Top 15 Best Meat Tenderizer Reviews
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A meat tenderizer plays a vital role in shortening your cooking time and providing you with soft and delicious meat. And to make a fascinating dish at home, you certainly need a good meat tenderizer.
In this review, I enumerate some best meat tenderizers as well as their pros, cons, and key features. I also give you a list of my favorite products and a comparison chart. Everything is ready, so go ahead and get started!
What is a Meat Tenderizer?
A meat tenderizer is a hand-held tool, and you can use it to tenderize the meat slabs before cooking. By doing this, the meat slabs become softer and easier to chew. You can also call a meat tenderizer as a meat mallet or meat pounder.
There are two common types of meat tenderizers:
- The first and most common type is a meat tenderizer that looks like a hammer or a mallet. This style of meat tenderizer is usually made of wood or metal. It has a short handle with two heads. One head is flat while another head has pyramid-shaped rows.
- The second type of meat tenderizer has a lot of blades and needles. These blades and needles will stick in the meat and cut deep into the meat muscle fiber.
What is The Best Meat Tenderizer to Buy?
If you are puzzled among many different products with various characteristics, it really worths your time to have a look at this list
- Best Budget: KitchenAid Textured Aluminum Meat Tenderizer
“Multipurpose product; durable and strong material; light in weight; easy to store with the hole on the handle; low price.” - Best for Small Serving: OXO Meat Tenderizer
“Effortless to control even when your hand is wet; more flat sides; extremely light in weight; easy to clean; dishwasher safe; affordable price.” - Best Overall: Jaccard 200348 Supertendermatic Meat Tenderizer
“Light in weight; small in size; easily fit your hand; removable blades; perfect cooking result; cut down on 40% of your cooking time; protective cover for safety at using.” - Best for Left-Handed People: Norpro Grip-EZ Stainless Steel Meat Tenderizer
“Ergonomic handle; suitable for both left-handed and right-handed people; create perfect cutlets; able to handle either heavy task and detailed task.” - Best for Large Serving: Mr. Bar-B-Q Professional Meat Tenderizer
“No need to dismantle the product; effortless to use; fascinating performance; providing ease of cleaning; clever design.” - Best Comfortable: Cave Tool Meat Tenderize
“Multipurpose kitchen tool; extremely comfortable to use; extra 25 professional recipes; non-slip silicone handle provided; effortless usage and storage.” - Best for Thick Meat: Weston Manual Meat Tenderizer
“Convenient design; ease of using and storing; able to complete your task in a short time; food-safe coating; tenderizing thick meat effectively.”
Meat Tenderizer Comparision Chart
In case you don’t have sufficient time to read all the reviews for 15 best meat tenderizers, using this comparision chart for reference is a good idea.
Top 15 Best Meat Tenderizers Reviews
After having a quick overview of the 15 meat tenderizers, now let’s go deeper in each product to see what it can provide!
Koncle Professional Needle Meat Tenderizers
The Koncle professional meat tenderizer has 56 blades, and it can undoubtedly give you an enjoyable cooking experience. With 56 sharp stainless steel blades, tenderizing the meat becomes easier and preciser.
There is also a wide push top button. What you have to do is just pressing down the push top button, and your meat will be ready in a minute. Other parts of the product are made of food-grade material, and the handle is ABS plastic.
Don’t think that this product is unsafe to use or store because there is a protective cap cover. With this convenient product, having a BBQ party at your own house is becoming less stressful as preparation is now more accessible and less time-consuming.
Moreover, the size of it is compact. You can bring it along with you when you travel, or you participate in some outdoor activities. About cleaning, this product is not dishwasher safe, but you can effortlessly wash it with soap and water.
