This content contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking a link on this page, we might receive a commission at no cost to you.
Many cuts of meat need a little extra moisture to produce delicious results off of the smoker or out of the oven. But do you really need to wait all of that time for your meat to prep properly? That’s where a meat injector can be your friend.
A meat injector is one of our favorite grilling accessories that can speed up the prep process and add flavor along the way. Meat injectors allow you to easily inject your marinades into your food in a minutes long process instead of hours.
Knowing which is the best meat injector for you can be tough if you’ve never used one before. That’s where we come in! We’ve compiled a list of the best meat injectors on the market today – we’ve covered all the different types. Read on to see which choices are our favorite.
Best Meat Injectors – Our Reviews
The SpitJack Magnum Meat Injector Gun
When it comes to premium meat injectors, there’s no doubt that the SpitJack Magnum Meat Injector Gun should be at the top of the best meat injector list.
Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned pro who frequently injects meats, this is the sort of tool you want to have in your arsenal. It can penetrate up to 5.5 inches deep.
It’s made in the USA and is an accessory that’s been used by many professional BBQ teams. All around, the parts are high quality and made to last for decades with proper care.
This set comes with 4 different sized needles to give you maximum injection versatility:
- One with a slanted open tip – for injecting a marinade that might have small particles of herbs or spices
- A needle with a closed end and side perforations – for liquid-only flavoring concoctions
- One over-sized opening needle – for marinades with larger particles or even small minced chunks
- One smaller, thinner gauge needle – for smaller cuts or to leave less visible holes in the cooked meat
Between those 4 needles, you’re pretty much covered for any BBQ injection situation you could ever find yourself in.
An advanced dial also lets you completely control how much marinade flow gets injected per squeeze. The squeeze handle design is made with ease of use and minimal fatigue in mind – so if you have a lot of injecting to do you’ll find this gun is pretty easy on your hand over long periods.
One of the biggest pain points associated with even the best meat injector has to do with the clean up process. These things aren’t the easiest to clean, especially when you consider that you need to get inside the needles to thoroughly remove any marinade residue.
The SpitJack really differentiates itself in this department. It comes with 3 different cleaning brush sizes to help with the injector barrel and all needle sizes. They’re very high in quality and will save you TONS of time and headaches over the course of time.
Things We Like:
- Premium product, no stone left unturned in terms of design features
- Quality materials used in construction
- The advanced dial lets you control marinade dosage per squeeze
- Ergonomic squeeze handle design
- 4 different needle sizes for maximum versatility
- 3 different sized cleaning brushes included
- Carrying case included
Things We Don’t:
- The only thing to not love here is the price. Compared to other meat injectors (especially manual ones), this one is on the expensive end. But it’s that sort of product that you only have to buy once and will pay off in the long run
Cave Tools Meat Injector Kit
As far as manual meat injectors go, you’re not going to find anything much better than the Cave Tools Meat Injector Kit.
Off the bat, the 2-oz large capacity barrel is a great feature to have for injecting. When you inject meats, you get into a nice groove and flow of making your injections. The last thing you want to do is break up that flow to constantly refill your barrel – it’s a huge time killer and it’s just not efficient.
The Grill Beast comes with 3 different needles to help you with a variety of scenarios:
- One 6″ needle that is solid with an angled cut and a wide tip – best for marinades with small chunks, herbs, or seasonings
- A 6″ needle with 12 holes – best for liquid marinades
- One 3″ needle for maximum precision and smaller cuts of meat
On the cleanup side of things, this injector is easily removable and all parts are dishwasher safe. About as easy as it gets in terms of cleanup!
The injector plunger has great stability and pressure control, and a three-ring handle gives you a nice grip that won’t hurt your hand while you get to work.
Some nice extra features are also included, namely an injector ebook with tips and a how to guide for injecting, and a lifetime warranty on the product itself.
Things We Like:
- Nice price point for the quality
- 304 stainless steel is a heavy duty construction material that will last a long time
- Easily disassembles and is dishwasher safe
- The handle design is comfortable – the plunger is stable and designed for maximum pressure control
- 3 different needle sizes are suited for a variety of situations
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Things We Don’t:
- It’s a tiny bit pricier compared to other manual meat injectors
Ofargo Stainless Steel Meat Injector Syringe
The Ofargo Stainless Steel Meat Injector Syringe is another worthy contender. It comes with all of the basic features you’d expect plus a few nice extras.
Included is a 2 oz large capacity injection barrel, 3 ring handles, 3 different needles, spare o rings and silicone, 2 cleaning brushes, a BBQ basting brush, a storage box, and a digital ebook for tips and use instructions.
Construction wise, it’s made of 304 stainless steel for the syringe barrel and needles, zinc alloy for the handle and injector top, and FDA-compliant silicone material for the grill pastry brush and seals.
The 3 different needles included are:
- A 6″ needle that is solid with an angled cut and a wide tip – best for marinades with small chunks, herbs, or seasonings
- A 6″ needle with 12 holes – best for liquid marinades
- One 3″ needle for maximum precision and smaller cuts of meat
All around, this is a solid product and definitely one of the best meat injectors for the money.
