Meat Tenderizer Buyer’s Guide
When shopping for a meat tenderizer, you will find you have plenty of options. There are all kinds of meat tenderizers available, but which one suits your needs best? The best way to figure that out is to understand the different features that a meat tenderizer might have, and how these can benefit you.
Price and Quality
Price is usually the first thing people take into consideration when buying any new product. When buying a meat tenderizer, you will find they come at many different price points. While it may be tempting to go with the cheapest option that you can find, you still have to consider whether or not it would be worth it.
A cheaper meat tenderizer may claim to do everything a more expensive one does, but it may not work as well or be made with quality parts. Find a meat tenderizer that meets your budget, but don’t sacrifice the quality in the process.
Durability
No matter what kind of meat tenderizer you buy, you will probably be using frequently. It will be pounding into cuts of meat repeatedly for years to come, so you want it to be durable. It is easy to tell if a meat tenderizer will last when it is made with high-quality parts, like stainless steel.
Look for a meat tenderizer with these kinds of tried-and-tested materials to ensure that it will stand the test of time.
Usability
There’s nothing worse than buying a meat tenderizer that you don’t know how to use, or which is too difficult to operate. Know your strengths when you purchase a meat tenderizer—if you don’t have a lot of strength in your hands or suffer from arthritis, for example, don’t buy a product that requires you to exert pressure. Only buy a meat tenderizer that you know you can use.
Versatility
One fantastic thing about the right meat tenderizer is that it can be used for other purposes. Consider a meat mallet—not only do they have two different sides for inverse functions, but they are also large, hefty hammers that you could use to crush ice or garlic.
A tool that serves more than one purpose in the kitchen is always handy, so why not choose a meat tenderizer that is a multipurpose product, too? When selecting a meat tenderizer, choose one that you know you can use in various ways for maximum versatility.
Safety
Many meat tenderizers are composed of multiple sharp blades to cut through and tenderize meat. These blades can be sharp enough to slice right through your fingers, and for anyone with a child in the house, this could pose a severe danger.
There are many different safety features that a meat tenderizer might incorporate into the design. From blade covers to blade guards that only release the blades when pressed down, there are plenty of safety options available. You can easily ensure that your meat tenderizer won’t accidentally hurt anyone in the house.
Cleaning
Cleaning is another tricky aspect with the meat tenderizer products on the market. Tenderizers that have dozens of tiny blades can be tedious to clean and reaching in between each of the small spaces between the sharp fixtures can be a deal-breaker. Even the mallets with rivets can be difficult.
Some meat tenderizer comes with small brushes, making it easy to reach into those tiny crevices. Others are dishwasher safe, for the easiest cleaning method possible. If cleaning is a hassle for you, there are options available so that you can do what works best for you.
Storage
Meat tenderizers come in all shapes and sizes, but many of them can be on the large side, especially the mallets. It can sometimes feel like there is no room for one amongst your other kitchen tools or drawers. If storage could be an issue for you, look for one that is small enough for a drawer or that comes with a hook on the end so that you can hang it up conveniently.
Final thoughts
A good meat thermometer has it’s place in every kitchen, alongside a good meat thermometer, meat cleaver, pairing knife and meat slicer. So don’t think twice about picking up a tenderizer, you just don’t know when you will need one – so get one today!