8 Best Meat Tenderizers for 2022 (Ultimate Buyer’s Guide)

Not everyone can afford a premium meat slicer for the perfect juicy and tender meat cut. Sometimes there are slabs of meat that have to be pounded and tenderized so that flavors can be added to it and its juices can be released. This is where a tenderizer comes into being.

A tenderizer does exactly what it says. It tenderizes hard slabs of meat so that it becomes easy to cook. Apart from being able to pound well, a tenderizer should have some additional features.

This includes having sharp pins, a good grip, anti-slip features, and more. There are a lot of tenderizers available in the market. To help you out here are some of the very best available.

Best Meat Tenderizers Reviewed

#1: Norpro Grip-EZ Stainless Steel Meat Pounder

Norpro Grip-EZ Stainless Steel Meat Pounder, Black/Silver
  • Measures: 4.75" x 3.25" x 3.25" / 12cm x 8cm x 8cm; Weighs: 28 ounces
  • Pound meat into uniform thickness, allowing meat to cook evenly
  • The shape and heft of this vertical-style model provides the right combination of control and force
  • Heavy enough for quick work but small enough for precise maneuverability
  • Stainless steel over iron.

Measuring 4.75″ x 3.25″ x 3.25″ or 12cm x 8cm x 8cm and weighing 28 ounces, this tenderizer or pounder is made up of stainless steel over iron. This combination makes it lightweight yet durable. You will find that this tool is easy to lift and use.

No matter how much pressure you apply on it to pound the meat into a uniform thickness, it won’t break or bend. You will find that tenderizing the meat will ensure that more flavors and marinade can be added to it. Moreover, it also helps the meat cook faster.

The handle and shape of this vertical tenderizer model give you just the right combination of force and control. You will be able to hold the handle and be comfortable with it. The Santoprene handle is ergonomic and provides a good grip.

So you can rest assured that it won’t fly out of your hands and land on somebody else by mistake even if you use it and maneuver it fast.

It won’t fly off even if it’s wet, which is a much more likely scenario in a kitchen surrounded by meat. You will find that your hands, wrists, and palms don’t tire off fast as well.

Make use of this meat tenderizer to pound delicate and rough pieces of meat. It can be a premium cut or a bland one. Apart from this, you can use the tool to crush nuts, candies, and more.

You also don’t have to worry about washing this tool too much. It’s not a hassle at all. All you have to do is put it in a dishwasher. You can also opt to wash it under running water with some soap.

What we like

  • Made of stainless steel
  • Lightweight
  • Good grip on the handle
  • Non-slip handle
  • Versatile use

Buy on Amazon


#2: Leifheit 23014 Pro Line Meat Tenderizer Tool

Leifheit Pro Line Meat Tenderizer Tool | Reversible Stainless Steel Base
  • ERGONOMIC DESIGN meat tenderizer makes it easier creating perfectly tenderized meat
  • REVERSIBLE SCREW IN DISK with flat side for flattening and teethed side for tenderizing
  • CAN ALSO BE USED FOR CRUSHING garlic and nuts as well as making bread crumbs
  • DISHWASHER SAFE so it’s easier to clean after using on pork, poultry, and beef
  • 1.57 x 7.16 x 2.55 inches

It’s not always possible to buy premium and expensive cuts of meat. Sometimes one has to bring home inexpensive cuts and then flavor it themselves. But it’s not easy to ensure that the herbs, flavors, and marinade penetrate the deepest nooks and corners of a slab of meat.

This is where this meat tenderizer comes in. It helps in uniformly thinning out the meat so that it becomes soft thus making it easier to allow the herbs and spices to give it flavor.

Measuring 1.57 x 7.16 x 2.55 inches, this little and lightweight tool can be used easily without exerting much force or pressure. This will be useful when there’s a lot of meat to be pounded.

The handle of this tool allows for a comfortable and good grip as well. This will ensure that your hands and wrists don’t get tired easily.

Also, you won’t have to exert yourself trying to hold down the tool even when it’s wet. The anti-slip feature of this tool will prevent the tool from flying out due to wetness or excess force.

It comes with a reversible screw-in disk that allows one to screw in the flat side for flattening delicate pieces of meat when needed and then allows one to put in the teethed side for tenderizing hard meat when needed.

The flattened part of this tool can also be used for a variety of purposes apart from just flattening meat. It can be used for crushing ice, hard candies, nuts, garlic, and more.

