tenderize

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

“The tannins in the tea tenderize the chicken, and the sweetness from the tea and the soy sauce infuse into the chicken,” Biegel added.

From Salon ● Apr. 1, 2024

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

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

Parsley stems are puréed in a bold and garlicky buttermilk marinade that tenderizes the meat, then the leaves and their tender stems are sautéed like spinach and spritzed with fresh lemon.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 16, 2022

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

He has developed a custom brine that incorporates, among other ingredients, buttermilk and shio koji, the latter a fermented rice product that tenderizes his free-range, antibiotic-free chicken while bringing out its natural umami.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 28, 2020

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

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

John Rossi knows why he almost fell for the scam: His brain had been tenderized by recent events.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 26, 2019

The meat is tenderized by a mallet with spring-loaded needles that break down fibers without sacrificing succulence.

From New York Times ● Sep. 27, 2018

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

Depending on the type of acid used and the protein or vegetable opted for, there is also a level of tenderizing that marinating imparts, in addition to more thoroughly flavored proteins and produce.

From Salon ● Jan. 1, 2023

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 Mitzi Perdue