Meat Tenderiser: Pounding Escalopes and Steaks Just Right

A meat tenderiser pounds escalopes out to an even thickness and tenderises them beautifully – the groundwork for a lovely result. Here's how to use it properly, and the mistakes to avoid.

What You Can Use a Meat Tenderiser For

Flatten escalopes, steaks, beef roulades or chicken breasts so they cook evenly and turn out lovely and tender. The textured side loosens up firmer meat, while the flat side pounds it out to an even thickness. Take a look at the kjøk meat tenderiser.

Getting the Technique Right

Place the meat between two layers of cling film and pound from the centre outwards – that way nothing splatters and the muscle fibres stay intact. Work with even, moderate strikes until you reach the thickness you want.

Textured Side or Flat Side?

The toothed side breaks down the fibres and tenderises tougher cuts, while the flat side pounds escalopes out to an even thickness without tearing them. For roulades or cordon bleu, the flat side is the one to use.

Common Mistakes

Striking too hard tears the meat, so keep your strikes calm and even. Skip the cling film and things splatter, with the surface fraying at the edges. Always wash it thoroughly after raw meat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why bother tenderising meat at all? It gives you an even thickness, a shorter cooking time and a more tender result.

How do I avoid splatters? Put the meat between two layers of cling film and pound it calmly.

Which side should I use? The toothed side to tenderise, the flat side to pound out evenly.

How thin should an escalope be? For a Wiener Schnitzel, around 0.5 cm – thin and even throughout.

Is the tenderiser dishwasher-safe? Stainless steel usually is – just watch out for wooden handles.

Can I use it on poultry too? Yes, it flattens chicken breast out evenly, so it stays lovely and juicy.

What material should I look for? A heavy stainless steel or cast aluminium head puts real weight behind every strike.

Can I use it to tenderise other meats too? Yes – veal or turkey, for example. Find more in our kitchen accessories collection.