Tenderizer is a kitchen gadget for tenderizing meat. Despite the fact that in our country it is considered an innovation, in its homeland, in the USA, it has been popular since the second half of the last century. The meat tenderizer was invented by butcher André Jacquard in 1962. Since the culture of grilling meat is extremely developed in North America and Canada, in these countries the device is found in almost every kitchen.
Description of the handheld device
This small kitchen appliance is often referred to as a meat tenderizer or leavening agent. There are three types of tenderizer: electric, manual and mechanical. The most widely used are manual models, such as the Redmond meat tenderizer.
The device consists of:
- needle inserts;
- spring base;
- supports with small holes;
- short pistons.
Depending on the model, needle pins can be replaced with thin sharp blades in quantities from 16 to 60 pieces. As a rule, the base has a rectangular or rounded shape.
Working principle
Meat tenderizer works on the principle of stamping. When you press the handle with a sharp push, sharp needles, blades or pins pop out, which destroy the fibers of the meat, making it softer. Accordingly, it will cook faster and will have a more delicate texture. Depending on the size of the gadget, the area of impact on the product will change. Most often, this figure is 3-5 cm.
If we compare the device with the usual chopping hammer, then it does not flatten and does not break the meat fibers, but makes micro-cuts. Therefore, during cooking, the meat almost completely retains its former weight, shape and size. If the product has a decent thickness, the hammer only beats off the top layer without penetrating inside, while the blades go through.
Advantages and disadvantages
It is worth noting as pluses:
- the process of harvesting meat for chops, schnitzels and other dishes is much faster;
- meat is easier to pickle and better soaked with spices and other additives;
- tenderizer processed product cooks faster;
- the dish is juicy, not overdried after a long heat treatment;
- suitable for any meat, even hard varieties are tasty and tender.
As cons, you need to consider:
- high risk of injury;
- quite problematic to wash the device.
Mechanical and electrical tenderizers
Unlike a manual meat tenderizer, mechanical and electric tenderizers are used in professional kitchens, installed permanently.
The mechanical device is attached to the work surface with a screw like a meat grinder or simply placed on top. Its upper working part is equipped with needle rollers, which are driven by manual rotation of the handle. To make the device safe, the studded part is protected by a cover made of metal or plastic. Thus, during use, the risk of injury is minimized.
An inlet is provided between the rollers - meat is loaded into it. During rotation, it moves forward and is simultaneously pierced by sharp teeth. The amount of processed product depends on the operating personnel. As a rule, one device is enough to meet the needs of an entire culinary or butcher shop.
The electric tenderizer is installed in the same way as the mechanical one. Its principle of operation is similar to the previous device. Their main difference is that such a device is activated by an electric motor. The device is able to process a large piece of meat in a few seconds. Therefore, its performance is an order of magnitude higher.
Modern models of electric tenderizer make it possible to soften about 200 kg of meat per hour. The device is used in large public canteens, high-capacity professional kitchens and production shops.
Device from Redmond-RAM-MT1
Tenderizer from Redmond RAM-MT1 is a special model of meat tenderizer designed for cooking steaks and chops at home. The device is equipped with 48 blades made of safe high-tech stainless steel. They are located in such a way that during the meat processing they carefully separate the tissues without destroying the structure of the product, while making it tender and juicy.
Users in reviews of the Redmond meat tenderizer note that the kitchen gadget is easy to assemble and disassemble. Due to this, maintenance of the device is much easier. The protective cover included in the package provides convenient and safe storage. The device is quite simple to use, however, instructions and a warranty card are attached to it. Thanks to the thoughtful design and color scheme, the device looks elegant and simple, it is comfortable to hold it in your hand. Redmond-RAM-MT1 makes cooking meat much easier.
Reviews
People leave feedback on the meat tenderizer, both positive and negative.
Those who tested the device in action were divided into two camps: some note the many advantages of the tenderizer, others are not particularly surprised by its properties. However, the mass production of the device speaks for itself.
Users leave positive feedback about the Redmond RAM-MT1 meat tenderizer, noting the convenience that you do not need to use a hammer and knock, the cooking processbecame much quieter, which is convenient for people around.
Houses note that the cooking process practically does not pollute the work surface, since when processing meat, pieces and splashes do not scatter, as with hammer blows. Also attractive is that the chop retains its shape and looks attractive.
Some users are satisfied that there is a storage case and the device has a small size. It fits comfortably in your hand and doesn't take up a lot of storage space.
People also note the reasonable price of the device and the fact that the device does not require skills to use.
Among the negative reviews, there are such opinions that cheap models are of low quality: bad plastic, there is a smell from the blades.
Some housewives did not like the fact that small needles are not suitable for chicken - the meat spreads, it is necessary to buy large needles. Some users say that the hand gets tired from using the device for a long time.
Meat tenderizer is a convenient and modern device for processing steak, chops and similar dishes. Smart technology makes cooking cleaner, quieter, faster and more comfortable.
