Photo: K BASIX
Cooking meat without tenderizing may take quite long plus it doesn’t fully marinate. Worst yet, you end with tough and chewy meat that will not be very appetizing.
A meat tenderizer creates smaller holes in the meat to allow for easy penetration of both marinate and heat. Besides this, the kitchen tool is suitable for tenderizing different types of meats like beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and turkey.
For the best meat tenderizer, you need to ensure that it is durable, safe, versatile, and easy to clean.
To help you get a good meat tenderizer for your kitchen, here we review 10 amazing ones and also explain the important factors to consider when picking one.
In this post:
- 10 Best Meat Tenderizers – Review
- 1. OXO 420956 – Best Overall
- 2. Spring Chef Meat Tenderizer – Heavy-Duty Multi-Function Meat Tenderizer
- 3. Jaccard 200348 – Highly Effective Commercial-Quality Tenderizer
- 4. KitchenAid KC119OHOBA – High-Quality and Lightweight Aluminum Meat Tenderizer
- 5. K BASIX KBXMT01 – Easy to Hand and Multi-Function Meat Tenderizer
- 6. Chef-Master 90009 – Professional-Quality Tenderizer for the Toughest Meat Cuts
- 7. Weston 07-3101-W-A – Efficient Large Capacity Meat Tenderizer
- 8. Norpro 7032 – Simple and Cost-Effective
- 9. KLEMOO Meat Tenderizer – Quick and Easy Tenderizing
- 10. Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer – Perfectly Weighted All-Round Meat Tenderizer
- How to Buy the Best Meat Tenderizer
- Conclusion
10 Best Meat Tenderizers – Review
IMAGE | PRODUCT | FEATURES | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 1. OXO 420956 (Best Overall) |
| |
 | 2. Spring Chef Meat Tenderizer (Heavy-Duty & Multi-Function) |
| |
 | 3. Jaccard 200348 (Highly Effective for Commercial) |
| |
 | 4. KitchenAid KC119OHOBA (High-Quality & Lightweight) |
| |
 | 5. K BASIX KBXMT01 (Easy to Hand & Multi-Function) |
| |
 | 6. Chef-Master 90009 (Professional-Quality for the Toughest Meat Cuts) |
| |
 | 7. Weston 07-3101-W-A (Efficient & Large Capacity) |
| |
 | 8. Norpro 7032 (Simple & Cost-Effective) |
| |
 | 9. KLEMOO Meat Tenderizer (Quick & Easy Tenderizing) |
| |
 | 10. Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer (Perfectly Weighted All-Round Tenderizer) |
|
PRODUCT |
|---|
1. OXO 420956 (Best Overall)
|
2. Spring Chef Meat Tenderizer (Heavy-Duty & Multi-Function)
|
3. Jaccard 200348 (Highly Effective for Commercial)
|
4. KitchenAid KC119OHOBA (High-Quality & Lightweight)
|
5. K BASIX KBXMT01 (Easy to Hand & Multi-Function)
|
6. Chef-Master 90009 (Professional-Quality for the Toughest Meat Cuts)
|
7. Weston 07-3101-W-A (Efficient & Large Capacity)
|
8. Norpro 7032 (Simple & Cost-Effective)
|
9. KLEMOO Meat Tenderizer (Quick & Easy Tenderizing)
|
10. Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer (Perfectly Weighted All-Round Tenderizer)
|
1. OXO 420956 – Best Overall
Photo: OXO
For quality tender meat as butter, the OXO Softworks 86151 Meat Tenderizer is an exceptional tool for you. This is because the kitchen tool has a hammerhead with one side perfectly textured for tendering meat plus a flat side for pounding.
Designed from the highest quality of aluminum and rubber materials, the tenderizer is not only durable but also strong for excellent tendering. Besides this, it is ergonomic and great for long-term performances.
With its quality countered soft handles, you can comfortably hold it even when hands are wet or dry. The rubber handle provides a secure and easy-grip for easy tendering and pounding.
The good news is that the tenderizer is dishwasher safe, meaning it is quick and easy to clean. This makes it a breeze to maintain for long-term use.
