do…
…you can check out our top picks below to learn about your options.
| Image | Title | Price | Prime | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | KitchenAid Gourmet Meat Tenderizer, One Size, Black 1 | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Aliglow Meat Tenderizer Hammer Tool/Pounder For Tenderizing Steak Beef Poultry | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | Jaccard 45-Blade Meat Tenderizer, Simply Better Meat Tenderizer, Stainless Steel Columns/ Removable Cartridge, NSF Approved, Black | PrimeEligible | Buy Now | |
 | RÖSLE Fleischhammer, hochwertiger Hammer zum Klopfen von Fleisch, Edelstahl 18/10, hochglänzend/matt, Spülmaschinengeeignet | PrimeEligible | Buy Now |
Let’s go through them one by one…
KitchenAid Gourmet Meat Tenderizer
This one is my favorite!
- TEXTURIZED SURFACE : One of the sides surface is textured for optimum use on a variety of meats
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
With this impressive meat tenderizer…
…you can improve the quality, texture, and even the taste of your food.
The durable (and lightweight) aluminum construction…
…won’t break after repeated use.
One side of the mallet has a flat surface…
…that can be used for flattening meat or other cooking purposes…
…like crushing nuts or ice.
There are numerous rows of sharp spikes…
…on the textured side of the mallet that can easily cut through meat tissues…
…and tenderize your food.
A hole in the handle makes it easy to store.
The mallet should not be washed in the dishwasher.
Use a soft brush to scrub the spikes.
Before putting it away, wash the rest of the mallet with your hands or a cloth.
Aliglow Meat Tenderizer Hammer/Mallet Tool/Pounder
It’s definitely worth to have!
- New release-MULTIFUNCTIONAL DOUBLE SIDED MALLET style - Use the textured sides surface for optimum use on a variety of meats. Or Use the smooth flatten side for pounding and flattening For cutlets. Using this tool to create perfect, tender, juicy steaks that are easier to chew and digest.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
The mallet meat tenderizer has two sides so you can flatten…
…and tenderize your meat at the same time.
It is made of a single piece of solid alloy steel…
…so you won’t have to worry about it breaking after repeated use.
In addition to being safe to wash in a dishwasher, it should also be rinsed first.
It has a smooth, rounded handle that is easy to hold…
…and allows for comfortable use regardless of how you hold it.
As well as absorbing impact from your strikes…
…the handle has a cushioned surface that creates an anti-slip surface…
…so the tenderizer won’t slip out of your hand.
Keep reading…
Jaccard Meat Maximizer Tenderizer
Try this one and thank me later!
- Hand Held Meat Tenderizer: Reduces cooking time by up to 40% and provides pathway for marinades to be absorbed deeper into the meat and increasing absorption by up to 600%. It is ideal for both professional chefs and home cooking enthusiasts.
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
It is one of the original bladed meat tenderizers for home use…
…with 45 blades that plunge all the way through a steak, chop…
…or boneless chicken breast to make it more tender and marinadeable.
As this tool has so many blades, it makes tenderizing quick and easy:
Just push down to extend the blades…
..and they retract automatically as the tenderizer is lifted away from the meat.
Although this does not flatten meat like a mallet-style tenderizer…
…the meat can thin out as it relaxes and spreads out.
The top rack of the dishwasher can be used to clean it…
…and the blade assembly can be removed to be cleaned separately.
Go on…
Rösle Meat Tenderizer
I could say this one has the best material!
- 11-Inch meat tenderizer for pounding out meat, poultry
Prices pulled from the Amazon Product Advertising API on:
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
This stainless steel tenderizer is similar to a meat mallet…
…but its base is flat and wide like a spatula.
As a result, the tool can impact a wider area of meat with each blow…
…giving even results when working with uneven cuts like chicken breasts.
Because the heavy weight provides extra power…
…fewer hits are required to flatten the meat for breading or for quick frying.
The handle has a loop for hanging…
…but it also fits easily into a drawer alongside spatulas.
Food won’t get stuck between the handle and base, and it’s dishwasher safe…
so it’s easy to clean.
Sum Up!
There are many different types of meat tenderizers available on the market today.
Some are designed for specific uses such as cutting up poultry…
…others can handle all meats equally well.
The best way to choose one is by looking at what works best for you…
…in terms of design, ease of operation, safety, durability, and cost.
Conclusion
There you have it, our top picks for meat tenderizer.
Have you decided which one you are going to purchase?
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Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
