How to Tenderize a Cheap Cut of Beef Quickly

Tenderize a tough piece of meat with meat tenderizers and kitchen tools.

It's time to figure out what's for dinner, and you find yourself with an inexpensive cut of beef that is a bit too tough as is. If you'd like to tenderize it, but don't have the time to let it marinate overnight, there are several quick and easy ways to tenderize beef. You can economize on groceries by buying inexpensive cuts of meat and tenderizing them at home.

Things You'll Need

• Cutting board
• Meat tenderizer
• Tenderizing meat hammer
• Plastic wrap (optional)

Instructions

1. Place the meat on a cutting board.

2. Cover your meat with the plastic wrap. Beat it with the hammer. The pointed edges of the hammer will break down the fibers of the meat and make it less tough.

3. Take off the plastic wrap, turn the meat over, replace the plastic wrap, and repeat the treatment on the other side of the meat.

4. Place the meat in a pan and sprinkle it with commercial powdered meat tenderizer. Allow it to set for a twenty minutes, and then cook as usual. Enzymes from pineapple and papaya in the tenderizer will break down the connective tissue that makes the meat tough.

Tips & Warnings

• Use pineapple juice to tenderize meat. It will impart more pineapple taste than commercial tenderizers.

References

• Heartland Steaks: How to Tenderize Meat
• Enzyme Development: Meat Tenderizers
• Gourmet Sleuth: Meat Tenderizers

Resources

• O Chef: How to Tenderize Meat