The versatile kitchen tool is suited for tenderizing different meats including chicken, pork, beef, and lamb among others. Since both sides are non-stick, it doesn’t get stuck on the meat when tenderizing or pounding.
The meat tenderizer is relatively smaller and, therefore, not very ideal for larger pieces of meat plus the weight isn’t heavy enough when dealing with thicker chunks of meat. With that said, for typical meat cuts that most people handle in the kitchen it is still perfect.
Pros:
- Ideal for tendering and pounding
- Durable and strong tenderizer
- Offers secure and easy-grip
- Have non-stick sides
Cons:
- Not suitable for large meat
- Relatively lightweight
2. Spring Chef Meat Tenderizer – Heavy-Duty Multi-Function Meat Tenderizer
Photo: Spring Chef
Here is a quality 2-in-1 heavy-duty meat tenderizer with a double hammered head. One side has been grooved for tendering meat while the other side is flat for pounding. Due to the even tendering, it will reduce the cooking time by up to 50% plus enjoy a flavorful meal.
More interestingly, the tenderizer has a solid aluminum construction with chrome plating. This explains why it serves for years plus resistant to corrosion and rust.
It features a soft grip handle that allows for easy tendering or pounding with very little effort. The handle also has a loop for easy hanging on a hook, which makes it convenient to store.
The widely applicable tool is great for tendering and marinating different meats plus ideal for loosening frozen packages of veggies and garlic skin among others.
The chrome polish seem to wear out relatively fast. However, if you handwash the tenderizer instead of putting in the dishwasher, it will last long even is the finish wear of it still works well.
Pros:
- Reduces cooking time by 50%
- Solid construction for long-term use
- Secure and easy to use
- Dishwasher safe tool
Cons:
- Chrome polish is not very durable
3. Jaccard 200348 – Highly Effective Commercial-Quality Tenderizer
Photo: Jaccard
With this quality meat tenderizer, you get juicier and flavorful meat that reduces the cooking time by about 40%. This is due to the fact that the meat tenderizer features 48 knives sharp stainless steel columns that will create tiny heat channels in the meat.
The meat tenderizer has been crafted from white ABS plastic and 301-stainless steel for double hardness and increased longevity.
Additionally, its sturdy plastic handle brings about a firm and more comfortable grip for easy and effortless tendering. This makes it ideal for use even when hands are wet.
Featuring a plastic protective, it will fully protect the hands from the sharp blades. Even though it is dishwasher safe, hand wash with a brush is recommended to get rid of the meat fiber on the blades.
The highly versatile meat tenderizer can be used for tenderizing both small and large meat pieces of veal, turkey, beef, fowl, and pork among others. The blades can penetrate up to 1.5-inches deep to effectively create tiny heat channels.
The cost of the kitchen tool is relatively high plus it takes time to remove the meat fiber on the blades. But, given the quality of the job it does these are small issues to live with.
Pros:
- Commercial-quality resuts
- Reduces cooking time by 40%
- Provides long-term service
- Offers firm and comfortable grip
- Keeps hands safe from cuts
Cons:
- Takes time to remove meat fiber
- Relatively costly
4. KitchenAid KC119OHOBA – High-Quality and Lightweight Aluminum Meat Tenderizer
Photo: KitchenAid
The 9.5-inch meat tenderizer has been constructed from strong and durable aluminum material. This, therefore, offers a lightweight and strong tool for effective tendering regardless of the kind of meat you are dealing with.
Furthermore, it features a double-sided hammerhead for smooth tenderizing of meat. One side is textured for optimum tenderizing of all types of meats while the other side is smooth for pounding and flattening.
This versatile tool is great for tendering beef, chicken, pork, and lamb among others.
In addition to this, it features an ergonomic handle for easy handling when tendering or pounding. The handle also has a hanging hole for convenient storage.
Due to the non-stick surfaces on both sides, the meat will not stick on it allowing for easy tendering. Even though it is not costly, the meat tenderizer provides up to 1-year hassle-free replacement plus a lifetime limited warranty.
