You ever wonder how the best restaurants keep their meat juicy and flavorful? In some regards it’s because they use excellent cuts of meat, or a more refined technique, but in some respects it’s something simpler: they use a meat injector.
Meat injectors let you put the flavor where you want it, right INSIDE the meat. Having a crispy, flavorful skin or outer rind is all well and good, but most of what you’re going to be eating is what’s on the inside, and that’s where you really want your food to be moist and bursting with flavor.
Dry turkey, same-y ham, chicken that just tastes like chicken? All a thing of the past with a properly used meat injector.
But how do you get the most out of one? And how can you find one good enough to give as much a you put into it?
That’s what we’re here to talk about today. We’re going to go over how to find a great meat injector, how to use it, why you should buy one, and then take a quick look at a number of great meat injectors you can buy today. Let’s get started!
Our Top Choice
- 3 sharp meat needles and are included.
- Quality product, 304-grade stainless steel.
- Includes custom needle cleaning brushes.
- Includes 6 spares of silicone O-rings.
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Ofargo Marinade Injector
BEST CHOICE
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Dimeshy Seasoning Injector
RUNNER UP
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JY COOKMENT Marinade Injector
VALUE CHOICE
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What Do I Need to Know About Meat Injectors?
First, let’s do a quick rundown of some meat facts:
What You Should Look For in a Meat Injector?
Meat injectors are pretty simple devices. Overall they’re basically just a syringe. So there’s really only 4 things you need to look for.
The first is to make a note of its construction. The frame should be a sturdy metal, preferably stainless steel (it’s not only durable, but easy to clean, which helps keep bacteria under control).
The barrel (the part the fluid actual goes into) can be a variety of materials, though stainless steel and glass are the most common. If steel, just be sure to clean it properly IMMEDIATELY after each use, and if glass be sure it’s some kind of tempered glass. Neither are inherently better than any other. While looking at the barrel make note of its size; about 2 ounces is a large size for a barrel, though less can be fine too.
The needles should always be food grade stainless steel. They should preferably come in an assortment of sizes as well.
Other than that, just pay attention to the price. You’re looking for under $50, tops. Anything over that really isn’t going to be worth it.
Why Use a Meat Injector?
As mentioned, it keeps food moist and flavorful, especially during long cooking times or over high heats.
You can put pretty much anything you want in a meat injector; your favorite marinades are all fair game, though thinner liquids tend to work better. The only marinades that are a little iffy are ones using an incredibly thick base (like honey) which may be better used to slather on the outside while using a thinner marinade to inject.
In any case, injecting the marinade gets the flavor deeper into the meat than even brining does, and is especially good for beef. Beef is resistant to being penetrated by pretty much everything, at least in roasts, steaks, and similar thick cuts (basically, anything but ground beef). This makes beef surprisingly bacteria resistant (hence why it may be eaten with only a lightly seared exterior), but also resistant to marinades and flavoring in general.
How Do I Use a Meat Injector?
It’s fairly simple, actually. A 3 step process at most.
- Mix up your favorite marinade in a bowl.
- Using a thick or thin syringe (for similarly thick or thin marinades) suck the marinade up into the barrel by pulling out the plunger.
- Put the syringe into the meat.
a.) If injecting a smaller cut (like a chicken breast), do this horizontally and inject once.
b.) If injecting a larger cut (a roast or whole chicken) inject multiple times away from the bone, and slowly pull the injector out as you depress the plunger.
And that’s it! Easy as pie.
Top 9 Best Meat Injectors of 2022
1. Ofargo Stainless Steel Meat Injector Syringe
Why you’ll love this:
This industrial strength injector is built to last, with a full stainless steel body and a huge reservoir with comfortable O ring style handle.
Easy to press, it comes with a variety of needles heads, making it perfect for any purpose. Added basting brush bring a little additional functionality.
What We Liked
- Lightweight and easy to handle.
- Sturdy stainless steel body.
- Decent needles with a good variety.
- Fairly low price point.
What We Didn’t Like
- Zinc alloy handle is less sturdy than the body and may leach chemicals into food if it comes into contact with them.