Key Features:
- Precise and deep tenderizing
- Durable construction and safe at storing
- Easy to use and clean
Pros
- Food-grade material
- Durable stainless steel blade
- Providing more blades for more precisely sticking in
- Provide a protective cap for securely storing
- Fasten and advance your cooking process
- Easy to clean with soap and water
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- You should be careful in using because the blades are very sharp
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 8.8 ounces |
| Dimensions | 2.8 x 2.8 x 3.7 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; ABS plastic handle; food-grade material |
| Cleaning instruction | Not dishwasher safe. Carefully cleaning with soap and water |
Flytt Meat Tenderizer
The flytt meat tenderizer has 48 blades. Although it has fewer blades than the previous one, these 48 blades are sharp enough to stick in and cut down the meat connective tissues and fibers.
Only by continually pressing down the tool, your meat will become soft, tender, and tasty. The tiny cuts ensure that the meat will not shrink when you cook, and it also becomes juicier and more delicious.
By using this meat tenderizer, you can save up to 40% of your cooking time. The spices and sauce will reach your meat faster through the tiny cuts. Moreover, it also takes less time to cook, and you can undoubtedly have your dish ready to serve in a nutshell.
The handle is made of non-toxic ABS, and it is also non-slip. There is also a detachable base, so the product is dishwasher safe. You can also clean it with the brush after soaking the tenderizer in hot water or soapy water.
Key Features:
- Non-slip ABS handle
- Sharp stainless steel blade
- Help shorten your cooking time
Pros
- Proving a protective cap for safely storing
- Made of high-quality material
- Sharp blades for smooth and precise cuts
- Providing a detachable base for easy cleaning
- Dishwasher safe
- Comfortable to use
Cons
- The meat tenderizer’s spring is quite stiff
- Make sure you handle the product in the right way to prevent the blades from breaking
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 11.5 ounces |
| Dimensions | 6.3 x 5.1 x 1.6 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; Non-slip ABS plastic handle |
| Cleaning instructions | Soak the meat tenderizer in hot or soapy water and use the brush to clean.
Dishwasher safe |
KLEMOO Meat Tenderizer
The second blade meat tenderizer is the KLEMOO tenderizer that has 48 sharp blades. These blades are stainless steel, and they can help create tiny holes on your meat and transform your meat into the softer and more tender meat.
By doing this way, it only takes 5 minutes for your meat to absorb all the spices and marinades. You don’t need to spend more time repairing, and your dish is also tastier because the meat can keep its natural flavor.
With the convenient non-slip handle, you don’t need much effort in using. You just have to press down the tenderizer continuously. One lucky news for you is that this meat tenderizer is dishwasher safe. There is also a clear protective plastic cover so you can store the product securely and neatly.
Key Features:
- Efficient design for the comfortable and straightforward task
- An affordable product with top-quality material
- One- year warranty
Pros
- Dishwasher safe
- Effortless to use and control
- Reasonable price with high quality
- Ensuring the excellent flavor of the meat
- Cut down on your cooking time
Cons
- This product can’t be used to tenderize thick meat
- Sometimes, it is quite challenging to use
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 10.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 6.1 x 4.5 x 1.6 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; plastic protective cover lid |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
Soak in soapy and hot water for a while. Then wash it with warm water, shake off the excess water and let it dry |
To see how the product actually works, let’s watch this video:
Spring Chef Meat Tenderizer
The Spring Chef meat tenderizer is a mallet one, and it looks like a hammer. This product has two sides. The smooth side is used to flatten the meat. And you can use the other side to tenderize the meat.
The material of this product is solid aluminum with chrome plating. Its handle is made of non-slip material. Although it has a solid aluminum structure, it is effortless to use. You can easily switch it forth and back for tenderizing and pounding.
About cleaning, owning a mallet-style meat tenderizer is more convenient. There will be no meat getting stuck on the blades. And this product is also dishwasher safe. You can also wash it by hand with just soap and water.
