{"id":689537,"date":"2018-05-23T15:04:21","date_gmt":"2018-05-23T15:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=689537"},"modified":"2023-12-15T06:58:27","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T12:58:27","slug":"marinating","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/marinating\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Surprising Things You Need to Know About Marinating"},"content":{"rendered":"
Some cooks swear by marinades, claiming that they flavor any cut of meat inside and out. You might be surprised to know that science is not exactly on their side! It's been proven over and over again that marinating meat does<\/em> add flavor and tenderness, but only to a certain degree. Before you start working on Linda's Best Marinated Chicken<\/a> or that Grilled Asian Flank Steak, here's what you need to know:<\/p>\r\n \r\n It's a good idea to use marinades on meat, especially tough cuts like a flank steak, as they do add flavor and tenderness. But what many people don't know is that this action only happens to the very outer edge<\/em> of the meat! We've seen tests that show marinades only reach 1-3 millimeters beneath the meat's surface. Don't think about marinades as flavoring a chicken breast or pork chop all the way through; instead, keep in mind that a marinade should be the first thing that cooks when meat hits the heat.<\/p>\r\n Psst<\/em>... To make sure you're asking for the right cut of meat at your butcher, check out our guide.<\/a><\/p>\r\n \r\n The best ingredients for your marinade are actually salt, sugar, oil and an acid like lemon or vinegar. Learn the secret to creating a great marinade using items in your pantry<\/a>. The salt is important, as it can penetrate and season meat more deeply than other ingredients. Sugar is useful for helping achieve browning while cooking. You need oil to keep the meat from sticking to your grill or pan. And acid helps break down muscle fibers, leading to a perfectly tender meat. (This Teriyaki Beef Marinade<\/a> is a perfect example of the right ingredients.)<\/p>\r\n \r\n Your best bet for achieving marination magic is to soak your chicken, pork chops or loins and steak at least 30 minutes, but never longer than overnight. The risk of a lengthy bath in the marinade comes back to acid. It tenderizes by breaking down the proteins in the meat, but since a marinade only seeps in so far, the acid can turn the outside layer mealy and mushy without softening the interior part of the meat at all.<\/p>\r\n Because marinades never really get to the center of thick cuts of meat, it can be very effective to marinate them for just half an hour. Your best bet for getting the flavors in the marinade all over is to reserve some before<\/em> adding the raw meat. Just add it to the cooked meat as a sauce or glaze shortly before or after you take it off the grill. Another method is to pound the meat to a thinner starting point\u2013the marinade won't have to travel as far to penetrate the whole cut.<\/p>\r\n To really get your tough meat tender, one former restaurant chef has eight simple ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\r\nThe best case scenario is to have the outside of the meat properly flavored and tender without ever taking a not-so-appealing mushy bite!\r\n\r\n\t\t\t Everyone knows that marinating for 18 hours adds great flavor and tenderness to meat…right?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7006,"featured_media":690585,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[303887,304188,304150,303883],"categories-v2":[308478,309536,309434,308476],"coauthors":[50017],"acf":{"long_pin_file":false,"ncv_override_generic_settings_option":false,"ncv_autoplay_option":"","ncv_stickyplay_option":"","ncv_ads_option":"","ncv_mute_option":"","ncv_comscore_option":"","ncv_autoplay_mobile_option":"","ncv_viewable_threshold_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_option":"","ncv_autopause_option":"","ncv_sticky_offset_mobile_option":"","ncv_autopause_mobile_option":"","ncv_sticky_mobile_option":"","ncv_remove_player_option":false,"ncv_moat_option":""},"yoast_head":"\n Go to Recipe<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n1. It's Not<\/em> More Than Skin-Deep<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
2. Marinades Don't <\/em> Really Need Herbs<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
3. You Can <\/em>Marinate for Too Long!<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Grilled Glazed Drummies<\/a>My family prefers these mild-tasting chicken wings more than the traditional hot wings. They are great for any gathering. \u2014Laura Mahaffey, Annapolis, Maryland
<\/a><\/div>Roasted Honey Mustard Chicken<\/a>I love a good roasted chicken, and this one is easy and delicious. The marinade does its magic in the fridge until time for roasting. It\u2019s fun to dress the dish up by season based on whatever vegetables are fresh at the market. \u2014Kara Brook, Owings Mills, Maryland
<\/a><\/div>Sticky Chicken Wings<\/a>You'll want to keep an extra stack of napkins nearby once people start reaching for these sweet and sticky wings. The brown sugar marinade makes every bite finger-lickin' good! \u2014Laura Mahaffey, Annapolis, Maryland
<\/a><\/div>Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken<\/a>Everyone needs an easy meal. Try this sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes for a simple and tasty meal guaranteed to please the whole family. If you use fresh lemon juice, garnish each serving with a little lemon zest for bright flavor. \u2014Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California
<\/a><\/div>Sheet-Pan Tandoori Chicken<\/a>This tandoori chicken recipe is easy for weeknights since it bakes in one pan, but it is also special enough for guests. The best part? There isn\u2019t much to clean up when dinner is over! \u2014Anwar Khan, Iriving, Texas
<\/a><\/div>Tropical Island Chicken<\/a>The marinade makes a savory statement in this all-time-favorite chicken recipe that I served at our son's pirate-themed birthday party. It smelled so good on the grill that guests could hardly wait to try a piece! \u2014Sharon Hanson, Franklin, Tennessee
<\/a><\/div>Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes<\/a>Relax after work with a cold drink while this savory chicken marinates in an herby tomato blend for an hour, then toss it on the grill. It tastes just like summer. \u2014Laura Lunardi, West Chester, Pennsylvania
<\/a><\/div>Filipino Chicken Adobo<\/a>Filipino adobo is an easy-to-make weeknight staple. Its versatility and ease of cooking is one of the reasons chicken adobo is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines.
