Imagine sitting down to enjoy some mouth-watering steak, only for the experience to be cut short because the meat is too tough to chew. It is every meat lover's nightmare. Although you might brush it off and eat the meat anyway, the problem can be easily solved by using an electric meat tenderizer.
What Is Meat Tenderizing?
Meat tenderizing refers to breaking down tough fibers in the meat to make it tastier and easy to chew. Granted, you can tenderize it in many ways, such as physically using a mallet, slow cooking, or using seasoning containing softening enzymes.
But, all these tools for tenderizing meat have their shortcomings. For instance, pounding it using a mallet is tiring and may make it mushy if done incorrectly. Luckily, an electric meat tenderizer saves time and energy. You get to process large cuts of meat in minutes, which is ideal for a commercial kitchen, restaurant, butchery, or steak house.
Top 5 Best Electric Meat Tenderizers
Electric meat tenderizers are lifesavers and have revolutionized the cooking industry. You can now transform tough game cuts into organic meat in minutes with a click of a button. However, commercial kitchens, steak houses, and restaurants appreciate that processing large parts of meat is not easy.
An electric tenderizer will be your ideal companion when throwing a party or hosting friends. Your guests will enjoy juicy and tender meat cuts while you save some time and energy.
We know that getting an electric meat tenderizer is not easy, and that's why we scoured the internet to catch a glimpse of the best electrical meat tenderizer available for your home or restaurant needs. So let's get to it.
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1. LEM 2-in-1 Jerky Slicer And Tenderizer Attachment
- Slice and tenderize meat up to 1-1/4" thick with your grinder;...
- Makes 14 perfect jerky strips sliced and ready for the oven or...
- Body made of durable powder painted aluminum; No tools or...
- Will only attach to LEM Big Bite Stainless Steel Grinders, model...
- Will also attach to LEM older grinders #'s 535, 536, 538, 538A &...
I wanted to tenderize thick cuts of meat, and a Jerky tenderizer was my first choice. The machine can tenderize meat of thin cuts with a thickness range of 1-1/4". I loved its easy-off top that reveals a slicer shaft and a tenderizer shaft.
Image Credits: Lemproducts.com
The meat tenderizer machine makes 14 perfect Jerky strips 1/4 wide, Which I found excellent for my guests. An electric meat tenderizer is quite an investment and should be worth every penny. A Jerky slicer and cast meat tenderizer have a body made of durable powder-painted aluminum that is easy to assemble and requires no tools.
When you finish using your tenderizer machine, you can easily disassemble and clean it, ready for subsequent use. If you are a pork chops lover, this product will make a great choice. The grinder power tenderizes the toughest cuts of meat, and the meat slicer makes them ready for the oven in minutes.
A Jerky meat tenderizer can attach to new LEM grinder model numbers 777,779.780,781 and 782. If you have the old model, you need not worry because it can also link to model numbers 535,536,538A and 540.
The blades are made of stainless steel to ensure that your oxo meat tenderizer meets the highest hygiene standards. Jerky meat tenderizer will give you the perfect-sized strips ready for the oven or dehydrator for those who like hunting.
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2. American Eagle Meat Tenderizer
- Easily Tenderize Tough Meat Cuts Up To 1 Inch Thick!
- 64 Heavy Duty Knives Mounted On Two Stainless Steel Shafts
- Dual Combs Prevent Meat From Becoming Stuck In Knives
- Standard 12 Hub Design, Verified To Work With AE-G12N and AE-G22N...
- Heavy Duty, Durable High Polished Stainless Steel Construction
I was looking for a strong food processor for my steak house, and the American Eagle meat tenderizer made an excellent choice. It can tenderize thick cuts of meat of up to 1 inch. It comes with 64 heavy-duty knives mounted on two stainless steel shafts.
Image Credits: Americaneaglemachine.com
It comes with dual combs to ease feeding meat into the machine, which prevents the meat from being stuck on the knives. The meat tenderizer also comes with a standard 12-hub design, verified to work with AE-G12N and AE-G22N grinders.
The American Eagle meat tenderizer is heavy-duty, durable, and built with highly polished stainless steel to protect your investment. If your kitchen is relatively small, there is no need to worry because the machine is compact, making it ideal for an open commercial kitchen or a home countertop.
American Eagle electric meat tenderizer is great for skirt steaks, boneless chuck steaks, venison, round steak, and flank steak. It tenderizes tough cuts of meat and makes them ready for the oven in minutes. The tenderizer easily dissembles, which makes it easy to service and clean. It comes with dual rotating knives that knit the meat on both sides, making it perfect for marinades and stir-fries.