Key Features:
- Fasten your cooking process to 50%
- Easy to use with non-slip handle
- Multifunctional tool
Pros
- Easy to use
- Able to flatten the meat
- Effortless to clean
- Durable construction
- Save up to 50% of your cooking time
- Non-slip handle makes it easy for you to carry every task
Cons
- The chrome plating wears out after long time using
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 10.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 11.4 x 3.3 x 1.5 inches |
| Material | Aluminum with chrome plating |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
Hand-wash with soap and water |
Check out this cool meat tenderizer on Youtube:
KitchenAid Textured Aluminum Meat Tenderizer
(Best Budget)
KitchenAid is one familiar brand that you should always think of when you want to buy any kitchen essentials. This manufacturer produces many kinds of kitchen tools such as dishrack, meat grinder, mixer, blender,…
Like the previous product, the KitchenAid meat tenderizer is also a mallet one. You can easily find this tool at any local store at a very affordable price. This KitchenAid meat tenderizer also has two sides.
You can use a textured side to tenderize various kinds of meat. And you can use the flat side to pound or flatten your meat. Moreover, this flat side can also be used to grind garlic, onions…
Because the product has the construction of aluminum, so it is durable but light. And there is also a small hole on the handle so you can hang it at any place you want after use.
Key Features:
- Multipurpose kitchen tool at an affordable price
- Ease of storing
- Lightweight and easy to control
Pros
- Multipurpose product
- Durable and strong material
- Light in weight
- Easy to store with the hole on the handle
- Low price
Cons
- Need to wash by hand
- Aluminum material is not as durable as other material
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 10.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 9.2 x 3.8 x 2.2 inches |
| Material | Aluminum |
| Cleaning instruction | Handwash |
Norpro 7032 Meat Tenderizer
The Norpro meat tenderizer looks slightly different than other previous products. It doesn’t have blades and doesn’t look like a hammer. But this meat tenderizer has 24 stainless steel prongs.
These prongs also have the same function with the blades. The prongs will stick into the connective tissue and fibers of the meat. This action allows the sauces and spices quickly absorb into your meat. The meat will become more tender and tastier.
This product is also light with a straight handle so you can easily hold it and carry the task. However, it is small, so you will have to press it more to soften the meat, and the prongs are also slightly hard to wash.
Key Features:
- Durable stainless steel construction
- Providing full control regardless of force
- Dishwasher safe
Pros
- Enduring stainless steel prongs
- Small in size
- Light in weight
- Providing effortless control of the tool
- Safe for dishwasher
Cons
- It is small, so you have to spend more time tenderizing the meat compared with other products
- The prongs are somewhat challenging to clean by hand
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 6.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 2 x 1.5 x 1.2 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel prongs; professional-grade material |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
Soaking in hot water. Then thoroughly clean with soap and water |
OXO Meat Tenderizer
(Best for Small Serving)
Like other mallet meat tenderizers, the product of OXO also the flat side and textured side. One different feature is that there are four sides in total. The only textured side is used to tenderize the meat while the other sides are used to flatten the meat.
The handle has non-slip material so you can effortlessly control the product whether your hand is wet or dry. It weighs only 0,4 kg so you can comfortably use it. However, it is not suitable when you organize a party or when you have many guests.
I think that this product is only suitable for someone who loves thin slaps of meat. It is needless to worry about cleaning tasks as this product is dishwasher safe.
Key Features:
- Appropriate for small serving
- Work well even with wet hands
- Light in weight with reasonable price
Pros
- Effortless to control even when your hand is wet
- More flat sides compared with other products
- Extremely light in weight
- Easy to clean as it is dishwasher safe
- Suitable for the small serving
- Affordable price
Cons
- Not ideal for large serving
- It is rather small in size, so it takes more time when you want to tenderize thick meat
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 14.4 ounces |
| Dimensions | 2.5 x 2 x 10 inches |
| Material | Aluminum construction with non-slip handle |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
Hand wash with soapy water |
You want to see if the OXO meat tenderizer is really good, check on this Youtube video:
Jaccard 200348 Supertendermatic Meat Tenderizer
(Best Overall)
The Jaccard meat tenderizer is well-known as it is the number one choice of many professional chefs in the world. 48 razor-sharp blades can easily stick into your meat and create tiny holes without changing the shape of the meat.
