Baking soda as a tenderizer?

[Smokin Don]

I had a recipe for sausage and it called for baking soda. Then I used it in some marinade for chicken. I read more about it and found, as I should have known chicken is a naturally tender meat and does not need it. Chicken only becomes tough if you dry it out. I also found that unless you add some acid baking soda can leave a bad taste. I do not use tenderizer much but do use Adolfs once in a while, it is natural and made from papayas. If you want to try baking soda here is a good article on it's use.
http://www.ehow.com/how_5560702_tenderize-meat-baking-soda.html
Smokin Don

[pz]

Interesting method - definitely worth a try for pork or beef stir fry

[drholly]

Interesting method - definitely worth a try for pork or beef stir fry

That does seem like the place to try it first. Does sound interesting.

[TentHunteR]

I remember seeing the baking soda trick used for lean ground meat to keep it from getting chewy in some recipes.

[teesquare]

All tenderizers I am familiar with are mildly acidic. Baking soda is alkaline….Acids tenderize by breaking down proteins as best as I can remember.

Not sure how the baking soda would work as a tenderizer.

[HighOnSmoke]

I have seen baking powder and salt used to crisp the skin on chicken and turkey, but not baking
soda. I believe America's Test Kitchen experimented with both the soda and powder and for the
crisp skin the soda left an after taste but not the powder. 

[hikerman]

I have seen baking powder and salt used to crisp the skin on chicken and turkey, but not baking
soda. I believe America's Test Kitchen experimented with both the soda and powder and for the
crisp skin the soda left an after taste but not the powder.

HOS, I read that in an old Cook's Illustrated and tried it. It works fabulous if you like a crispy skin without frying. It seems to pull the moisture from just the skin. When grilling or baking I mix the rub I'm going to use with nearly as much baking powder and rub the chicken all over and put in fridge to dry overnight. Then proceed with however you cook. It's a nice touch!

[Smokin Don]

Just google "tenderize with baking soda" and there are some good info out there. Don

[spuds]

Interesting,thanks.

[africanmeat]

Many many years ago The chef at our unit in the army used to put baking soda in the meat .In those days was an urban legends that baking soda in the meat kills your sex drive ,so that why they put it in the meat . but the chef was a good friend of mine and he gave me this tip . that i use all the time .

[Las Vegan Cajun]

Just google "tenderize with baking soda" and there are some good info out there. Don

Thanks for the tip, will do that. 

[bbqchef]

I thought it was salt peter, not baking soda, that did that.