A meat tenderizer is a hand-powered tool used to tenderize slabs of meat in preparation for cooking.Although a meat tenderizer can be made out of virtually any object there are three types manufactured specifically for tenderizing meat.1  The first, most common, is a tool that resembles a hammer or mallet made of metal or wood with a short handle and dual heads.enderizing meat with the mallet softens the fibers, making the meat easier to chew, and easier to digest. It is useful when preparing particularly tough cuts of steak, and works well when broiling or frying the meat.