Through these tiny holes, the marinades will grip the meat deeper and faster. You can save more time in preparing the dish and spend this time on other tasks. By using this meat tenderizer, you can end up with more flavorful and tasty meat.
And this product is an ideal choice when you want to make grilled beef, pork, chicken,…Organizing a party at home has never been easier!
Key Features:
- The #1 choice of many professional chefs
- Removable blades
- Protective cover for safely using and storing
Pros
- It is light in weight and small in size so it can easily fit your hand
- Removable blades
- Not change the shape of the meat
- Ensuring perfect cooking result
- Cut down on 40% of your cooking time
- Providing protective cover for safety at using
Cons
- Be careful where you buy as there are many fake products on the market now
- It is quite challenging to clean
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 12 ounces |
| Dimensions | 4 x 1.5 x 5.8 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; other parts are ABS plastic |
| Cleaning instruction | Put it on the top rack of the dishwasher
Soak into hot water for a while. Then carefully clean with soap and water |
Watch this video now and you will instantly fall in love with the product:
Leifheit 23014 Pro Line Meat Tenderizer
This Leifheit meat tenderizer is a mallet version, but its design is far smarter than other mallet products. The product is reversible with two sides. You use the flat side when you want to flatten or pound the meat.
When you want to tenderize the meat, you can change to the textured size. Moreover, you can also use the flat side to crush garlic, nuts, and create bread crumbs.
Its handle is also comfortable to use, but it is quite large. Therefore, it may not be suitable for people who have small hands.
Key Features:
- Smart and reversible design
- Able to use for multipurpose
- Quickly flatten the meat
Pros
- Smart design
- Multifunctional product
- Reversible product with dual sides
- Able to flatten the meat quickly
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- The product has a large handle which is not suitable for individuals with small hand
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 1.54 pounds |
| Dimensions | 5.5 x 3.4 x 12.9 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
Easy to clean with soap and water |
Norpro Grip-EZ Stainless Steel Meat Tenderizer
(Best for Left-Handed People)
Are you tired of pounding thick meat? With this product, you don’t need to worry about this anymore. The Norpro meat pounder is made of stainless steel and iron, so it is tough enough to give you the flawless cutlets.
The product has a vertical design, so it is very comfortable to use whether you are left-handed or right-handed. This meat tenderizer is small but sturdy so it can handle both quick, massive tasks and precise tasks.
Despite its simple look, the Norpro meat tenderizer can also show fascinating performance and be an excellent choice for you.
Key Features:
- Ergonomic design
- Simple to use
- Significant performance
Pros
- Ergonomic handle
- Suitable for both left-handed and right-handed people
- Create perfect cutlets
- Able to handle either cumbersome task and detailed task
Cons
- Rather high in price
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 1.63 pounds |
| Dimensions | 3.2 x 3.2 x 4.8 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel over iron |
| Cleaning instruction | Hand washing recommended |
Mr. Bar-B-Q Professional Meat Tenderizer
(Best for Large Serving)
The Mr. Bar meat tenderizer has 48 stainless steel blades. The product is made of non-toxic plastic that meets the ETL Sanitation’s standard. With this high-quality material, this product can entirely give you a fast and effortless experience.
This product has a professional design, and its handle is suitable for almost every user since the Mr.Bar meat tenderizer has durable material so it can work well no matter how thick the meat is.
The red color of the product will make you satisfied, and it is an excellent decoration for your kitchen. You can clean this product with the dishwasher. Although it has a durable construction, it will only work well for one or two years if you use it too regularly.