But for all the work that it can do it’s very easy to clean. All you have to do is put it in a dishwasher. This tool can be used both by professional chefs and home cooks with ease.

What we like

  • Comes with a pounder and a tenderizer
  • Lightweight
  • The handle allows good grip
  • Easy to clean
  • Durable

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#3: Reversible Commercial Meat Tenderizer and Pounder

Reversible Meat Tenderizer and Pounder Dual Sided Meat Tenderizer Mallet Marinating Prep Tool
  • ERGONOMICALLY DESIGNED: Ergonomic handle provides leverage and a comfortable grip, perfect for beef, veal, poultry, game, tender braciole, chicken fried steak, cordon bleu, weinerschnitzel and more
  • PROFESSIONAL KITCHEN QUALITY: Made from chrome-plated zinc, weighs nearly 2 pounds (835 grams), well balanced, strong;
  • FLAT SIDE: Use the flat side to flatten chicken breasts so they cook evenly, or to crush cookies, crackers, cereal, nuts and other food to use in recipes
  • TEETHED SIDE: Tenderize tough cuts of meat with the toothed side of the Meat Tenderizer.
  • DESIGNED FOR DISHWASHER: Crafted of washable chrome with a zinc core.(Please take off the plastic gasket before putting in the dishwasher)

Everyone has to work with whatever meat they have available. Sometimes it’s a premium cut and sometimes you get the blandest cut with no flavor. This is where this meat tenderizer comes in.

This dual tenderizer combo lets you both pound as well as tenderize the meat. With this, you will be able to bring out the flavors in the most premium cuts of meat or add flavor to the blandest cuts.

Weighing just around 2 pounds, it’s lightweight. So it’s easy to lift and use. You can use the flat side of the tool to flatten chicken breasts or even to crush cookies, nuts, and more.

The tenderizer is made out of chrome-plated zinc which ensures that it doesn’t rust easily and lasts for a long time. It also adds to the strength of the tool so no matter how fast or hard you bring it down on the meat, it won’t break or bend easily.

Along with being durable and strong, it is also non-porous. This quality enables that there is no cross-contamination of food in any way.

So you can prepare your meat without any worry of raw meat and its juices sticking to the tenderizer even after washing. The tool is very easy to wash. All you have to do is put it in a dishwasher. Just remember to take off the plastic gasket before putting it there.

This gadget is ergonomically designed. This means that you will be able to hold the handle with ease. It has a comfortable and anti-slip grip which is useful if you are in a hurry and want to get the work done faster.

The anti-slip grip also ensures that the tool won’t fly out of the hands even during intense working moments. You will be able to make use of this tool to tenderize chicken, beef, poultry, game, veal, and more.

What we like

  • Comes with a pounder and tenderizer
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to wash
  • Lightweight and non-porous

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#4: Aliglow Meat Tenderizer

Sale
Aliglow Meat Tenderizer Hammer Tool Mallet Pounder for Kitchen Tenderizing Steak Beef Poultry
  • ERGONOMIC DESIGN: A round head with a balanced design that allows the mallet and gravity to do all the work in less time. Easy on your hand & arm!
  • MORE THAN A TENDERIZER: Crush ice for cocktails, loosening frozen vegetables, crack crab, and crush garlic, Great for baking: shell nuts, and crush hard candy like toffee or peppermint
  • MULTIFUNCTIONAL: Easy to make delicate pork and poultry for wafer thin cutlets, schnitzel and roll ups. Use the textured side for tenderizing to create perfect, tender, juicy steaks, or use the flat smooth side for pounding filets thin, perfect for tenderizing cuts of meat.
  • Recommend hand wash. Zinc-Alloy hammer ,Item Dimensions: 8.7 in length*round cheek diamter 2.0 in .Unit Weight 10 ounces .
  • SATISFACTION & QUALITY :[Note: If the plastic piece fall off just snap it back on. If the item you received has following issue please contact us for refund or replacement: a. the sticker is damaged/opened... b. accessories missing ,...c. the item has some scratches/surface come off or damaged..or any other defective issue.]

Something every chef, whether a professional cook or a home cook needs to make use of a meat tenderizer to infuse more flavor into the meat and make it more tender.

That’s where this meat tenderizer comes in. This tool has a dual-use. On one side there is a pounder and on the other side, there is a tenderizer.

