tenderize
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Hope Was Here
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
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
Rather than marinate the chicken for hours, 30 minutes will boost flavor and tenderize the meat.
From Washington Times • Apr. 17, 2023
To tenderize cube steaks, place them on a cutting board, uncovered, and using the “tooth” side of a meat mallet, pound the steaks five times per piece.
From Washington Post • Jan. 12, 2023
Not only will salt give the chicken plenty of flavor, but it'll also tenderize the flesh.
From Salon • Jul. 9, 2022
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
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.