Key Features:
- Significant performance
- Beautiful red color
- Ease of cleaning and using
Pros
- No need to dismantle the product
- Effortless to use
- Fascinating performance
- Providing ease of cleaning
- Clever design
Cons
- The product has a slightly high price
- It can only work well within two years
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 1.25 pounds |
| Dimensions | 11 x 8 x 3 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; non-harmful material |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
For hand wash, soak in hot water before cleaning it with soapy water |
Cave Tool Meat Tenderizer
(Best Comfortable)
Stop thinking that using a mallet meat tenderizer is more stressful and tired since the Cave Tool meat tenderizer is super convenient to use. What’s the secret behind this? The secret to this feature is that the producers use a sand-like substance, which reduces rattle and softens the blow.
Your arms won’t get tired as it is also very light in weight. With stainless steel construction, the cleaning task becomes more effortless, and this material also protects your product from harmful bacteria.
By owning this product, you can receive 25 professional recipes with a step-by-step guide and video instruction. I am sure your family will like this.
Key Features:
- Using at ease
- Stainless steel construction that prevents bacteria
- Silicone handle for a comfortable non-slip grip
Pros
- Multipurpose kitchen tool
- Extremely comfortable to use
- Providing extra 25 professional recipes
- Non-slip silicone handle provided
- Effortless usage and storage
Cons
- The price of the product is higher than others
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 13.8 ounces |
| Dimensions | 11 x 3 x 2.3 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel construction; silicone handle |
| Cleaning instruction | Suitable for both dishwasher and handwash |
Weston Manual Meat Tenderizer
(Best for Thick Meat)
The Weston meat tenderizer has an outstanding design that can help you complete your job more easily and quickly. This product has a thorough metal design, which is very durable, and it is strong enough to handle thick meat.
Don’t worry about jamming? The Weston meat tenderizer has a teel combs function that helps prevent interference. There are 31 stainless steel blades. And it can securely stand on any surface with the help of the enduring base and the 2 C-clamps.
The producer also provides you with a stainless steel tong so that you can safely put the slab of meat into the tool. Moreover, the coating of the product is food-safe, so you can feel assured that it is safe to use.
Key Features:
- Able to tenderize thick meat
- Convenient to use
- Work effectively and quickly
Pros
- Convenient design for ease of using and storing
- Able to complete your task in a short time
- Food-safe coating
- Able to stand securely on any surfaces
- Tenderizing thick meat effectively
Cons
- You have to take apart the product for cleaning and storing
- The price of the product is quite high
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 10 pounds |
| Dimensions | 6.8 x 13.5 x 13.8 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blade; food-safe coating |
| Cleaning instruction | Dismantle the product and gently soak in hot water. Then wash it with soap and water |
This video will show you how the Weston manual meat tenderizer actually works:
iPerfect Kitchen Meat Tenderizer
The Iperfect meat tenderizer is also a blade version, and it has more blades than other conventional blade products. There are 56 ultra-sharp blades so that you can tenderize your meat quicker and preciser.
Other parts of the product are made of ABS plastic. With safe material, you can trust that you can enjoy healthy and delicious food with this product. Moreover, it is secure to use with a builtin safety lock and protective cap.
Key Features:
- Sturdy and robust material
- Fasten your cooking process
- Ease of storage and usage
Pros
- Providing safety lock and protective cap
- Having more blades than other brands
- Save 40% of your cooking time
- Enduring material
Cons
- You should be careful to use as the blades are very sharp
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 15.2 ounces |
| Dimensions | 4.7 x 3.5 x 3.5 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; ABS plastic material |
| Cleaning instruction | Dishwasher safe
For hand wash, soak in hot water for easier cleaning |
Ccfoud Meat Tenderizer
The last product on this list is a blade meat tenderizer. The Ccfoud meat tenderizer has 48 stainless steel that can quickly tenderize your meat without changing its shape. The stainless steel material is resistant to rust and corrosion, so the blades will remain sharp even when you use it often.