This is a good lightweight and top of the line meat injector from Ofargo.
At first glance it looks pretty great, if a bit standard. It has a 304 stainless steel body that weighs only 8.5 ounces; about 1.3 ounces lighter than the standard. Its stainless steel needles are good quality and come in the variety you’d expect: a pair of 6 inch needles; one with 12 holes for thinner marinades and brines and a thicker one for herb based, thicker marinades, plus a 3 inch steak marinade.
The steak marinade needle suffers are excellent, having 3 types of needles for various applications and having a pair of holes on opposite sides, producing an even injection.
The lightweight nature of the injector is fortunately a property of having zinc alloy free in the handle. While coated to be food safe, the coatings is anti-rust and long lasting to use, and it is a durable material of 304 stainless steel, leaving this meat injector comfortably light but sturdy handle.
2. Dimeshy 304 Stainless Steel Meat Injector
Why you’ll love this:
If you prefer a larger handle, this one has you covered. Dimeshy’s model has the same huge, durable stainless steel body as our winner, and a similar assortment of needles, so the handle is the main difference here.
Both are excellent, so it’s mostly up to personal preference; you can’t go wrong.
What We Liked
- Lightweight and easy to handle.
- Plunger is comfortable in the hand with a firm 3 ring grip.
- Sturdy and hefty 304 stainless steel construction.
What We Didn’t Like
- Subpar needles unfortunately mar an otherwise pretty good meat injector.
For an extremely low price this is a great stainless steel meat injector.
It has pretty much everything I look for. It’s fairly lightweight (13.1 ounces) and completely constructed of medical grade 304 stainless steel. The plunger is comfortable and easy to handle, with a satisfyingly large 2 ounce barrel that can hold enough marinade for all but the hugest cuts of meat.
The needles are where things fall a bit flat. The 6 inch one for thinner marinades is pretty good, with a very sharp end and good spaced holes, but the 6 inch angled needle has a hole that is a bit too large and tends to ooze its contents a little too early. The smaller 3 inch needle only has a single side spaced hole, and is by far the lest satisfying of the bunch.
This meat injector is okay at best, all things considered, but it’s hard to complain with how very low the price is. I’d still shell out a bit extra for a better one, but for someone on a tight budget it is the perfect level of value.
3. JY COOKMENT Meat Injector
What We Liked
- Solid 304 stainless steel construction.
- Lightweight and easy to handle.
- Comfortable and grippy handle.
What We Didn’t Like
- Kind of meh needles.
- Ridiculous price for the value.
This one suffers from being ridiculously overpriced. Objectively it’s pretty good, to be fair.
It has that solid 304 stainless steel construction we like to look for, and a very lightweight construction at that, capping out at 9.1 ounces unfilled. The rings are very comfortable and provide a firm grip. It has a fairly slim 2 ounce barrel that holds plenty of marinade.
The needles are…fine. There aren’t enough holes in the thin 6 inch model, but they are evenly spaced, so work okay. The thicker gauge needle is solid, but could stand to be a bit sharper and slightly narrower. The 3 inch steak needle is likewise just okay, with a very thick hole on only one side of the needle.
In other words…it’s almost completely identical to the Dimeshy meat injector directly above. And yet, it costs over 4 times as much.
It’s a pretty ridiculous price difference, matching our winner (the Grill Beast injector) in price, but not even coming close in quality. As a result I can’t recommend this meat injector for anybody unless it’s on a very steep sale.
4. Premiala Awesome Meat Injector
Why you’ll love this:
This is a nice budget alternative to other options, with similar performance. In shape, it’s pretty much the same as the Dimeshy model, with a comfortable handle and large reservoir. It also comes with some nice brushes to help clean out the inside of the needles!
What We Liked
- Excellent sturdy 304 stainless steel construction.
- Comfortable to use and lightweight.
- Great 3 ring handle.
- Excellent and versatile needles.
- Convenient carrying case.
What We Didn’t Like
- Barrel is a bit smaller than others on this list, so you may need to refill it more often.
