Tenderizing meat softens its fibers, improving its texture and making it easier to chew and digest. A home chef might use a metal or wooden mallet to tenderize meat, pounding it out by hand, but food-processing companies rely on commercial meat tenderizers, heavy-duty machines that reduce labor costs and cut production times. A variety of machines are available to handle different sizes, portions, and volumes of meat. Before you purchase new equipment, be sure to explore meat tenderizer features. And if you can’t find a product that fits your specific production needs, contact a specialist for help designing a custom product.
Meat Tenderizer Features
What should you look for as you compare meat tenderizers? Check out the meat tenderizer features listed below to determine which features are most important to your production process.
Efficiency Features
Some features will improve the efficiency of your application, perhaps by increasing speed, reducing waste, minimizing downtime, or perfecting the flow of the product. If you’re interested in making your production process more efficient and streamlined, you may wish to consider the following features:
- Drip tray for product loss reclamation
- Multiple tenderizing stations
- Automatic reorientation of product
- Product turn between stations
- Dual tenderizing blades
- Top and bottom penetration into the product
- Continuous flow design
- Belt speed (conveyed in feet per minute)
- Stainless steel construction
Flexibility Features
A versatile machine will give you more bang for your buck by allowing for adjustments and personalization. If you want your tenderizer to truly work with you, changing as needed, look for the following features:
- Adjustable blade cutting depth
- Portability
- Variable speed operation
- Variable operating voltages
- Portable wash rack
Safety Features
Don’t forget about safety! Large, heavy-duty machines will always present a safety risk, so it is important that any personnel who work with or near the machine understand how to use it properly. In addition, you may wish to seek out equipment that includes safety guards or interlocks.
- Safety interlocks on guards
- Hinged safety guarding over tenderizing blade assemblies
Maintenance Features
If you’re too focused on the function of a machine and its ability to quickly and effectively tenderize meat, you might forget about the maintenance required to preserve the equipment. With cleanings, inspections, and repairs, you can extend the life of your meat tenderizer. Maintenance will also increase sanitation and efficiency and decrease downtime.
- Removable tenderizing blade assemblies for easy cleaning
- Wash rack for blade storage
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If you’re in the market for a meat tenderizer, check out EnSight Solutions. You might be interested in our CS Series Cross Tenderizer, which provides increased tenderization while reducing labor costs and production times. It executes three precise cuts in a single pass by perfectly reorienting the product as it moves along the belt. Or you might be interested in the CC Series, which includes a heavy-duty, single-pass tenderizer. Not only does it cut deeply with both top and bottom blades, but it was also designed with hygiene and maintenance in mind. To learn more about our meat tenderizer features or to request a custom machine, click here to find your EnSight Solutions sales specialist.