Things We Like:
- Great price
- Good materials used in construction
- Easily disassembles and is dishwasher safe
- 3 different needle sizes for use in different situations
- Nice extra features like a silicone basting brush and ebook
Things We Don’t:
- Not much to complain about here. It sounds like splitting hairs but we’d like to see an improved storage box/carrying case
Ofargo Plastic Marinade Injector Syringe
Generally speaking, I’d almost always recommend a stainless steel injector. But if your heart is set on a plastic one, we’d go with the Ofargo Plastic Marinade Injector Syringe.
The needles themselves and plunger rods are still made of 304 stainless steel. But the barrel, handle, and pump plate are all made of plastic. While it’s quality and eco friendly plastic, it just doesn’t last a long time compared to stainless steel.
It comes with two different needles, one of which is suited for liquid marinades and one with a wider tip that’s better for solutions with particles of herbs and spices.
All of the parts are dishwasher safe too, which is a nice feature to help make clean up as easy as possible for you.
Things We Like:
- Best meat injector as far as plastic ones go
- Dishwasher safe, so it’s extremely easy to clean
- Very cheap – since it’s plastic it won’t break the bank
Things We Don’t:
- Plastic construction isn’t as durable or long lasting as steel
- Only 2 different needles are included that are best suited for more basic marinades and solutions
- Only a 1 0z barrel – so you’ll have to refill pretty frequently on bigger jobs
MTN Meat Injector
The MTN Meat Injector Syringe is another great choice that offers a nice blend of quality and affordability.
As far as construction materials go, we’ve moved back to stainless steel as the primary material for all parts of this product. The marinade barrel also fits 2 ounces, so you have plenty of marinade to work with in between refills.
It also comes with a pretty standard 3 different needles that are suited for different sizes and different needs:
- A 5.8″ needle with 12 holes in it for liquid only marinades
- Another 5.8″ needle with a wide tunnel and angle cut for chunky marinades
- A 4.3″ needle for thin cuts of meat like chicken or skirt steak
As far as clean up goes, 2 brushes are included to help clean out the barrel and needles after you’re done with your injecting. It also comes with a silicone basting brush, which is just an all around handy accessory to have. Use the brush to layer on a coat of your marinade to the outside of your meat!
Things We Like:
- Best meat injector for the money when it comes to stainless steel units
- 3 different needle tips for versatility in different situations
- Stainless steel is high quality and made to last a long time
- 2 ounce barrel is ideal for injecting larger cuts of meat
- Comes with a silicone basting brush
Things We Don’t:
- Not made for dishwasher cleaning, so the clean up process while easy takes a little bit of manual work
- Needle sizes are pretty close to each other. Typically the “small” needle in a set is around 3 inches which is ideal for smaller cuts of meat
Milagroso Meat Injector Marinade Gun Kit
If you want the ease of using a meat injector gun but don’t want to pony up the cash for the SpitJack, the Milagroso Injector Gun is a viable alternative.
This price is probably the best you’re going to see on any meat injector gun that’s worth your time. A few compromises were made in terms of design to bring the cost down, most notably a plastic marinade barrel.
But it still comes with great features like a 2 0unce barrel capacity, ergonomic handle design, quality carrying case, and 4 stainless steel needles.
- One 6″ needle with an angled cut for chunkier marinades
- Another 6″ needle with 12 holes for liquid marinades
- One 3.6″ precision needle
- A 3″ precision needle
All of the parts are also dishwasher safe, so that makes things pretty easy after you’re done and it’s time to clean up the mess!
Things We Like:
- Affordable price for a meat injector gun
- 4 different needles with different designs to suit different situations
- High capacity marinade barrel
- Comes with a nice carrying case
- Also comes with a couple of cleaning brushes
Things We Don’t:
- The two precision needles are basically the same size. While it’s nice to have a back up, having both a 3″ and 3.6″ needle is kind of pointless
- Quite a few customers have made complaints about basic quality issues. Things like needles falling out, inconsistent suction, and loose tip connections
What Are the Benefits of a Meat Injector?
You might be wondering at this point if these things are really all that necessary. While you could definitely get by in life without ever using one, those who don’t utilize these fantastic tools are missing out.
Meat injectors are a pain free and easy way to add flavor and tenderize your food. Often times on the smoker or even when oven roasting, we’re working with pretty tough cuts of meat. Injecting a marinade will both flavor your food and also make the insides much more tender and delicious for the end result.
Not only that, but the added moisture actually helps to reduce your cooking time. So by injecting you save time on the front end by not soaking a marinade, and also while you cook by increasing moisture and lowering your cooking time.
Meat injectors are also great for other applications too. For example, you can use them to inject chocolate into different types of fruit. You could also inject whiskey or other spirits into your dessert. The possibilities are endless, all you need to do is make sure you clean your injector thoroughly after every use.
Last but not least, the best meat injector is incredibly simple and straightforward to use. You don’t need to be a master chef to utilize all of these benefits. They’re meant for in home use.
Which Meats Can I Inject?