This meat injector is another top of the line model.
The thing that immediately sticks out is the top notch construction. This is made of 100% pure food grade 304 stainless steel; no hidden aluminum components which can lead to early corrosion or pitting. This increases its bacteria resistant properties and how long it can last without deteriorating.
The needles are excellent, with a pair of 6 inch needles (one with an angle tip for chunky herb based marinades, and another with 12 quite large holes for thinner marinades) an d a 3 inch needle for focused injections, similarly arrayed with 12 holes.
The plunger is comfortable and easy to both draw and plunge, with a nice smooth (but not too fast) glide through the excellent and sturdy barrel.
While very strongly constructed, this injector remains very lightweight and comfortable to handle.
There’s not a whole ton more to say about this one; it is an impeccably constructed, versatile, high quality meat injector at a reasonable price. It comes with everything you need to injection marinade anything you’d care to (and is particularly great at injecting turkeys) and is easy to store away in its convenient carrying case.
All in all a strong second choice over the Grill Beast injector.
5. Grill BEAST – 304 Stainless Steel Meat Injector Kit
What we liked
- Excellent stainless steel construction.
- Large 2 ounce barrel.
- Great needle variety.
- Overall Quality.
- Comfortable handle.
- Good warranty.
What we didn’t like
- Price is very reasonable, but high compared to lower performance models.
This is a top of the line meat injector. It may not look like much, but the true mark of a good product is being content to just be awesome at what it’s intended to do.
No frills or gimmicks here, just extremely good construction and the perfect number of options for any occasion.
You have complete stainless steel construction; everything made of sturdy, food grade 304 stainless steel. The frame is one solid piece with the bottle, which are both steel, along with interchangeable steel needles and a comfortable stainless steel plunger with handy finger loops for a firm grip.
The three needles are excellent, with a wide variety of performance options. It has a 6 inch needle with an angled tip, used for chunky marinades (like herb based marinades), along with a 6 inch needle with a solid tip and 12 holes spread along its length (for even distribution of thinner marinades), and a 3 inch needle with a similar 12 hole design, used for smaller cuts of meat (like chicken breast) and precision injections.
Between these three you have the perfect tools to inject any kind of meal you like with whatever marinade you please.
As a few good extras, it comes with a 100% moneyback guarantee and a lifetime warranty, as well as an ebook full of fun recipes and marinade ideas. Neither is essential (given the fairly low price) but nice to have.
6. Dicfeos Meat Injector
Why you’ll love it:
If you want a much cheaper version of the Grill Beast model above, this is a decent replacement.
Much like the Grill Beast injector above this entire syringe is made of food grade 304 stainless steel from tip to plunger, giving it incredible durability and easy cleaning ability.
What we liked
- Great stainless steel construction.
- Variety of needles for wide use.
- Comfortable handle.
- Great low price.
- Great sized 2 ounce barrel.
What we didn’t like
- A Little Too Heavy.
- Needles could be better.
This one is a bit thicker and heavier, making it significantly less comfortable in the hand. It’s not a huge difference on paper, but it doesn’t feel quite right.
The plunger is still a quite good 3 ringed design, with a similarly huge 2 ounce barrel that will contain any kind of marinade you’d prefer to put it in.
The needles are pretty good, though not as good as our winner. In general they serve the same purpose, with two longer needles (one with an angled tip for thicker marinades and one with holes on it for thinner marinades) and a shorter one (for precision injection of smaller cuts of meat, like steaks and chicken breasts), but they have less holes, giving you far less even coverage.
On the bright side it comes with some nice extras a basting brush and two cleaning brushes for the needles.
Overall this is a great meat injector, with some minor flaws.
7. Miusco Stainless Steel Meat Marinade Injector Kit
Why you’ll love it:
This is a decent budget model, but nowhere near the level of quality the previous models have hit.
What we liked
- Inexpensive.
- Measuring window built right in for precision injection.
- Lightweight and easy to handle.
What we didn’t like
- Plastic construction is subpar.
- Needles are poorly designed.
- Ultimately not cheap enough to justify this much of a quality drop.