The meat tenderizer is not dishwasher safe, which means that the hand wash is recommended. But, this is not a big deal as hand-wash is always recommended for this kind of kitchen tools.
Pros:
- A highly durable and strong aluminum kitchen tool
- Allows for easy handling and use
- A widely applicable meat tenderizer
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
5. K BASIX KBXMT01 – Easy to Hand and Multi-Function Meat Tenderizer
Photo: K BASIX
This is a premier quality beef mallet tool with double-sided head ideal for tenderizing and pounding. The flat side is recommended for pounding meat while the textured side is for tenderizing. Due to the high versatility, it suits tenderizing pork, veal, steak, pork, lamb, and chicken among others.
Secondly, the kitchen tool has been designed from the highest quality of stainless steel and rubber. The commercial-grade stainless steel offers long-term use with a sharp and shiny look. It is also resistant to rust and corrosion.
Equipped with a soft rubber stylish looking handle that perfectly fits in the hand, it offers a good grip for easy tenderizing and pounding. The handle features a hole for convenient storage by hanging.
Moreover, it has an ergonomic design, which makes it user-friendly. The kitchen tool is also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning and maintenance.
In spite of the solid built, the meat tenderizer isn’t suited for large pieces of meat as the head is quite small but if you have the time and patience it can still get the job done.
Pros:
- User-friendly and easy to clean
- Great for pounding and tenderizing
- Shiny and resistant to rust
- Provides excellent grip
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Doesn’t suit tenderizing large meat
6. Chef-Master 90009 – Professional-Quality Tenderizer for the Toughest Meat Cuts
Photo: Chef-Master
The Chef-Master 90009 Meat Tenderizer is a professional tenderizer that will make tough meat cuts into juicy and flavorful pieces. Equipped with 48-stainless steel razor-sharp blades, it effortlessly penetrates through the meat to create tiny holes, which reduces the cooking time.
Apart from this, it is built from quality BPA-free plastic and stainless steel materials, which ensures that it is safe and durable. With the 2-inch spring, it easily penetrates into meat for effective tenderizing.
Additionally, it also features a comfortable plastic handle that properly fits the hands for easy tenderizing. With the ergonomic design, it is elementary to use even when tenderizing large pieces of meat.
The highly versatile meat tenderizer is great for different meats including pork, beef, chicken, and lamb among others. The compact design makes it ergonomic to use and convenient store.
It is a dishwasher safe kitchen tool but requires hand wash since you need to remove the meat stuck in the blades. But, given the job it does this will be a small price to pay.
Pros:
- Tenderizers the toughest meats effortlessly
- Safe and durable
- Properly fits the hands
- A highly versatile kitchen tool
Cons:
- Takes time to remove the meat fiber
7. Weston 07-3101-W-A – Efficient Large Capacity Meat Tenderizer
Photo: Weston
This meat tenderizer features 31 stainless steel blades that will perfectly tenderize even the toughest meat. It has been designed for large capacity use, can handle larger and more meat cuts and do it more efficiently.
The good news is that the tenderizer has been constructed from sturdy cast aluminum plus a heavy-duty base for increased longevity. Due to this, the kitchen tool will serve for years as it delivers optimum performance.
Indeed, it features a crank handle with a secure and easy-grip for elementary operation. It offers an effortless tenderizing of meat into juicy pieces for fast cooking.
With the two C-clamps, you can conveniently mount to the counters to a thickness level of 1.5-inches. The compact and sleek design makes it convenient to store even in limited spaces.
Featuring a large base, it is very stable for use on different surfaces. You can use it for tenderizing meats like lamb, beef, chicken, and turkey among others.
Despite being the most expensive on our list, this meat tenderizer will give you value for every buck you spend on it.
Pros:
- Relatively larger tenderizing capacity
- Sturdy cast aluminum built
- Tenderizes effortlessly
- Compact and sleek design
Cons:
- Relatively costly
8. Norpro 7032 – Simple and Cost-Effective
Photo: Norpro
With this affordable needle meat tenderizer, you can now get a tasty and juicy meat from the comfort on your home. For an under $10 meat tenderizer, it will be hard to get anything better without spending more.
