Meat Tenderizing Tools

Meat is one of the main staples of the American diet and the majority of people eat it several times a week. Like any product that enjoys wide use and popularity, meat comes in a variety of types, levels of quailty and prices.

Higher quality cuts of meat are typically more expensive and are associated with being more tender and easier to chew than lesser quality, tougher cuts. The good news is that you do not have to spend a lot of money to enjoy tender, tasty cuts of meat. Throughout past centuries, cooks have used various methods of tenderizing tough cuts of meat in order to produce soft and delicious meals that are the equal of more expensive cuts.

One method that has remained popular and effective throughout centuries of cooking has been the manual tenderizing of meat. Various techniques have been utilized to accomplish this task, but they all have one thing in common; the physical pounding or striking of the meat with a mallet, stone, pestle or some other object that could soften and break down the fibers and sinews found in the meat.

Many recipes call for meat to be tenderized in this manner so it makes it more capable of absorbing marinades and other special sauces and ingredients. Others require that the meat is pounded and reduced from its normal thickness to a thin portion that is a quarter of an inch thick or less.

Whatever the task, there are various meat tenderizing tools available to get the job done. These include various forms of mallets or hammer shaped devices used to literally pound the meat into the desired texture and thickness. Some tenderizing tools are designed to fit in ones hand and have a number of sharp metal pins attached to them so the meat can be repeatedly kneaded and punctured. Other are shaped more like a pestle and are gripped as one would hold an ice pick. What all of these tools have in common is the fact that they each flatten, rearrange or puncture the meat and alter its texture and internal composition to make it easier to cook and eat.

All of these tools are available at local stores as well as online. They are typically well designed and most will last for many years. Prices range from $10 - 50 and they all come with manufacturer's warranties. These tools are often used in conjunction with electric or manually cranked meat tenderizers and they are considered one of the "must have" tools for every kitchen.

We recommend that you consider your cooking needs and how often you need to tenderize cuts of meat. This will enable you to select the appropriate meat tenderizing tool and avoid having too many of them or the wrong type for what your needs actually call for.

We hope we've helped you learn more about meat tenderizing tools and we wish you Good Luck and Happy Shopping!

	OXO Good Grips Meat Tenderizer List Price: $14.99 Sale Price: $11.49
	If you're fond of thin cutlets or like your meat tender as butter, this meat tenderizer is the tool for the job--it's got a flat side for pounding and a textured side for tenderizing. This hammerlike gadget features one-piece aluminum construction for strength and durability...

	Deni MT45 Meat Tenderizer, 45 Blade List Price: $27.99 Sale Price: $12.00
	This great gadget is easy to use and improves the taste and texture of any cut of beef, pork, fish or poultry. The 45 precision honed stainless steel blades will pierce any cut of meat creating thin heating channels that allow for reduced cooking time and improved penetration and absorption of marinades and rubs...

	Jaccard Supertendermatic 48-Blade Tenderizer List Price: $35.00 Sale Price: $19.29
	Original multi-blade hand-held meat tenderizer. Maximized cooking results from less expensive cuts of meat

	Jaccard Simply Better Meat Tenderizer Knife 45 Blade Stainless Steel Md: 200345NS List Price: $40.00 Sale Price: $22.50 Used From: $25.00
	Meat Tenderizer with patented, removable cartridge design

	Norpro Professional Meat Tenderizer List Price: $7.99 Sale Price: $4.31
	This professional-grade tool, with stainless-steel prongs to break down tough meat fibers, provides controlled, uniform meat tenderizing. You can also use it to pierce meats before they're marinated so flavors penetrate deeply...

	Deni MT149 Handheld 49-Blade Stainless-Steel Meat Tenderizer with Safety Lock List Price: $41.99 Sale Price: $19.46
	The Deni Meat tenderizer is easy to use and improves the taste and texture of any cut of beef, fish or poultry. The ergonomically designed meat tenderizer surgically cuts through the connective tissue in meat that causes it to be tough...

	Norpro Stainless Steel Grip-EZ Meat Pounder List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $17.99
	Sooner or later, every cook needs a proper meat pounder for flattening chicken-fried steak, chicken breasts, or veal scallops, or for evening out the thickness of butterflied leg of lamb so it cooks uniformly on the grill...

	Norpro Grip-EZ Reversible Meat Tenderizer Pounder List Price: $24.99 Sale Price: $19.99
	Norpro's Grip-EZ ergonomically designed santoprene handle for easy gripping. One side for tenderizing meats and one side for pounding cutlets uniformly flat, making tough cuts more tender. Allows meat to cook evenly...

	Meat Tenderizer List Price: $6.99 Sale Price: $5.01
	Meat tenderizer durable mallet tenderizes meat, cracks ice and nuts. Dishwasher safe.

	Mister Tenderizer Meat Tenderizing Machine List Price: $15.98 Sale Price: $15.98
	Mister Tenderizer Meat Tenderizer Machine With the Meat Tenderizer you now can...TENDERIZE without chemicals... FLATTEN, without pounding or hammering... and MARINATE, by driving your special sauces deep into the meat surface...