I never use meat tenderizer on meat, but I always keep a jar on hand. Huh??
First, the reason for never using it on meat: it tends to make meat mushy. Meat tenderizer works by breaking down proteins. When you sprinkle it on the outside of a piece of meat, it breaks down the proteins on the outside, making it mushy, without doing a thing to the inside of the meat. So if it was tough to begin with, it will still be tough . . . just with mush on the outside.
But that same quality of breaking down proteins is why I do always keep some on hand. You see, most venoms are proteins. That’s bug bites, bee stings, fire ants, spider bites, jellyfish and even stingrays. Probably others too.
Just pour a bit of meat tenderizer into the palm of your hand, add a few drops of water and mix into a paste that you can rub on the affected area. It may not instantly stop the pain, but it will considerably lessen the pain fairly quickly. I know that for me, it turns a very painful bee sting into something I can live with.
So next time you’re provisioning, be sure to add a bottle. Get the original “unseasoned” variety — you really don’t want to be rubbing a bunch of spices into the bug bite! But don’t use it on tough meat – the best way to deal with tough meat is long slow cooking in liquid. Save the meat tenderizer for critter bites.
One note: if the venom is something you’re allergic to, this won’t stop a reaction. You still need to keep antihistimines, steroids and Epi-Pens on hand for that.
Becky says
I am very sensitive to bites and will swell painfully if I don’t act asap. I have made a mix of baking soda plus a bit of water on a bandaid –and even put it on cotton or gauze on the bandaid pad, then stuck the bandaid on. Works for me. I will try the tenderizer like that next time. On ‘skit bites and bee stings. (Sometimes I take antihistamines too. )
Lisa Gravitte says
Google the plaintan plant. Very common and its crushed leaves really help to draw out the poison/ irritation
Kimberly Lancashire says
I’ve always found baking soda to work also.
TARSICIO GUTIERREZ says
I lived and worked in Guaymas, Sonora (mexican coast sonoran desert) back in the 70s as a young man and I learned from the old ones this trick since there were many big, large scorpions around and I’ll tell you… it works., my dog, which almost dies, was saved from a bad bite.
Thanks a lot. I always pass this information to the new generation.