The chute measures 1.1 inches by 7 inches which is large enough to accommodate extra-large cuts of meat. It is also verified to work with American Eagle grinders and planetary mixers.
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3. Libai Commercial Meat Tenderizer
- Food Grade Material---The electric heavy duty meat tenderize...
- Tenderize Capacity---With 100% gear driven sealed transmission....
- Perfect Tenderize---Put the beef slices in and touch the...
- Wide Use---Suitable for restaurants, cafeterias, family...
- Quality&Service--We are confident the quality of our product is...
I wanted a robust meat tenderizer for my kitchen, and the Libai commercial meat tenderizer was an ideal choice. It’s made of high-quality stainless steel that is durable and attractive. The machine would make a great choice for those looking for a quick and safe way of tenderizing their meat because the blade is enclosed with no sharp corners.
Image Credits: U-buy.co.nz
It's 100% gear driven, and the dual comb ensures quick meat feeding while preventing it from getting stuck. The Libai commercial meat tenderizer has 350 watts of power and can grind up to 180 pounds of meat per hour. This feature makes the product ideal for commercial kitchens, restaurants, butchers, hunters, meat enthusiasts, and steak houses.
What I loved most about this meat tenderizer is that it knits meat on both sides, making it suitable for marinades, tough cuts of meat, game meat, beef, and chicken breasts. Whether you have a party or a family gathering and are looking for a great meat tenderizer, you can't go wrong with The Libai commercial meat tenderizer. Also, café and restaurant owners find this machine helpful and a quick way of tenderizing their meat.
For beef lovers, you can fix quick meatballs and beef steaks for your guests or family. The Libia company is confident in its products, and its customer service team is always ready to answer your questions.
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4. GDNTMU Commercial Meat Tenderizer
- 【GDNTMU MEAT TENDERIZER】-This commercial meat tenderizer is...
- 【Premium Electric Motor】-This kit comes with a powerful motor...
- 【SAFETY DESIGN】- The meat tenderizer tool is equipped with...
- 【WIDE APPLICATION】- This electric meat tenderizer machine...
Tenderizing meat for a restaurant requires a powerful electric meat tenderizer. A GDNTMU commercial meat tenderizer has a powerful 450 W and 110V power. It is made of high-quality stainless steel material, which is quite durable. The premium quality makes it corrosion and rust-resistant making it easy to clean and maintain.
Image Credits: sellerratings.com
I was glad that I did not have to worry about my safety as this machine has a high-safety design. It is equipped with motor overload protection to automatically cut off the current and stop the machine from working if its load is too large.
The best part about this meat tenderizer is that it comes with a meat cutter head. It has two switchable attachments—one for cutting and the other one for tenderizing. Use the attached screws to change to the mode you want easily.
I loved its premium electric motor, which is very powerful and can tenderize meat in seconds, making it possible to work on large batches of meat at a time. The machine works very fast to give the meat a softer and more succulent texture. It is ideal for pork, beef, marinades, tough game meat, mutton, chicken breasts, and stir-fry.
If you operate a steak house butchery, hotel meat shop, or restaurant, a GDNTMU commercial meat tenderizer is a must-have. The elegant machine can make a perfect accessory for your kitchen as well.
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5. Newtry Commercial Electric Meat Tenderizer
- [High quality]: Made of high-quality stainless steel, strictly...
- [Important parameter]: Max cutting width: 7inches (175mm);...
- [Double layers stainless steel blade]: More efficient, full...
- [Forward and reverse switch]: User friendly design, in case of...
- [Overload protection switch]: If the load of the machine is too...
I was looking for a sound high-power electric tenderizer for my restaurant and the Newtry commercial meat tenderizer came on top of your list. It's built of high-quality stainless steel, which is durable and meets the highest hygiene standards. The machine has a double layer of stainless-steel blades that rotate to tenderize tough cuts of meat without producing annoying noises.
Image Credits: ebay.com
Newtry meat tenderizer makes your food taste even and preserves its original flavor. It's perfect for pork chops, frozen meat, beef, and mutton. The machine will come in handy for those operating commercial kitchens, restaurants, steak houses, or throwing parties. It has a powerful motor to tenderize large chunks of meat and operates for up to six hours.