You can make use of the pounder on a lot more things than just delicate pieces of meat. Use it to crush ice, break nutshells, crush garlic, crush hard candy, and more.

The tool is strong and durable. You will find that no matter how hard you use it or how much pressure you put on it to pound or tenderize the meat, it won’t break at all.

The gadget is also designed in such a way that there’s no chance of the raw meat staying on the tenderizer and contaminating any other food substance.

The entire tool is well balanced as well which makes it easy to hold and use. After all, gravity will do most of the work and it will cut down the time taken to get the work done. It will give rest to your arms as well.

The teethed size comes with 16/37 aggressive points which are perfect for tenderizing inexpensive cuts of meat that turn out to be bland sometimes. The handle of the tool is easy to hold and grip.

This ensures that you can use it fast during rush hour service without worrying about it flying away from your hands. The tenderizer is easy to wash. All you have to do is put it in a dishwasher and it will get the job done.

What we like

  • Comes with pounder and tenderizer
  • Teethed size has 16/37 aggressive points
  • Strong and well balanced
  • Easy to wash
  • Ergonomic handle

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#5: Norpro 7032 Meat Tenderizer

Norpro Meat Tenderizer, TENDERIZERPRO-BX, As Shown
  • Measures: 7.5" x 2" x 2" / 19cm x 5cm x 5cm
  • This tenderizer will improve the texture and the taste of poultry, fish or beef, while also hastening the cooking time.
  • 24 stainless-steel prongs break down tough meat fibers and connective tissues and allows marinade to absorb faster into meat creating tastier and juicier results.
  • Heavy duty spring action mechanism controls action.
  • Hand washing recommended.

If your meat tastes good then this tenderizer is here to get that job done. You will find that this tool measuring 7.5″ x 2″ x 2″ or 19cm x 5cm x 5cm is easy to use and lightweight too.

With this, you will be able to improve upon the taste and texture of your meat, be it fish, beef, poultry, game or anything else.

You can add in the herbs and spices you want to give it flavor. This tenderizer comes with 24 stainless-steel prongs which are enough to break down the toughest of meat fibers and connective tissues.

Even hard meat will be putty in front of this tool. All you will get in return is uniformly thinned meat.

This professional-grade tool can be used by both professional chefs as well as home cooks with ease. After all, to make your job easier it comes with a heavy-duty spring action mechanism that controls the action.

So all you have to do is press it down and get the results. This will prevent your hand and wrist from getting too much fatigued. Also, you will get to exercise the precise force needed to tenderize the meat according to your needs.

You can make use of the stainless steel prongs to pierce the meat so that you can marinate it well and allow the flavors to penetrate it. This is a useful feature especially if you don’t want to tenderize the meat.

This is applicable in the case of premium and already tender meat. Many a time you will just want to put in some garlic cloves in a slab of meat for preparation.

This feature will help with that as well. This tool is very easy to clean as well. Just wash it by using your hands or you can put it in a dishwasher as well.

What we like

  • Comes with 24 stainless steel prongs
  • Has handle with spring action mechanism
  • Easy to use
  • Controlled force
  • Easy to wash

Buy on Amazon


#6: Mercy Shopping Needle Blade Meat Tenderizer

Sale
ZXZ Meat Tenderizer, 48 Stainless Steel Sharp Needle Blade, Heavy Duty Cooking Tool for Tenderizing Beef, Turkey, Chicken, Steak, Veal, Pork, Fish, Christmas Cooking Set
  • 48 Stainless Steel blade meat tenderizer is very sharp.It’s easy to cut through connective tissues without changing shape or appearance of meat.You just need to press it for several times, penetrating knives create tiny heat channels within the meat, allowing heat to penetrate the meat evenly across varying thickness, resulting in much more juicy and flavorful meat. Moreover, you don't need to marinate the meat for another 30 minutes, since the seasoning permeates the meat quickly.
  • Integrated high-quality stainless steel blade is tougher and more durable, will not be corroded and get rusty, and the tip of the blade is carefully polished, it can maintain sharpness performance even when used daily. The grip design is easy to press, grip and saves effort. The elderly people can also use it easily, and they don’t need to worry about the meat tenderizer slipping from their hands. it is the perfect gift for Mother's Day and Father's Day.
  • Safety design with protection cover, the blade expands into the meat when pressed, automatically retracts the steel needle when no force is applied, No Scratching. Remove the greasy gravy with the cleaning brush or by dishwasher machine. After cleaning, cover the transparent tip protection cover, the stainless steel blade will be safely isolated, to keep it clean and convenient for your next use.
  • ZXZ Meat tenderizer increases the absorption of marinade by up to 600%, reducing cooking time by 40%. It’s suitable for a lot of meat. You can use it to tenderize beef, turkey, veal, chicken, pork, steak, fish, etc. for a better BBQ, grill and quick Steak Marinade with no loss of natural juices. Whether a family gathering or Christmas, you can enjoy a festive feast with ease.
  • Mercy Shopping provides you with quality products and services. 24 hours to respond to any questions you may have. Please be assured of the purchase.

