There are several different ways to tenderize meat with either spices, tools or techniques but the most common way is to use the best meat tenderizer. A meat tenderizer tool or mallet will not only tenderize the meat but will also help shape and flatten it as well. A meat tenderizer is mainly needed for extra tough cuts of meat like roasts and any of these methods will work.
The meat tenderizer will help to soften up the meat as well as prepare it for marinating. There are some meat tenderizer tools that will cut deep holes into the roast as well making it optimal for marinating anything. In this article we will talk about the different kinds of meat tenderizer tools there are as well as what to look for when purchasing a new product. We will also cover some of the meat tenderizers available on the market for purchase today.
How to Choose the Best Meat Tenderizer
There is not a lot to look for in meat tenderizer when it comes to a mallet. Yes, there can be some advantages with some models but for the most part, those types are all very similar and quite durable. Just make sure to get one that is strong and made of quality materials.
There are other types of meat tenderizers other than mallet that work the same way a stapler works but with many blades within the tool to penetrate the meat all at once. These tenderizers are for larger roasts and things that are intended for marinating or brining.
There are also machines that are similar to meat grinders but instead of grinding the meat, the blades only pierce the meat as it passes through the machine. These machines are not all that common and simply unnecessary when it comes to this easy task.
Whichever you choose, make sure the product is constructed of high-quality materials and is very easy to use. For mallets, make sure there is a grip on the handle to protect your hand from blisters when you need to tenderize a lot of meat at once.
Construction and Design
The design of meat mallet has really not changed all that much. There are basically two different designs and either will work well. The first is in the shape of spatula but much heavier. The other is the traditional square head mallet. It just depends on your preference here. Either one will get the job done efficiently. The multiple bladed meat tenderizers are also all very similar in design and there is not much room for improvement so the market is tough competition. You just want to make sure that all the blades are contained within the tool when it is in use to prevent any accidents.
The machines, otherwise known as “Cubers”, are all the same design as well. They are a little bit bigger and will take up much more space than you think. It’s not really a pretty kitchen appliance display. Just store it with the kitchen aid and the meat slicer in the cabinet and use when it is needed.
The construction of the meat mallet is pretty simple and self-explanatory. You will want a high-grade solid metal mallet with some grips to prevent slipping and protect your hands from blisters. A meat mallet with different textures on the head of each side also comes in handy for using different applications on meat.
The meat tenderizer tools are basically a strong small box in the shape of a mailing address stamper, with 20-100 small blades contained inside. Think of the small blades inside as several tips of boning knives pressed together all puncturing the surface at once. Making sure the blades are high-quality metal and won’t break, wear own or lose their sharp edge over time through using it. These types of meat tenderizers get the job done quickly and with little to no work involved. It is often said that a Jaccard meat tenderizer tool beats all other meat tenderizers every time.
Warranty
A warranty will help to protect your meat tenderizer when it breaks. Most quality manufacturers offer a lifetime warranty with their products because they are confident it will last forever. However, most meat mallets are fairly solid and hard to break so in some cases the warranty may not be all that necessary but is always important to have just in case. If the product does not come with some sort of guarantee or warranty then it is pretty clear that is a red flag and should not be considered as a reliable product that will outlast the test of time.
Best Meat Tenderizers
Jaccard Supertendermatic 48-Blade Tenderizer
The Best Meat Tenderizer Tool
We start off the list with the best meat tenderizing tool also known as the Jaccard. This instrument pierces the meat with 48 razor sharp blades.
The tool is best used on tougher and cheaper cuts of meat such as roasts. The Jaccard meat tenderizer is able to deliver a 600% increased absorption rate and will also cut the cooking time down by 40%. The blades penetrate the meat up to 4 inches deep and completely even across.
The handle is made from abs hard plastic and is also equipped with a storing case. This may be the best meat tenderizer tool but it does not come with any kind of warranty to protect it from damages or defects that may occur while in use. Although the Jaccard meat tenderizer is very inexpensive on the plus side.
- Has the ability to raise the absorption rate by 600% when applied to roasts for marinating.
- Can cut down the cooking time of roasts by 40% when applied properly.
- Pierces the meat up to 4 inches deep and evenly flat across the surface of the meat
- Does not come with any warranty to protect it from defects or damages that may occur while in use.