There are a lot of possibilities on this front! Half of the fun is experimenting with injection recipes for different types of meat. Here is a list of some of our favorites, although there are certainly more out there that you could inject.
- Brisket
- Chicken
- Fresh Ham
- Lamb Legs
- Pork Chops
- Pork Loin
- Pork Shoulder
- Turkey
Best Meat Injector – Factors to Consider
There are a few tell tale signs of whether a given product is one of the best meat injectors or not. Here are a few things to keep an eye on when you make your purchase decision!
Construction Material
Meat injectors pretty much all have stainless steel needles, but the bodies are primarily made of either steel or plastic. Plastic is generally cheaper and steel is generally more expensive.
There’s nothing wrong with plastic in the sense that your food will taste the same no matter whether you inject from a steel or plastic barrel.
The problem with plastic comes in the longevity department. After heavy use and a few times through the dishwasher, the quality of your plastic will likely be compromised. In the end, having to buy replacements could be more expensive than just getting a stainless steel one in the first place.
With that in mind, we typically recommend stainless steel to most people. But if you’re only going to inject a holiday turkey or ham once or twice a year, a plastic injector will probably be just fine.
Barrel Size
The process of refilling your barrel mid injection is a hassle and can get pretty messy. You want to avoid this if you can.
2 ounces should be the minimum barrel size you go for. That’s enough to handle medium to large size cuts of meat with minimal or zero refills.
1 ounce barrels work for smaller cuts like chicken breasts or lamb legs, but I think you’ll be frustrated with the amount of refills required for larger cuts like brisket.
Needles
The needles are probably more important to consider than even the barrel size. Your needles determine what you’re able to do and accomplish with your marinades.
Ideally, your set should come with different needle sizes and designs. Longer needles are ideal for big cuts like a whole ham or a brisket. Shorter needles are ideal for smaller cuts like chicken.
Needles with an angled cut and wide tip are necessary if you want to inject a marinade with seasonings like pepper or herbs into your meat. Alternatively, a skinnier needle with lots of holes in it is more efficient for liquid only marinades.
At the end of the day, prefer a set with multiple needles for multiple applications. That way, you have maximum versatility to do what’s best for your recipe!
General Ease of Use
The general ease of use factor can’t be overstated. Injecting a meat can be a pretty mundane process. If your injector isn’t easy to use, or comfortable, with an ergonomically designed handle, then you could be cramping before your work is done.
Look for features that help to make the process as simple and comfortable as possible. Is there a comfortable handle design? Injector guns are ideal in this category because they take a lot of the manual strain out of the process and by design have really comfortable handles.
Cleaning
Last but not least, clean up features should be something to take a look at. Especially with your needles, it’s of the utmost importance to ensure that your equipment stays sanitized and clean.
Some of the best meat injectors come apart and are dishwasher safe. For the ones that aren’t, make sure they have a brush that’s the right size to give your marinade barrel a thorough cleaning.
At an absolute minimum, your set should come with needle cleaning brushes that fit all of your needles. This way you can ensure you’re working with safe and sanitized equipment each time you open your injector kit.
How to Use a Meat Injector – Steps and Tips
Using the best meat injector isn’t rocket science, it’s really easy! The hardest part is preparing your brine or marinade. Here are some steps and tips to follow:
- Prepare your brine or marinade
- Wear an apron over your clothes – injecting can get messy
- Use a baking or cookie sheet with raised sides under your meat to help contain the liquid mess
- Fill your injector with marinade or brine by placing your needle in the solution and pulling your plunger towards you
- Penetrate your needle into your meat at an angle until you reach the desired depth. Depress your plunger a little bit at a time. Be careful not to press too hard as your marinade will go all over the place
- Inject in multiple spots to ensure even distribution of moisture and flavor
- Inject your marinade inside of and right around bones if your meat has them. This magnifies the amount of flavor and moisture you get in the end result
- If using a needle with multiple holes, make sure to deeply inject to ensure no holes are exposed to air. If you press your plunger while the holes are exposed, your marinade will spray all over you.
How to Clean Your Needles
One of the most important aspects of long term care is cleaning your meat injector’s needles. Even if your manufacturer says the needles are dishwasher safe, we recommend that you personally clean your needles. The process is easy and you can know for certain they’ll be safe for your next use.
- Mix warm water with a little bit of dish detergent in a small bowl
- Submerge your needle and fill it up like you would if you were filling your barrel with marinade
- Push your plunger down to release all of the soapy water
- Repeat the last two steps about 5-8 times or until you are certain all residue and particles are gone
- Rinse with water and set out to dry
- After it has dried, place it into a storage case or box until you need to use it again
Best Meat Injector – Final Thoughts
When it comes to adding flavor to your meat, especially tough cuts, there’s no better way to do it than with the best meat injector. They’re simple, easy, and frankly a lot of fun to use.
Plus, when you deliver those mouth watering results to your friends and family, your injection recipe will become the stuff of legend.
I hope this guide was helpful to you in choosing which is the best meat injector for your needs! Have questions for us? We’d love to hear from you in the comments section below.