This meat tenderizer is made up of stainless steel and is very sharp. It cuts through the connective tissues with ease and will allow you to flavor or marinate the meat as you like. All you need to do is press it multiple times so that the meat is uniformly tenderized.

This will allow the meat to cook faster. But faster cooking leaves the meat prone to overcooking. To prevent this, you need to know the exact temperature of the meat. This is why I recommend home chefs invest in the best meat thermometer (cooking juicy, tender meat just got a whole lot easier).

The stainless steel blade is also very tough and durable. It doesn’t get corroded easily or gets rusted. So no matter how pressured you out or how fast you use it, it won’t break or bend.

The tip of the blades is also very carefully polished to ensure that they are sharp and stay that way for years no matter how continuously or heavily they are used. The tool comes with a handle that is easy to grip and press.

It will save you effort and it’s easy to use as well. The lightweight nature of this tool along with the easy to grip nature ensures that you will be able to use it repeatedly and fast without worrying about it slipping from your hands and hurting someone else.

Since it’s so easy to use so it can be used by the elderly as well and it can be given as a gift too.

There is a safety protection cover that comes with this as well. The blade automatically retracts the steel needle when there’s no application of force. It’s also very easy to clean this tool.

All you need to do is put it in a dishwasher or use a cleaning brush. Once cleaning is over you will have to cover the stainless steel blade with the top protective cover.

This will keep the blades safe and clean until the next use. This tool can be used to tenderize veal, turkey, beef, pork, fish and more. You will find that there is no loss of natural juices as well.

What we like

  • Stainless steel blade
  • No rust
  • Protective cap for blades
  • Easy to grip
  • Easy to wash

Buy on Amazon


#7: XSpecial 48-Blades Stainless Steel Meat Tenderizer Tool

Sale
XSpecial Meat Tenderizer Tool 48 Blade - Effortlessly Soften and Tender Meats, Essential Steak Cooking Accessory, Perfect Kitchen Tools: Mallet, Meat Pounder & Hammer Alternative
  • EASY TO USE, ERGONOMIC, ARTHRITIS FRIENDLY, AND REQUIRES NO FORCE, Making It The Best Meat Tenderizer Tool On The Market. Unique Detachable design for Deep Cleaning, and Dishwasher Safe!
  • MOUTHWATERING FLAVOR IN EVERY BITE: Ask Any Chef Foodie Grill Master Or Cooking Enthusiast 48 Blade Meat Tenderizers Blades Are The Must-Have Essential Kitchen Tool If You Want Consistently Delectable Meals People Rave About – And Our Reviews Speak For Themselves.
  • UNRIVALED CONSTRUCTION, SUPERIOR RESULTS: While Most Meat Tenderizer Products Use Cheaply Made Materials That Break And Rust – We Craft Ours From Solid, Easy-Grip Plastic And Rust-proof Stainless Steel, So You Can Use Your New Favorite Kitchen Tool For A Long, Long Time.
  • TRY IT NOW & TASTE THE TENDERNESS! You’ll Easily Transform Any Meat Into A Succulent, Delicious, Mouthwatering Meal Including Beef, Chicken, Veal, Pork, Fish, Steak, London Broil, Round Roast, Chicken Breast, Pork Loin And More
  • WANT TO SAVE TIME, SAVE MONEY & EAT JUICIER MEAT? Ever Looked At Your Cooked Meat And Thought, “hmm.. Swore That Was Bigger” XSpecial Blade Tenderizer Locks In Juices, Stops Meat Shrinkage & Reduce Cooking Time By 40% - And Less Cooking Time Means Less Loss Of Natural Flavors And Juices – A Win, Win For Any Home Or Professional Chef.