OXO Good Grips Meat Tenderizer
The Superhero Meat Tenderizer
This meat tenderizer is pretty cool because it resembles the superhero, Thor’s hammer. The meat tenderizer is more than affordable but does not come with a warranty to protect it. The meat tenderizer is in mallet form or the shape of a large hammer and is constructed of impact free ABS plastic.
The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is also slip resistant and has a hole at the end of it so it can be hung on the wall for easy storing. The meat mallet has two sides for different functions. One side is flat for pounding out meat while the other side is textured for tenderizing meat. The meat mallet is very easy to use and clean as it can be placed in the dishwasher safely.
- The meat mallet has two different functions; one flat side for pounding out meat and the other side is textured for tenderizing meat.
- The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant and has a hole for hanging on the wall.
- The meat tenderizer is constructed of impact free ABS plastic and can be placed in the dishwasher safely.
- The meat mallet may be very affordable but it does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Norpro NOR-7035 GRIP-EZ TENDERIZER/POUNDER
The Innovative Meat Tenderizer
If you don’t want to pound away on your meat all day like you are hammering nails then you may want to look at this product. It is still in the category of a meat mallet but is designed as a stamp rather than a hammer.
The meat tenderizer stamp is made of stainless steel that is solid with an easy to grip handle. The handle is also interchangeable with 2 different stamps that attached to it. One is a heavy smooth surface for pound or flattening and one is spiked to apply tenderizing techniques. The mallet is still under twenty bucks but there is no warranty to protect from any damages or defects that may occur while in use. That may happen with this model as well because it is not one solid piece.
- Meat mallet is designed as a stamp rather than a hammer for tenderizing meats.
- The mallet is constructed of solid stainless steel with an easy to grip handle.
- Comes with two different attachments, one flat surface for pounding and one for tenderizing.
- The mallet is not one whole piece which could price to be problematic over time.
- There is no warranty to protect it from damages or defects that may occur while in use.
KitchenAid Textured Aluminum Meat Tenderizer
The Classic Meat Tenderizer Mallet
This meat mallet is designed with the classic look and construction. There are many like this that are all one solid piece but this one has a trick up its sleeve.
This mallet is only 10 bucks and has everything you could want in a mallet. It is constructed on solid aluminum to create a strong and lightweight body for easy handling. There is also a loop hole at the end of the handle for hanging or storing. The handle has comfortable inlays that are slip resistant. The head consists of two different surfaces, one for tenderizing and one for pounding. The only negative thing about this product is that it has to be handwashed. But that doesn’t matter because this mallet comes with a 1-year warranty to protect it from any damages or defects that may occur while in use.
- The meat mallet is constructed of solid aluminum to create a durable and lightweight hammer for easy handling
- The head consists of two different surfaces, one for tenderizing and one for pounding, there is also a loop at the end of the handle for hanging or storing
- The meat mallet comes protected by a 1-year warranty against any defects or damages
- It is recommended to be hand washed only and is not dishwasher safe
Spring Chef Meat Tenderizer
The Overkill Meat Tenderizer Mallet
This meat mallet is a little bit too much in terms of force. The mallet is equipped with an extra-long handle to provide an extra amount of leverage while pounding or tenderizing meat.
The head of the mallet is constructed on stainless steel that is plated in chrome to make washing much easier when it is placed in the dishwasher. The head has two different sides of applications, one smooth side for pounding and one side that is textured to provide a tenderizing effect to meat.
The head is attached to an aluminum handle that is coated in a soft rubber that is easy to grip and slip resistant. While the mallet will get the job done, it is not all one solid piece which could prove to be problematic in the future. It is also not covered by any kind of warranty to protect it from damages or defects that may occur while in use.
- Has an extra-long handle that is coated in soft rubber, which is slip resistant, that creates extra leverage when pounding or tenderizing
- The head is constructed of stainless steel that is coated in chrome to make cleaning easier.
- The product is also easy to handle and dishwasher safe.
- The meat mallet is not constructed of one solid piece which may mean it could be prone to damages after continued usage.
- The meat tenderizer mallet is not covered by any warranty to protect it from damages or defects that may occur while in use.
Chef-Master Mr. Bar-B-Q Professional Meat Tenderizer
The Copycat Meat Tenderizer Tool
This is almost an exact replica of the Jaccard meat tenderizer tool. It looks very similar in shape to the Jaccard and also has 48 razor sharp blades that are able to pierce roasts up to 4 inches in depth.