I loved its ease of use. If meat particles stick to the blades, there is no cause for alarm. The tenderizing machine has a forward and reverses switch, which is helpful if the machine blocks. It will unblock when you press the reverse switch for a few seconds. When you have been using your meat tenderizer for a few seconds, you may not notice when you overload it. When this happens, the tenderizer's overload switch will automatically cut off the current supply.
The tenderizer is an excellent choice for restaurant owners, meat shops, hotels, and steak houses.
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What Makes Meat So Tough?
To learn how to tenderize meat, you must first understand why it is tough in the first place. In general, a few essential factors contribute to meat becoming naturally tough, the first of which is age. Age causes flesh to stiffen up.
Image Credits: Pamperedchef.com
An older animal's meat will be tougher than a younger animal's. It is why the best pieces of meat are always from younger animals, with veal and lamb being particularly praised for their flavor and tenderness.
Meat can also be toughened by exercising. Muscles develop firmer when they are utilized more. Once an animal has been slain, cuts from high-activity areas, such as the legs and diaphragm, are particularly tough compared to the muscles along the back, which are rarely used.
Finally, no matter how tender a piece of meat is, overcooking can ruin it. It is because the proteins within the flesh become stiffer when cooked. Therefore the longer a piece of meat is cooked, the tougher it becomes.
Longer cooking removes moisture from the meat's interior, causing it to dry out if not kept moist during the cooking process. One of the reasons most experienced cooks prefer rarer meat to well-done steak is this.
What are Natural Meat Tenderizers?
1. Salt
Some of the natural items include salt and baking soda, an alkaline cousin that breaks down proteins in beef. One hour before cooking, a thick coating of kosher salt, sea salt, or baking soda will draw water from the meat, allowing some of the salt or soda to sink into the beef. As a result, it improves the texture of the meat. Before cooking, drain the water and thoroughly rinse the meat.
Salt may not be a great natural meat tenderizer for you if you have high blood pressure or other heart disease risk factors. These illnesses and risk factors can be exacerbated by salt. Healthy persons should consume no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day or 1,500 mg if they have high blood pressure.
2. Acids
Acids are a workhorse in the kitchen. These items may be found in almost all human diets and are used for various cooking purposes. For example, acids soften stiff muscles while also giving meat more flavor when used to tenderize steak and other types of beef.
Furthermore, delicious acids include everything from plain vinegar to citrus and tomato liquids. Tenderize with lemon, lime, orange juice, balsamic, apple cider, or simply white vinegar. Tomato-based sauces are also acidic, which is why they're used in so many barbecue sauces.
3. Brew a Beverage
Tenderizers and marinades, wine and beer, have a one-two punch. Both items include acids as well as tannins, a natural tenderizer. Tea and coffee are two other items that work as tenderizers.
Tannins are products found in tea, while natural acids are products found in coffee. So if you're going to use tea or coffee as a tenderizer, brew it strong and let it cool before marinating the beef for up to 24 hours.
4. Fruit Magic
Beef can be tenderized by the enzymes found in fruits and roots. For example, papaya contains papain, an enzyme used in commercial meat tenderizers. As a food additive, papain is generally recognized as safe (GRAS). The enzyme parts, like acids and salt, break down tough muscle fibers.
Bromelain is an enzyme that softens meat by dissolving collagen and elastin. When a fresh ginger root is ground and sprinkled over beef, it acts as a tenderizer and a taste enhancer. Ginger has a proteolytic enzyme, which breaks down proteins in meat.
Meat tenderizers from parts of plants work well on thin pieces of meat. Mash the fruit pulp, sprinkle it over the meat, or top it with a few fruit slices.
Conclusion
Whether you are a meat lover, restaurant owner, or steak house, having a meat tenderizer will make your life a little smoother and tastier. Order any meat tenderizer machine listed here that will suit your home kitchen or restaurant, saving you time and energy. This way, your guest, friends, or family will have well-cooked, tasty meat on the table within minutes. So, stop worrying about tough meat and focus on cooking mouth-watering meals instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which meat tenderizer is best?
Our review's best overall meat tenderizer is the LEM 2-in-1 Jerky Slicer And Tenderizer Attachment. This product is built from high-quality stainless steel, making it durable and designed to meet the highest hygiene standards. It produces the perfect-sized strips ready for the oven or dehydrator.
the LEM 2-in-1 Jerky Slicer And Tenderizer Attachment is easy to disassemble and clean after use so that it can stay ready for subsequent use. While the grinder tenderizes the toughest cuts of meat, the slicer makes them ready for the oven in minutes.
