Why you should use the Tenderbuck Electrostimulator:
Dramatically improve meat quality in ninety seconds using the same technique employed by major commercial meat plants.
1. Eliminates Rigor-Mortis
The absolute worst thing a hunter can do is cut up the carcass of a deer or any other animal before it goes through the rigor-mortis phase of death. One well established fact of meat science is that when any animal dies all of the muscles in the carcass will contract due to natural electrochemical activity which follows death. If the carcass is cut up during rigor all of the muscles will contract which causes the muscle fibers to pack together, severely toughening the meat. This means that the carcass must be hung intact for at least 24 hours until the muscles relax. Few hunters have access to proper hanging facilities. Also, large animals killed at remote locations are difficult to transport as whole carcasses. With the Tenderbuck Electrostimulator, you will be able to de-bone and cut up the carcass immediately following the stimulation process without having to wait for the rigor-mortis phase to pass. Electrical stimulation negates the rigor-mortis phase. This is the reason it was developed and has been used for decades by large meat processing plants.
2. Increased Tenderness
Electrical stimulation increases the tenderness of the meat by 40% to 60%. Through a series of chemical and electrical changes within the carcass, Tenderbuck electrical stimulation creates a significant tenderizing effect. A number of meat science papers describing how this works are listed in the reference section of our website.
3. Improved Flavor
The Tenderbuck Electrostimulation process forces a more thorough bleed-out by effectively pumping the blood from the muscles, significantly reducing the "gamey" taste and reducing spoilage. Your family and friends will appreciate the improved flavor of your harvested game.
The History of Electrostimulation
Electrical stimulation of meat has been a common practice in commercial meat processing facilities for decades. In fact, one of the first recorded discussions of electrical stimulation came from none other than Benjamin Franklin back in 1749. In their book “The Private Franklin: The Man and His Family”, authors Claude-Anne Lopez and Eugenia W. Herbert discuss some of Franklin’s experiments with stunning turkeys with electricity. In the name of science, a few of the unfortunate fowl were inadvertently killed. Interestingly, Franklin found that the meat from these electrocuted turkeys was better than their non-electrocuted brethren, stating that “Killing turkeys electrically, with the pleasant side effect that it made them uncommonly tender, was the first practical application for electricity.” A key endorsement of electrostimulation from a great historical gourmand and one of our favorite founding fathers.
Fast forward to the 1970’s. The world is finally ready for commercial electrostimulation of meat, and Sam Kane Beef and in Texas is the first one to the table. Other large processors would soon come on board, including leading poultry and pork processors. Most recently, Nolan Ryan Beef has incorporated electrostimulation as a required part of their process to guarantee tenderness and flavor. Still, this standard process, common in large-volume, quality processors, has relatively little visibility to the consumer, and remains an industry secret known only to Meat Science graduates and processors.
In 1983, Texas wild game purveyor Broken Arrow Ranch saw an opportunity to bring top-notch game from the field to restaurants all over the country. At the time, wild game was available, but much of it was imported, and the meat was often tough and gamey. Providing fresh, tender, delicious, all natural venison and wild boar was the goal, but field harvesting makes some of the commercial advances used in standard processing facilities difficult. To ensure maximum quality, Broken Arrow Ranch innovated, developing custom mobile slaughterhouses and specially equipped trucks to make field harvesting and processing of exotic game possible. One of these innovations is field electrostimulation of harvested game, initially using large commercial electrostimulators that were not really configured for field use. This is the beginning of Tenderbuck Electrostimulators.
In 2004, we were approached to repair one of these broken commercial field electrostimulators. After years of development, evaluation, field testing, and thousands of field electrostimulations, Tenderbuck is proud to present their revolutionary new product for meat-hunters, artisan butchers and processors, and gourmands and game aficionados worldwide. For the first time, the private hunter can get the benefits of electrostimulation in the field with their game. While the device is small, the effect on meat taste, tenderness and quality is profound. The unit is totally portable, powered by a small rechargeable, replaceable 12 volt lead-acid battery, and is capable of stimulating over a dozen animals before requiring a recharge. With Tenderbuck’s patent pending technology and safety features, hunters will soon be bringing home restaurant-quality meat.
Happy hunting, and happy eating! – Tenderbuck
Product Data
Size: 9" x 8" x 2.25"
Weight: 2.5 lbs
Clip Spread: 6' fully extended
Uses per Battery Charge: >20
Energy Discharged per Stimulation Cycle: >2 Joules
Stimulation Time: 90 Seconds
Battery Recharge Time: <30 minutes
Internal Battery: 12VDC
Battery Recharger: 120 VAC
Description: Microprocessor controlled circuit with actively controlled high voltage generator, precision pulse output, load sensing with safety status check, dynamic battery and charge monitoring. LED indicators show battery status, device status, high-voltage charge level and high-voltage out indicator. Device monitors process and automatically shuts down when process is complete. Output pulse pattern has been tuned to match muscle response to maximize tissue compression and relaxation, promoting thorough bleed-out.
Includes battery charger, manual, and Tenderbuck shoulder strap.
