Question: Meat Tenderizer
By: Hamid Safe
Published: September 7, 2010

Was a bit concerned about using meat tenderizer powder .Basically there is no instruction to what amount and volume or to what type of meat i.e poultry,beef,etc etc we can adjust usage . 
Also concerned if there are side effects as well like MSG to it .Can anybody advise ?

Answers:
Chris Paulk

Most meat tenderizer uses MSG.
Meat Tenderizer Ingredients: salt, dextrose, MSG, papain and calcium silicate
I get some pretty unpleasant reactions to MSG, so avoid it. You can tenderize your meat by pounding it out or marinading it.
Curt

My rule is if you can't eat it you shouldn't use it.  Would you eat a bit of that meat tenderizer on it's own?  Maybe if your tongue was tough!!  Pounding meat works.  Braising tenderizes meat also.  It depends what kind of meat you are talking about.  Searing meat and finishing it to a nice medium rare then cutting it very thin on the bias (45 degree angle) against the grain of the meat works the very best.
Marie

Great comments.  I would avoid the use of the commercial meat tenderizer, especially considering possible effects of MSG.  The papain that is mentioned in most meat tenderizers is derived from papaya leaves.  In many areas the leaves are wrapped around the meat and then the meat is cooked in a pit; the enzymes in the leaves serve to break down the meat and tenderize it.
Depending on the meat and the cut, I'll braise and cook in liquid or marinate with at least one ingredient with acid, such as wine or vinegar, or use a mallet and pound the meat breaking the fibers. I have found these techniques to work beautifully and have been able to take cheap cuts and make them delicious.
Hope this is useful to you.
Sheri Wetherell

I didn't know meat tenderizer has MSG.
Thanks so much for these insights.
meenohara

Raw papaya or even papaya peels serve as tenderizers.
It is natural and no MSG!
meenohara

Use 1tbsp raw papaya for marinating 1 kg mutton.