The kitchen tool has been equipped with 24-stainless steel prongs that effectively break down even the tough meat fibers. Its dimensions are 7.5 by 2 by 2 inches which makes it quite compact. The compact design of the tool makes it appropriate for use anywhere plus has a hanging loop on the handle for convenient storage.
Built from durable plastic and stainless steel material plus and superior craftsmanship, it is a great meat tenderizer for long-term performances. Besides this, it is rust and corrosion-resistant and, therefore, suits your kitchen.
The long ergonomic handle allows for easy and effortless tenderizing of meat. It utilizes the heavy-duty spring action mechanism control for convenient use. The spring-loaded 2-inch diameter plastic disk brings about effective tenderizing with less effort.
More interestingly, it is a versatile kitchen tool ideal for tenderizing different meats including beef, pork, and chicken among others.
Due to the smaller design, this meat tenderizer also has a smaller capacity and can only tenderize small chunks of meta at a go, but it should be able to handle standard size cuts with ease.
Pros:
- Relatively more affordable
- Effectively break down even tough meats
- Suitable for long-term use
- Allows for effortless tenderizing
- Convenient to store
Cons:
- Smaller capacity
9. KLEMOO Meat Tenderizer – Quick and Easy Tenderizing
Photo: KLEMOO
Equipped with a total of 48-ultra-sharp stainless steel blades, it will perfectly create tiny tools even within the toughest meat cuts and do it quickly and easily. This allows for the marinate to be fully absorbed plus reduces the cooking time.
The kitchen tool has been crafted from food-grade ABS plastic material and stainless steel material, which makes it excellent for long-term performances. This also keeps it shiny and resistant to both rust and corrosion.
The large ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to handle and use when tenderizing. It is suited for tenderizing meats like chicken breast, steaks, beef, wild game, fish, and pork.
The ergonomic design implies that it is user-friendly. You just need to press down for effortless tenderizing. The compact and sleek design implies that it is convenient to store.
In spite of being dishwasher safe, hand wash is recommended for easy removal of meat fiber from the prongs. The kitchen tool isn’t strong enough for tenderizing larger pieces of meat.
Pros:
- Fully marinates and reduces cooking time
- Excellent for long-term performances
- A user-friendly tenderizer
- A highly versatile kitchen tool
Cons:
- Takes time to clean the prongs
- Not ideal for large meat pieces
10. Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer – Perfectly Weighted All-Round Meat Tenderizer
Photo: Cave Tools
The Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer is a perfectly weighted mallet with a double-sided head. This makes it excellent for tenderizing and pounding meat using textured and smooth sides respectively. It is perfect for pounding steak, beef, and chicken among others.
Due to the quality stainless steel built, it is a highly durable kitchen tool for optimum performance. This also implies that it is rust and corrosion resistant tool.
The silicone long handle offers a non-slip grip for easy handling when tenderizing or pounding. At the tip of the handle, it features a hanging hole for easy storage on hanging hooks.
Additionally, the versatile kitchen tool is also ideal for crushing nuts, ice, and hard candy. The meat tenderizer comes with up to 25 professional recipes with detailed step-by-step guides.
The dishwasher safe meat tenderizer is elementary to clean and maintain for long-term use.
Because the head is not one-piece stainless steel it is relatively less durable. However, for the money, this 3-piece head will last way much longer than expected.
Pros:
- Tenderizes and pounds all meats
- A highly durable kitchen tool
- Offers non-slip grip
- A widely applicable tenderizer
Cons:
- Not solid stainless steel head
How to Buy the Best Meat Tenderizer
Photo: Weston
Here are a number of factors that you will need to keep in mind when shopping for a good meat tenderizer.
1. Types of Meat Tenderizer
There are three main types of meats tenderizers to choose from. These include the powder, mallet, and needle or blade.
Powder
When you don’t need to manually tenderize the meat, you need to get the meat tenderizer powder. This is a powder made from different ingredients like salt, sugar or cornstarch.
The active ingredient is an enzyme mostly derived from pineapples and papayas. The papayas contain the papain enzyme while pineapples contain bromelain enzyme.
