Most people don’t like to bother with tough cuts of meat due to the time and effort needed to make them tender. However, there are a few tricks and hacks that can make this process much simpler and quicker.
Turning a tough cut into a tender one can be achieved within a matter of hours and by using ingredients you probably already have in your fridge or pantry. So let’s check out the best and simplest ways to do it.
Coca-Cola Bath
This might shock some of you, but bathing your tough cut of meat in Coca-Cola will make it satisfyingly tender. The drink’s acidity helps break down the proteins found in the meat, while its caramel flavor improves the taste. According to Epicurious, even a bath of half an hour will do while leaving the cut in Coca-Cola for 24 hours will result in meat that “practically melts.”
Kiwifruit Tenderizer
If you don’t want to experiment with Coca-Cola, or you just don’t like the flavor, then give kiwifruit a go. Cut the kiwifruit in slices and line them all over the tough cut. It is recommended to do this one or two hours before you start cooking. The reason why this works is fruit’s unique enzyme Actinidin that helps break down connective tissues of the meat.
Lemon Juice
Finally, the most commonly used trick for tenderizing the meat is covering it with lemon juice. Its high acidity causes meat proteins and connective tissues to break down and results in a perfectly tender cut. But make sure not to leave the meat covered in lemon juice for too long as it might change the texture and color in an unwanted way.
