tenderize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tenderizesimple
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tenderizessimple
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have tenderizedperfect
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has tenderizedperfect
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am tenderizingprogressive
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are tenderizingprogressive
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is tenderizingprogressive
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have been tenderizingperfect progressive
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has been tenderizingperfect progressive
Past
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tenderizedsimple
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had tenderizedperfect
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was tenderizingprogressive
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were tenderizingprogressive
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had been tenderizingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tenderize
Explanation
In cooking, to tenderize is to prepare meat so it's more easily chewed, or tender. One way to tenderize meat is to roast it at a low temperature for a long time. There are many different techniques cooks use to tenderize meat. They might marinate it in an acidic liquid, pound it repeatedly before cooking, or brine it in a saltwater solution, for example. All of these methods result in a more tender piece of meat that can be cut and chewed easily. Any tool or substance used to tenderize meat is called a tenderizer.
Vocabulary lists containing tenderize
The Testaments
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Hope Was Here
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Today’s Americans are fixated on food to a degree that would tenderize the minds of previous generations.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
Orlando used heavy pressure to tenderize Tullis-Joyce, totaling 12 shots overall in the first half, the keeper saving five before the break.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 7, 2023
They've forced the GoJo staff to watch a mind-numbing early cut of an upcoming theatrical release to tenderize them.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2023
Rather than marinate the chicken for hours, 30 minutes will boost flavor and tenderize the meat.
From Washington Times ● Apr. 17, 2023
The result didn’t taste as good as salt, but it was better than nothing, and the same residue could be used to tenderize tough leaves or meat.
From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer
The salt seasons the meat deeply, the acidity tenderizes it, and the garlic-and-dill flavor adds an herb-y depth for a subtle wow factor.
From Salon ● May 28, 2026
Adding coffee to steak creates a robust flavor by replicating the tannins you find in wine and, once it’s cooked, the crust formed by the coffee tenderizes the steak by sealing in moisture.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 1, 2022
In meat marinades, it tenderizes and produces better browning.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 17, 2021
The lactic acid in sour cream tenderizes chicken beautifully and also helps crunchy, savory coatings stick to the meat.
From New York Times ● Jun. 4, 2021
Grillmasters use it at the base of marinades, where it tenderizes meat and its mildly tart and subtle flavor blends in with wood smoke.
From Slate ● Jul. 3, 2018
It contained a heap of tenderized steaks, piled alongside rings of white onions like unfolded laundry, drenched in vinegar and salt, waiting to be sizzled in a pan until saucy and browned.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 12, 2023
On the latter, Yates’ usual youth-crew yawp is tenderized by heartache and isolation — emotional realms he’s started to feel safe exploring.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2021
They have a little more fat than your traditional chop and are a pretty sweet umami-bomb, especially if tenderized before grilling.
From Salon ● May 24, 2020
It also tenderized the chicken and, mingling with melted butter, kept the meat moistly supple.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 25, 2018
No one followed me into the yard where the late afternoon sun had tenderized the midday harshness.
From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou
In a baking pan, cook a snug bed of sliced potatoes in a little water to get a head start on tenderizing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 15, 2026
On special occasions, or the odd Friday, my dad would start the day by tenderizing cube steaks, pounding them with the prickly end of a meat mallet until their surfaces were quilted, back and front.
From Washington Post ● Jan. 12, 2023
Recipe developer brined a whole turkey in seasoned buttermilk powder, so that you get the tenderizing benefits of buttermilk without the mess of a wet brine.
From Salon ● Nov. 11, 2021
It creates tenderizing effects by breaking down protein in meat or gluten when used in marinades or baking.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 28, 2021
The juices have no where to go, so instead they just stay inside, tenderizing and flavoring the meat.
From The Perdue Chicken Cookbook by Perdue, Mitzi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
