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### Always Get Meat as Tender as Filet Mignon with These Smart Methods
Achieving the tender, juicy texture of a **filet mignon** isn’t as difficult as it may seem, and you don’t always need to buy expensive cuts of meat to enjoy that tenderness. Here are some smart methods to help you get meat as tender as filet mignon, every time.
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The foundation of tender meat starts before you even begin cooking. While some cuts, like filet mignon, are inherently tender, others, like brisket or flank steak, are tougher and need more attention to achieve the same tenderness.
– **Tender cuts**: These include **filet mignon**, **ribeye**, **sirloin**, and **chicken breasts**. They naturally have less connective tissue, making them more tender.
– **Tough cuts**: These include **chuck roast**, **flank steak**, **brisket**, and **skirt steak**. They contain more muscle fibers and connective tissue, so they need special cooking techniques to become tender.
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Cooking method plays a huge role in how tender meat will turn out. The wrong cooking technique can lead to dry, tough meat, but the right one can turn even a tough cut into something melt-in-your-mouth tender.
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### 3. **Use a Meat Tenderizer**
– **Physical tenderizers**: These are tools like **meat mallets** or **tenderizing hammers** that work by physically breaking down the muscle fibers in the meat. Simply place your meat on a cutting board and gently pound it with the mallet until it’s evenly tenderized. This works especially well for cuts like **flank steak** or **chicken breasts**.
– **Chemical tenderizers**: Enzymes like **papain** (from papaya) and **bromelain** (from pineapple) are natural tenderizers that break down proteins in the meat, making it softer. You can use a commercial meat tenderizer or make your own marinade with ingredients like **pineapple juice**, **papaya**, or **kiwi**, which contain these enzymes. Just be careful not to marinate the meat for too long, as it can become too soft and mushy.