This model differs from the other because it has a handle on top on the meat tenderizer tool that makes it easy to handle. The tool is also dishwasher safe making it easy to clean. However, the product is quite expensive compared to the Jaccard and there is also no warranty to protect from any damages or defects that may occur while in use. The Jaccard is actually cheaper and a much better product.
- The meat tenderizer tool is constructed of 48 razor sharp blades encased in hard plastic that are able to pierce roasts up to four inches deep for preparation of marinating.
- The tool is equipped with a handle at the top to make handling the meat tenderizer easier.
- The meat tenderizer tool is dishwasher safe.
- There is no warranty to protect it from any damages or defects that may occur while in use.
- The product is a complete knock off of the Jaccard meat tenderizing tool and is actually more expensive as well.
Weston Manual Heavy Duty Meat Cuber Tenderizer
The Cuber Meat Tenderizer Machine
This machine is a little different than what we have been showing you. This is an actual crank operated machine that works just like an old school meat grinder, to tenderize any cut of meat you prefer.
The machine is constructed of solid cast iron and is coated in a food-safe coating. There are 32 inner blades that pierce the meat as it passes through the machine. The machine stands up very sturdy with a heavy and string base. The machine also comes with a pair of stainless-steel tongs to help in the process of tenderizing the meat.
However, the machine does not come protected by any kind of warranty and it needs to be cleaned by hand. Not to mention it is 10 times more expensive than most meat tenderizing tools and is also 10 times the size and weight. Seems like a little outdated compared to what else is available for purchase on the market.
- The machine is made of solid cast iron that is coated in a food safe coating.
- The inner workings of the machine are 32 razor sharp blades that pierce the meat as it passes through the crack operated machine.
- The machine comes with a pair of stainless-steel tongs.
- Does not come protected by any kind of warranty.
- The machine is very expensive, very heavy, much larger than other tools. This is a very outdated type of meat tenderizer.
Gourmia GMT9365 Meat Tenderizer
The Best Hand-Held Pocket Meat Tenderizer
This meat tenderizer is the bladed version and much smaller which is sometimes referred to as a Jaccard. The meat tenderizer is fairly priced but does not come with a warranty to protect it.
The meat tenderizer works sort of like a rubber stamp. There is a hard-plastic outer shell that encases 48 razor sharp blades that are constructed of food-grade high quality stainless steel to pierce the meat over and over creating small pockets within the meat.
The top handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant and the plastic shell has a guard to protect your hand from the blades. The meat tenderizer is very small and compact making it easy to store just about anywhere. It also has detachable blades making it easy to clean or place in the dishwasher.
- The meat tenderizer is constructed of 48 food grade stainless steel blades that are very sharp and encapsulated by a strong plastic shell.
- The blades are detachable to make cleaning very easy and it is dishwasher safe as well.
- The handle has a soft and comfortable grip that is slip resistant and it can be stored anywhere because of its small size.
- While the meat tenderizer is priced fairly well, it does not come with a warranty to protect it.
Westmark Double-Sided Meat Tenderizer
The Solid, All one piece, Meat Tenderizer Mallet
And last but not least we have a very formidable meat mallet for tenderizing. The mallet is constructed of solid aluminum to provide strength in the mallet as well as a lightweight for the user.
The mallet is only used for tenderizing and not pounding as well. There are two sides on the head, one textured for tenderizing and one that is spiked for deeper cuts for marinating. There is also a loop hole on the end of the handle for easy storing or hanging. The meat mallet is dishwasher safe, very affordable and also comes with a 5-year warranty to protect it from any defects or damages.
- The meat tenderizer mallet is constructed of solid aluminum to create a strong but lightweight mallet
- The meat mallet is protected by a 5-year warranty against any damages or defects that may occur while in use
- The meat mallet is dishwasher safe and has a loop hole at the end of the handle for easy storing or hanging
- While the meat mallet does have two sides for tenderizing, one of the sides is not a smooth surface for pounding
Conclusion
Whatever meat tenderizer you decide to go with at least make sure it is reliable. Make sure you are comfortable using the product as well. There is no point in buying something you don’t know how to use or are unable to use. And again, there are many different types of meat tenderizers so make sure to buy the correct one for the right procedure. Now get up and get yourself the best meat tenderizer today!