You cook a chicken breast.
You grill a pork chop.
You pan-sear a steak.
And yet… it comes out dry.
Tough.
Chewy.
Even when you follow the recipe.
You wonder:
“How do restaurants make meat so tender it melts in your mouth?”
The answer isn’t magic.
It’s not a $100 cut.
It’s not hours of slow cooking.
It’s something you probably have in your pantry right now:
Baking soda.
Yes — that humble box used for cookies and fridge deodorizing.
Because beyond baking, baking soda has a secret superpower:
It tenderizes meat — fast, cheap, and incredibly effective.
And once you try it?
You’ll never cook meat the same way again.
🧪 How Baking Soda Works: The Science of Tenderness
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) isn’t just alkaline — it’s a pH disruptor.
When you sprinkle it on meat:
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