Go Back
–+ servings
a tenderized grilled steak in a pan
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Tenderizing Steak

Serve up mouthwateringly tender, juicy steak no matter the cut with my guide for Tenderizing Steak! Cheap steak has never been so luxurious!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to tenderize steak, steak tenderizer, tenderize steak, tenderizing steak
Servings: 4 steaks
Calories: 471kcal
Author: Isabel Laessig

Equipment

  • 1 Meat tenderizer or heavy implement such as a pan or rolling pin

Ingredients

  • 4 Steaks choose a tougher cut, such as chuck steak
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Pepper

See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!

Instructions

  • Lay the steak flat on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, butterfly the knife by cutting it in half but stopping just before it's cut all the way through. Then open the steak and flatten it out.
    4 Steaks
    steak being butterflied on a cutting board
  • Using a meat mallet, pound out the edges of the steak, moving slowly inward. It doesn't need to be paper thin- just until it starts to feel softened. Once one side is softened, flip the steak and repeat the process.
    pounding the steak flat with a meat tenderizer
  • Season, salt, and cook!
    ½ teaspoon Salt, ½ teaspoon Pepper
    tenderized steak with added seasonings on a cutting board

Notes

    • A little marinating is better than none at all! Adding a marinade for even 30 minutes can help tenderize the meat, especially when combined with scoring and mallet tenderizing.
    • When using a mallet, be careful not to flatten the meat too much- it still needs some thickness to keep moisture.
    • Keep in mind with mallet-tenderized beef that a thinner steak will cook faster! Be sure to keep a close eye on the internal temperature. Remember to always check my Steak Temperature Chart!
    • Try using this guide for cuts such as:
        • Chuck steak
        • Brisket
        • Bottom round steak
        • Flank steak
        • Hanger steak
        • London Broil
        • Skirt Steak
        • Tri-Tip

Nutrition

Serving: 1steak | Calories: 471kcal | Carbohydrates: 0.2g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 408mg | Potassium: 609mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.003g | Vitamin A: 35IU | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 4mg