Why do you hammer steak?

Chef's answer
Tenderizing meat with the mallet softens the fibers, making the meat easier to chew and to digest. It is useful when preparing particularly tough cuts of steak, and works well when broiling or frying the meat..
Frequently asked Questions 🎓
Here are five common household items that work just as well in a pinch.
  • A rolling pin. Makes sense. ...
  • An empty wine bottle. ... ...
  • A really heavy novel. ...
  • A large Pyrex or other shatter-proof measuring cup. ...
  • A cast iron skillet or other heavy saucepan. ...
  • An actual hammer. ...
  • Canned food.
  • Best Mallet-Style Meat Tenderizer: Rosle Meat Hammer. Best Blade-Style Meat Tenderizer: JY COOKMENT Meat Tenderizer. Most Versatile Meat Tenderizer: Norpro 3-in-1 Meat Tenderizer. Most Comfortable Meat Tenderizer: OXO Good Grips Meat Tenderizer.
    Tenderizing mallets are typically wooden or metal, and the heads of the mallets have many points on the ends of them. Cover your steak in a plastic bag or plastic wrap, and pound it thoroughly, until the entire steak is covered with marks from the mallet..
    Here are five common household items that work just as well in a pinch.
  • A rolling pin. Makes sense. ...
  • An empty wine bottle. ... ...
  • A really heavy novel. ...
  • A large Pyrex or other shatter-proof measuring cup. ...
  • A cast iron skillet or other heavy saucepan. ...
  • An actual hammer. ...
  • Canned food.
  • When it comes to tools, you can use a meat mallet if you have one. If you don't, try a rolling pin, the back of a skillet or even the bottom of a mason jar, depending on the size of the chicken. Wrap the breasts in plastic wrap or wax paper, and pound until all the pieces are of an even thickness.
    Typically, you'll employ one when you want flat cutlets for dredging and frying, like for saltimbocca, picatta, milanese, katsu, schnitzel, or when you're hammering tough cuts of meat, like flank or skirt steak, to make them more tender. ...
    Don't have a mallet? Don't worry about it, a rolling pin will work just fine. Pounding the meat will break up the tiny fibers of protein that can really bind together during the cooking process and cause that pork to also tighten up and become tough. 2.
    A few more cooking questions 📍