This Miusco meat injector is relatively well constructed, with the main downfall being the simplistic plunger. The stainless steel frame is pretty good, but the rest of it is made of plastic.
On the one hand, this leaves the meat injector as being satisfyingly lightweight, but on the other it makes it less durable and more prone to scratching, which will make it retain more bacteria even after washing over time, and eventually need to be completely replaced.
The needles are also subpar, with a thicker gauge needle for chunky marinades and a smaller one for thinner marinades, but without the added holes to more evenly spread the mixture in the latter, it falls kind of flat.
The 1.5 ounce barrel is okay, bolstered a bit by its measuring window (a feature unique to clear barrels, and a good one), but ultimately subpar.
If it weren’t for the existence of the Dicfeos injector, I might say this was an excellent budget buy…but as-is the roughly $50 difference in price between the two doesn’t justify the steep decrease in quality.
8. Rexbeti Stainless Steel Meat Injector
What we liked
- Sturdy 304 stainless steel construction.
- Comfortable handle.
What we didn’t like
- A little too heavy.
- Subpar needles.
- Not a great price for what it offers.
I’m not a huge fan of this model. There’s nothing really that sets it apart from other meat injectors in the same price range.
The 304 stainless steel construction is good, but a little too solid. Much like other flawed models on this list it is a bit heavier than it really needs to be, making it somewhat unwieldy, especially when you’re trying to insert it and slowly and evenly remove it from whatever you’re marinating.
The needles are fine, but still flawed. The two 6 inch needles are a mixed bag, with only 6 evenly spaced hole son the one for thinner marinades and the thicker marinade needle is almost completely blunt at the end. Much like the 2 models above, the 3 inch injector needle here only has a single wide hole for injecting the meat, which makes it come out in sloppy spurts.
There’s nothing special about this, and for the price you’re better off just buying one of the cheaper models on this list that has roughly the same performance.
9. GRILLHOGS Marinade Meat Injector Kit
What we liked
- Sturdy 304 stainless steel construction.
- Comfortable plunger design.
- 3 versatile needle types.
- Replacement O rings included.
What we didn’t like
- A bit heavy and unwieldy compared to others.
- Poorly designed steak needle.
This is a good one, but it has some serious flaws that hold it back.
The basics are good. It’s 100 made of stainless steel; food grade 304, same as the other good models on this list, with no aluminum parts whatsoever. The main issue with it is that it’s heavy, much like the Dicfeos meat injector above this one on the list.
It’s only a difference of about 3 ounces, but it’s a surprising difference in how unwieldy this model is compared to the 9.8 ounce models like the Grill Beast. With the same 2 ounce barrel filled, it’ not unusable or anything, but just feels a little off guiding such a delicate tip with a heavy base like this; it throws the whole balance off unpleasantly.
Other than that what you get is pretty standard for a meat injector of this kind. It comes with 3 needles; a long 6 inch needle with an angled tip for thick marinades, a 6 inch needle with holes for thinner marinades to get spread evenly, and smaller 3 inch needle for steaks.
The first 2 are fine but the last one is where it falls flat. While others more or at least staggered holes for the smaller needle, this one has two holes directly on the opposite sides of each other, so it just dumps a bunch of marinade in the same spot; a serious flaw.
Overall this meat injector is good, but others are better for about the same price. It’s better to get one of them.
FINAL VERDICT
I’d primarily stick to the first half of this list for offerings; each are a wide range of prices with performance to match where that price falls on the average scale.
The Ofargo meat injector is still my favorite of the bunch, with an excellent construction and the best needles of any of these meat injectors.
If you want to go a bit cheaper, the Ofargo meat injector is about $20 cheaper, which is a nice drop if you’re on a budget but still want an excellent top of the line meat injector.
For an exceptionally tight budget, my money would go to the Dimeshy model as being the best of the budget models.
The rest are fine; almost all of these save those three have roughly the exact same performance and specifications. But their prices don’t properly reflect what they offer in most cases, making them hard to recommend over the Ofargo, Dimeshy, or Premiala.
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