With the protective cover, this product is thoroughly safe to use. And the handle also has a smart design that provides you the convenience of using. You can press and press the tenderizer to create tiny holes without effort.
Key Features:
- High-quality material
- Safe and comfortable to use
- Able to complete your task quicker and more effective
Pros
- High-quality material
- Smart design
- Secure to use
- Save more time on the cooking process
- Stainless steel blades that are rust-resistant
Cons
- Meat usually gets stuck in the blades, which is quite stressful to wash
Product Specifications:
| Weight | 12 ounces |
| Dimensions | 6.8 x 6.8 x 1.6 inches |
| Material | Stainless steel blades; ABS hand press |
| Cleaning instruction | Able to clean in the dishwasher and clean by hand |
Tips for Choosing the Best Meat Tenderizer
There are different factors to consider when choosing a meat tenderizer. Therefore, you should spend some time reading some tips below to pick up the right product for you.
Weight
The weight of the meat tenderize plays an essential role in its performance. If the product is too heavy, your arm will quickly get tired when using it. However, if the tenderizer is too light, it can not tenderize tough meat.
You should carefully check the product weight based on your strength and how thick your meat is.
Durability
You should choose a meat tenderizer that is made of durable and high-quality material. Therefore, you can use it for a long time. And it should be strong enough to tenderize tough meat.
With blade tenderizer, you should choose the stainless steel blades. Since stainless steel is resistant to rust and corrosion, the blades will remain sharp for time to go.
Non-Slip Handle
A handle plays an important role in every meat tenderizer. If the handle is too slippery, it is difficult for you to hold the tool, and the tenderizing task becomes much more difficult. Therefore, you should choose the meat tenderizer with a non-slip handle so you can easily control the device and carry out your work faster.
Easy Cleaning
You know that meat can quickly get stuck into the blades. Therefore, you should choose a product that is dishwasher safe so that your cleaning task will become less stressful. Cleaning by hand is also a right choice.
However, you should read the cleaning instruction carefully. For ease of cleaning, you should soak the product into hot water before cleaning. After that, you can use the brush to clean it.
FAQ
In order to help you choose the best meat tenderizer, I am going to answer some frequently asked questions to make sure that you have a full understanding of the products.
My Top Pick
Everything has become more detailed and more explicit for you. I hope that you can go for the most suitable product for you and your family after reading my reviews. Make sure you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each product carefully before choosing.
About my choice, I go for the Jaccard 200348 Supertendermatic Meat Tenderizer because this product has high-quality material, and many professional chefs widely use it so I can trust this product.
Do you know other best meat tenderizers? Do you know any tips to choose the best meat tenderizer? Did you try using any of the products above? Please feel free to tell me what you want to share!
Amanda Collins
Founder and Senior Culinary Editor
Expertise
Culinary Arts and Management, Food Journalism and Critique, Recipe Development and Testing, Global Culinary Traditions, Sustainable Food Practices
Education
Institute of Culinary Education (ICE), New York, NY
Program: Diploma in Culinary Arts
Focus: Intensive hands-on training in culinary techniques, recipe development, and kitchen management, preparing students for professional roles in the culinary industry.
Monroe College, New Rochelle, NY
Program: Associate in Applied Science in Culinary Arts
Focus: Practical culinary skills, including cooking techniques, menu planning, and kitchen operations, with an emphasis on hands-on experience and industry standards.
Amanda Collins is a seasoned chef and food editor with a deep love for global flavors. Trained at the Institute of Culinary Education and Monroe College, and with over 15 years in the culinary field, Amanda has refined her skills in kitchens worldwide. Her background in food studies gives her a unique ability to share both recipes and the cultural stories that shape them.
As senior culinary editor at thebreslin.com, Amanda’s work brings authentic dishes to life, inviting readers to explore new flavors and techniques from around the globe. Her approachable style makes it easy for anyone to bring a bit of the world’s cuisine into their kitchen.