Chefs have a secret to making meat incredibly tender: add this secret ingredient before cooking!

Are you a fan of red meat and dream of it being really tender but you often end up being disappointed? Don’t worry, we have found 3 great tips for you to tenderize even the toughest meats and give them a unique taste. After discovering these tips, you will never cook your meat the same way again.

Rich in protein, iron and many other nutrients, meat is widely present in a myriad of recipes, each more delicious than the last. However, it is sometimes not easy to handle it or cook it in a way that prevents it from toughening during cooking. Fortunately, there are tips to ensure that your meat remains tender and juicy, even after cooking. Here are 3 of them:

1. Using apple juice

Although it may seem surprising, apple juice is very effective at tenderizing meat.

What you will need:

• 3 medium-sized organic red apples;
• The piece of meat you want to tenderize;
• Rosemary;
• Pepper;
• Salt;
• A salad bowl.

How to do it:

• First, start by extracting the juice from your apples using a citrus press after cutting them into cubes. To avoid clogging your filters, it is recommended to remove the seeds. However, you can keep the skin of the apple which does not pose a problem;
• Once you have extracted the juice from your apples, place the piece of meat you wish to tenderize in your salad bowl before adding the apple juice, spices and rosemary;
• It is recommended to cover your piece of meat with cellophane paper and let it  marinate for at least four hours  before cooking it, ideally marinating it overnight in a cool place. You will get a very tender and flavorful meat!

2. Using tomato juice

Aside from having a plethora of health benefits, tomato juice also makes a great ingredient to tenderize your meat, especially if you plan on using it in a stew or pasta sauce, or any other dish that contains tomato sauce.

What you will need:

• 4 medium-sized fresh organic tomatoes;
• The piece of meat you want to tenderize;
• Smoked sweet pepper (paprika);
• Salt;
• Pepper;
• A salad bowl.

How to do it:

• Start by extracting the juice from your tomatoes. You can once again use a citrus press or simply blend them with a little water;
• After you have your tomato juice, add the spices and mix well;
• Then place your piece of meat in your salad bowl and add the seasoned tomato sauce, mixing well;
• It is recommended to let your meat marinate for at least three hours before piercing it with a fork to check if it is tender enough . If you want it to be even softer, feel free to let it marinate for a few more hours in a cool place.

3. Using milk

Milk is well known for its softening properties, whether in the health or beauty fields. Faster than apple juice and tomato juice, it will tenderize your meat in no time while giving it a very special taste.

What you will need:

• ½ liter of milk for a medium-sized piece of meat or more depending on its size;
• The piece of meat you want to tenderize;
• Rosemary;
• Sweet pepper (paprika);
• Garlic powder;
• Salt;
• Pepper;
• A salad bowl.

How to do it:

• Pour the milk into your salad bowl, add the spices and mix well;
• Then add the piece of meat you want to soften and cover it well with milk;
• It is recommended to marinate your meat for at least an hour in a cool place, preferably more, so that it becomes very tender.