2. What is the best way to tenderize meat?
The best way to soften meat is by using manual or electric meat tenderizers. A manual kitchenaid meat tenderizer is best for small pieces of meat, and because of its size, it's ideal for home use.
However, if you are tenderizing large cuts of meat for restaurants or steak houses, get electric meat tenderizers because they are durable and can handle thick cuts. In addition, they are easy to clean, save time, and provide value for money.
3. What are the ways to tenderize meat?
There are different ways to soften the meat, but for today, we will view these;
i) Physical: You physically make your meat soft by hitting it manually with a mallet or using a meat tenderizing machine. The machine can either be manual or electrical. Most manual meat-softening devices are easy to operate, and you can place them on a kitchen countertop.
ii) Braising: Braising is a good way of making your meat tender while retaining its original flavor. It involves sautéing followed by slow cooking in liquid to break collagen into gelatin, making the food tender.
iii) Marinating: Marinating does not only tenderize tough meat but also adds flavor. Marinating in acidic ingredients such as lemon juice or vinegar breaks down tough collagen in meat, making it tender.
iv) Baking Soda: Using sharp blades, thinly slice the meat across the grain. The meat will get softer because you're removing the long muscular fibers by slicing. Then, using your hands, massage the baking soda into the meat.
v) Salt: This method is perfect for thick steaks and chops on the barbecue. Salt causes the muscular fibers to relax, making the meat softer. To employ this method, salt the meat or poultry by coating it rather than sprinkling it.
vi) Powdered meat tenderizers: Pierce the steak, chop, or fillet all over the flat side with a sharp knife or fork, then coat it with the powder to achieve excellent results. Pour some liquid on top to assist the powder in penetrating the meat.
4. What is meat tenderizer spice?
Meat tenderizer spice is a seasoning powder or spice containing natural enzymes such as papaya and bromelain. The enzymes are naturally extracted from pineapples and pawpaw. When you sprinkle the spice on tough cuts of meat, the enzymes break down tough meat fibers making it tender.
5. What is a good meat tenderizer?
A good meat tenderizer should have two sides that it uses to offer the best results. One side should have a smooth surface used in flattening meat. The other side should have a textured face of stainless steel blades or “teeth” to cut and break through the tough meat fibers. A good meat tenderizer should help you get soft, tender, and flavorful meat in a very short time.
6. Why do I need a good meat tenderizer?
A meat tenderizer is a helpful kitchen tool used to even out chunky and badly shaped chunks of meat. Tenderizing the meat breaks it and creates holes in the meat tissues. This helps you to get a flat well-textured slice of your steak, chicken, pork shoulder, or lamb.
You will need a tenderizer to get even thickness on hard meats so as to avoid a chewy texture. It also reduces the cooking time in the kitchen since you can finish cooking all the meats simultaneously.
8. Should I tenderize the steak?
Tenderizing steak is a personal choice, just as deciding when the meat is ready. Remember that tenderizing your steak locks and seals the flavor and juice in your meat. The punctured holes in your meat make it easy to absorb the seasonings. The meat that has long and tight muscle fibers, like the skirt steak and flank steak, should be tenderized to make them easy to chew. Tenderizing them makes you get succulent pieces at the end of your cooking. The other steaks that should be tenderized are the sirloin and tri-tip steaks.
9. Does meat tenderizer really work?
Meat tenderizer works very well. You can prove this by doing a small experiment. Choose your steak and separate it into two portions. Cook one which is tenderized and the other one without. You will discover that the flavor of the tenderized portion is stronger, and it is much easier to eat and digest.
10. What are other ways of tenderizing meat?
The various ways of tenderizing meat include slow cooking, salting, marinating, and pounding. When you cook your meat slowly, you break down the collagen, breaking down the tough cuts. You can also use a grill to tenderize your meat slowly and on low heat. In salting, you use salt to break down the meat protein. All you need to do is run sea salt or kosher salt on the meat to break down its cells and enhance the flavor and texture of the meat.
The pounding method of tenderizing meat breaks down the meat fibers and softens the meat. You can use a meat mallet, a rolling pin, or cast iron skillet, or a meat hammer. Wrap the meat with a piece of plastic wrap. Using the spiky end of the meat mallet, pound the meat starting from the center and moving outwards.
In the marinating method, you use acids or enzymes to break down the meat fibers to tenderize them. You can use an acid solution, buttermilk, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, pineapple juice, or lime juice. Soak the meat steak for about thirty minutes, and remove it from the marinade if it begins to cook around the edges.
