To tenderize a pork loin or pork butt, put 1 gallon cold water , 1 can of regular Pepsi, Coke, or any dark soda, and 1/2 cup table salt in a large enough container to hold the meat. Add garlic and your seasonings. Put the pork into the mixture and marinate overnight. Roast the pork on a rack at 350 degrees F until meat thermometer registers 165 degrees F.
Source: My son, the chef. He is Cordon Bleu trained.
By Beverly from Santa Monica, CA
This page contains the following solutions.
Use 2-3 Tbsp. of vinegar to tenderize meat. I add to my favorite marinade or, if I am not using a marinade, I mix 1/4 cup canola oil, 1/2 cup water and 2-3 Tbsp. vinegar (you can also use red wine vinegar but it takes 5-6 Tbsp.)
When making stews or soups, and the meat will not get tender, try dipping a large wet tablespoon in your baking soda box and stirring it into your pot.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I am looking for meat tenderizers for beef, (e.g. minute steaks and other less tender meats).
Bo from Ontario
Brush them with a little vinegar(any kind) or lemon juice. Cover and cook over low heat. The acid in the vinegar or lemon juice really softens up tough meat.
Try marinating in equal parts apple juice and cider vinegar for about 20 - 30 minutes.
The Korean friends I have said any fruit that begins with a P is good to grate and put on any meat. So they use papayas, pears, and pineapples. Puree the fruit and marinate the meat. Just don't soak the pineapple overnight, it will turn your meat into puree itself. This is a natural meat tenderizer.
Magic Creations is a 20 minute Beef Marinade you can purchase in your meat department. It is a powder you mix with a bit of water.
You can also try a can of coke or beer in the slow cooker.
Try tea. When cooking the meat in a stew or other liquids, add a cup of strong tea. It's amazing how it tenderizes the meat.
I use vinegar, or italian salad dressing, lemon juice or anything acidic.
I also sometimes use a meat mallet. Put the meat inside a gallon size zip lock bag, seal and then pound the meat with the mallet.
Beer! Marinate the meat in a bowl of beer for about 15 mins, not only will it be tender, it will have a uniquely delicious flavor. Don't worry, the alcohol cooks out of it leaving only the flavor behind. And don't worry if you don't like the taste of beer -- that isn't how the meat will taste. I personally don't care for beer to drink but adore it as a meat marinade, especially if the meat is subsequently grilled. YUMM!
I soak chicken, pork or beef (not ground) in straight apple cider vinegar for about 30 minutes, rinse it off thoroughly and cook the meats as usual. This not only helps to tenderize the meats, but it removes bacteria that may be on the surface.
Bulk Barn has meat tenderizer for about a buck for 100 grams. The seasoned stuff is a bit less and the plain white stuff a bit more. (The active ingredient is probably more costly than the seasoning used.) This works in 20 minutes, just like the Magic Creations Beef Marinade Zehrs had for 99¢/25 grams, but don't have anymore.
Strongly brewed tea works well as a marinade and a meat tenderized thanks to the tannins in tea. This is a page about using tea for tenderizing meat.
This is a page about how can I tenderize beef brisket? Low temperature and wrapping your brisket for slow cooking, can help make it moist and tender.
This is a page about using meat tenderizer seasoning. Tenderizing meat can either be done manually with a mallet or by using any number of products, available in various flavors.