Using this tool will ensure that you get the mouthwatering flavor in every bite. This tenderizer is a must-have kitchen tool for every chef whether it’s a professional chef or a home cook.

The tool is durable and lightweight which ensures that you will be able to use it with ease. You can put in pressure without worrying about it breaking or bending. The lightweight nature of the tool will allow you to work fast with it.

There are 48 blade meat tenderizer blades in this tool which will tenderize the tissues of even the hardest meat cuts so that it results in juicy, delectable meat.

The handle of this tool is ergonomic and easy to use. It allows you to get a good grip on it and use it without fear of it breaking off or wobbling.

The handle and the tenderizer are joined well so that there’s no chance of any wobbling or risk of the parts coming off mid-use. The tool can be used by people who have arthritis since it practically requires no force at all.

You can rest assured that with this tool your meat will be tenderized and not pulverized and this is the result of extra thin and long blades. With this, you will be able to tenderize beef, veal, chicken, pork, game, and more.

This tool is also very easy to clean. You can hand clean it with some mild soap or just put it in a dishwasher.

What we like

  • Has 48 blade meat tenderizer blades
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Easy to grip
  • Lightweight and durable
  • Easy to clean

Buy on Amazon


#8: OXO Meat Tenderizer

OXO Meat Tenderizer
  • Smooth side for pounding
  • Tenderizer surface is textured for optimum use
  • Contoured, soft handle fits comfortably in your hand
  • Non-slip handles either wet or dry
  • Dishwasher Safe

Everyone who loves meat needs a tenderizer. It helps in making the meat soft, thus allowing all the juices and spices to seep into it and make it more flavorful.

You will find that this tool comes with a pounder as well as a tenderizer. Make use of the pounding surface to tenderize delicate meat and use the teethed part for uniformly tenderizing hard slabs of meat.

The handle of this tool is soft to handle and contoured. You will find that this fits very comfortably in your hand.

You will find that the handle is easy to grip and its non-slip feature ensures that the tool doesn’t fly off your hands even if it’s wet. As such you will be able to work faster and yet smoothly by using it. A must-have during rush hour for professional chefs.

Make use of this gadget to tenderize veal, beef, pork, fish, and more. You can use the pounding surface to crack the ice, nuts, hard candies, and more. Don’t worry about cleaning up the tool.

It’s very easily done and all you have to do is put it in a dishwasher and it will get cleaned. This is such a tool that everyone from professional chefs to home cooks will be able to use it.

What we like

  • Comes with a pounder and a tenderizer
  • Easy to grip
  • Non-slip handle
  • Easy to wash

Buy on Amazon


Best Meat Tenderizer Buying Guide

The above list shows some of the very best meat tenderizers available in the market. But when you will step out into the market or look online for more options, you will be bombarded with all that you will find online.

In such a potential situation, it’s important to be armed with the essential information that will let you know which ones are the real deal and which ones are put on the market to take your money and give you nothing in return.

To differentiate between the two, you need to learn about the basic features which every good meat tenderizer has. These are:

Material

Make sure to get a tenderizer that is made up of strong stainless steel. This will ensure that the meat gets tenderized uniformly. Don’t go for wooden tenderizers or anything else. Wood can break with too much pressure and if the shards go unnoticed and it can get embedded within the meat. This will cause problems later on.

Grip

Get those tenderizers that are easy to hold. You won’t like the tool flying off your hands when you are doing your work. Also, get those tenderizers that come with anti-slip handles so that you can use it with ease even when it’s wet.

Wash

Don’t get tenderizers that are difficult to wash. Always get those which can be put in the dishwasher to wash or which can be hand washed. Anything else will be an extra unwanted hassle.

Pins

You can get circular tenderizers or you can get rectangular tenderizers or those tenderizers that are block-shaped. The latter ones have more pins for piercing and tenderizing the meat.

It works if you deal with huge chunks and blocks of meat daily. But you can get the former circular tool if you are using it for your home kitchen. Also obviously ensure that the pins are medium to long and are very sharp.

So now you have a full list of some of the best meat tenderizers available in the market as well as the features to look out for while buying one. So get the one which will suit your kitchen and your wants well.

Jennifer Dumas

My name is Jennifer! Welcome to Dinners and Dreams. My goal here is to encourage you to try out recipes you never thought you could make at home. Furthermore, I also review products that I have used in the past or currently using to make every day buying decisions easier and to ensure you get the best value for your money.

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