Femme Organics Meat Tenderizer - 100g

The toughness or tenderness of a piece of meat isn't just a question of perception. Scientists actually measure it, in the form of "shear force." Basically, it means how much pressure you have to apply to sever the muscle fibers from one another. A really tender cut, like a filet mignon, chews without a whole lot of shear force. A tough one, like a chuck steak, requires quite a lot of shear force.

The enzymes in tenderizing powder denature the proteins in the meat, weakening the bonds that hold the muscle fibers together. That reduces the shear force required to cut or chew the meat, or, to put it another way, it makes the meat tenderer. The effect is limited to about the first quarter-inch of the meat, so it's helpful for steaks and chops but not so much with roasts and other thick cuts..

Using the Tenderizer Powder

Using your tenderizer powder couldn't be simpler. Sprinkle the powder evenly over your meat, pierce the surface a few times with a fork so the enzyme can penetrate, and then start cooking. Heat activates the enzyme and begins to break down the proteins immediately.

If you wish, you can incorporate a bit of tenderizer powder into a dry spice rub or a liquid marinade. This helps distribute the enzyme evenly, so you don't get random patches of tender and not-tender.

Allow the enzyme sit on the meat for more than a few minutes, or up to 30 minutes for a really thick steak. Don't let it stay overnight. If the enzyme stays on your meat for too long before it's cooked, you can end up with too much tenderization. If that happens, your meat will develop a weird and rather unpleasant mushiness.

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