You need to sprinkle the powder on the meat surface. Using a fork, pierce the meat a few times to allow for penetration of the powder. You should then cook as heat will activate the enzyme plus breaks down the proteins immediately.
The enzyme should not stay on the meat for long before cooking. To get a thick steak, it should be left for a maximum of 30-minutes.
Mallet
The mallet-style meat tenderizer is one common type of kitchen tool. It features a double-sided heavy-duty metal head.
One side of the head is textured for tenderizing meat while the other side is smooth for pounding. The best meat tenderizer mallet should be versatile for tenderizing beef, pork, lamb, turkey, and chicken among others. Once such versatile model is K BASIX KBXMT01.
They have non-slip handles that allow for easy use. This type of meat tenderizer is not ideal for large pieces of meat.
Needle or Blade
There are also needle/blade types of meat tenderizer that work by creating small holes in the meat for easy penetration. This will allow for excellent marinating and reduces cooking time.
They have a set of razor-sharp metallic blades, needles or prongs that can effectively penetrate from 1.5-inches to 2-inches. The blades are mainly made of stainless steel material, which implies that they are rust and corrosion-resistant.
Featuring plastic disks at the bottom plus protective plastic cover, they are safe to use despite the sharp blades. The number of blades included varies from 16 to 56 blades. Hence, something with 48 sharp ones like Jaccard 200348 will do an amazing job.
They also feature non-slip comfortable plastic handles for easy operation. Some are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning while in most cases hand wash is recommended to get rid of the meat fiber on the blades.
2. Tenderizer Surface
For effective tenderizing, you need to get a non-stick tenderizer surface. The tenderizer surface of the tools differs depending on the type of tenderizer.
For instance, the mallet-style tenderizer has textured surfaces for effective tenderizing. Besides this, the surface is also non-stick for easy cleaning.
On the other hand, the needle/blade tenderizers have sharp edges surfaces that tenderize by creating smaller holes in the meat for easy penetration of marinates and fast cooking. However, the meat may stick to the needles/blades.
Generally, you need to find a favorite tenderizer surface that will suit your cooking needs.
3. Design
For the best meat tenderizer machine that is easy to use, it should have an ergonomic design.
The handle should be non-slip and comfortable to handle for effortless tenderizing. In addition to this, it also needs to be compact and sleek in design for convenient storage.
For use in horizontal positions, you need to consider the mallet design meat tenderizer. However, for use in vertical positions, the needle/blade designs will suit you.
4. Handle
In order to easily use the meat tenderizer, it is vital to consider a non-slip and comfortable handle. Apart from this, the handle should be longer for better control.
More interestingly, consider a handle with the locking features for the ultimate control plus to prevent slipping off the hands.
The handle designs can be in vertical or horizontal positions and, therefore, you need to pick on one that will suit you.
5. Safety
This is another essential feature you have to consider when buying the meat tenderizer. For the needle or blade types of tenderizer, ensure that it has a protective safety guard.
This will perfectly fit over the blades and, therefore, prevents accidental contact with the blades. It also allows for safe storage.
Secondly, for the quality of material, it should be made from food-grade material that is free from toxic and BPA.
6. Ease of Use and Clean
You need a user-friendly meat tenderizer that will deliver quality results. For it to be easy to use, the kitchen tool should have a long and non-slip ergonomic handle.
Such a handle allows for easy handling and effortless tenderizing of the meat. In addition to this, you may consider a meat tenderizer that utilizes the spring action mechanism for easier control.
The cleaning process of the kitchen tool should be easier and faster. There are some that are dishwasher safe like the KLEMOO Meat Tenderizer and, therefore, highly recommended as you don’t need time cleaning the parts.
For the hand wash types of meat tenderizer, it should fully disassemble for easy cleaning.
Conclusion
Meat tenderizers will come in different shapes, size and styles, but now your choice will be an easier one as you already know 10 of the best ones out there.
With that said the heavy-duty, versatile and easy to use OXO 420956 that is also usable when both wet and dry is our top recommendation.
But, if you prefer something more affordable for your standard size meat cuts that still does an amazing job, go for the Norpro 7032.