<\/a><\/div>Five-Spice Chicken Wings<\/a>These baked Asian chicken wings are tender, juicy and irresistible. They soak up complex flavors from an Asian-inspired marinade made with sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, garlic and Chinese five-spice powder.
<\/a><\/div>Slow-Cooked Mandarin Chicken<\/a>Oranges and olives are elegantly paired in this different but delicious dish. The chicken is marinated, then cooked slowly in a flavorful sauce, so it stays moist. \u2014Aney Chatterson, Soda Springs, Idaho
<\/a><\/div>Caribbean Chicken<\/a>This Caribbean chicken dish is a very simple recipe that uses easy-to-find ingredients, but its flavor profile is quite complex.
<\/a><\/div>Flavorful Chicken Fajitas<\/a>Sizzling chicken fajitas are super easy to make and full of flavor. The secret is in the skillet, which can go from stove to table for restaurant-quality presentation.
<\/a><\/div>Chicken Skewers<\/a>Nothing says summertime like a grill full of chicken skewers. Our grilled chicken kabob recipe uses a garlicky, lemony marinade to ensure the chicken turns out juicy, tender and flavorful.
<\/a><\/div>Roasted Lime Chicken<\/a>The subtle citrus flavor infused throughout this moist and baked lime chicken makes the most-requested dish for family dinners. It's the ideal way to use fresh herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme and parsley. \u2014Kathy Lewis-Martinez, Spring Valley, California
<\/a><\/div>Orange-Spiced Chicken<\/a>Five ingredients are all you\u2019ll need for this fast and extremely flavorful marinade. With one taste, it\u2019ll become your most-requested chicken recipe! \u2014Debra Stevens, Lutz, Florida\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Apple-Marinated Chicken & Vegetables<\/a>I actually invented this chicken with vegetables dish at a campground, so you know it's easy. Using the same marinade for the meat and veggies keeps it simple so we can spend more time outside and less time making dinner. \u2014Jayme Schertz, Clintonville, Wisconsin
<\/a><\/div>Oven-Fried Chicken Drumsticks<\/a>Crispy, crunchy and perfectly tender, this oven fried chicken legs recipe is an easy, mess-free way to make delicious fried chicken every time.
<\/a><\/div>Ranch-Marinated Chicken Breasts<\/a>The pub favorite pairing of ranch dressing and chicken comes home to your kitchen. With just a little prep time the night before, you can have these savory breasts ready in about half an hour! \u2014Barbee Decker, Whispering Pines, North Carolina\r\n
<\/a><\/div>Grilled Basil Chicken<\/a>This cinch of a marinade gives the chicken lots of Italian flavor. Serve the chicken with a tossed green salad and garlic breadsticks, or put slices on a ciabatta roll along with lettuce, tomato and mozzarella cheese for a zesty handheld meal. \u2014Lisa Moriarty, Wilton, New Hampshire
\r\n \t
Grilled Huli Huli Chicken<\/a><\/h2>\r\nLooking for a marinated chicken recipe that's juicy and flavorful? Let a sweet and savory overnight marinade with brown sugar, ginger and soy sauce do all the work.\r\n
<\/a><\/div>
Grilled Glazed Drummies<\/a><\/h2>My family prefers these mild-tasting chicken wings more than the traditional hot wings. They are great for any gathering. \u2014Laura Mahaffey, Annapolis, Maryland
<\/a><\/div>
Roasted Honey Mustard Chicken<\/a><\/h2>I love a good roasted chicken, and this one is easy and delicious. The marinade does its magic in the fridge until time for roasting. It\u2019s fun to dress the dish up by season based on whatever vegetables are fresh at the market. \u2014Kara Brook, Owings Mills, Maryland
<\/a><\/div>
Sticky Chicken Wings<\/a><\/h2>You'll want to keep an extra stack of napkins nearby once people start reaching for these sweet and sticky wings. The brown sugar marinade makes every bite finger-lickin' good! \u2014Laura Mahaffey, Annapolis, Maryland
<\/a><\/div>
Sheet-Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken<\/a><\/h2>Everyone needs an easy meal. Try this sheet-pan chicken with roasted potatoes for a simple and tasty meal guaranteed to please the whole family. If you use fresh lemon juice, garnish each serving with a little lemon zest for bright flavor. \u2014Andrea Potischman, Menlo Park, California
<\/a><\/div>
Sheet-Pan Tandoori Chicken<\/a><\/h2>This tandoori chicken recipe is easy for weeknights since it bakes in one pan, but it is also special enough for guests. The best part? There isn\u2019t much to clean up when dinner is over! \u2014Anwar Khan, Iriving, Texas
<\/a><\/div>
Tropical Island Chicken<\/a><\/h2>The marinade makes a savory statement in this all-time-favorite chicken recipe that I served at our son's pirate-themed birthday party. It smelled so good on the grill that guests could hardly wait to try a piece! \u2014Sharon Hanson, Franklin, Tennessee
<\/a><\/div>
Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes<\/a><\/h2>Relax after work with a cold drink while this savory chicken marinates in an herby tomato blend for an hour, then toss it on the grill. It tastes just like summer. \u2014Laura Lunardi, West Chester, Pennsylvania
<\/a><\/div>
Filipino Chicken Adobo<\/a><\/h2>Filipino adobo is an easy-to-make weeknight staple. Its versatility and ease of cooking is one of the reasons chicken adobo is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines.
<\/a><\/div>
Five-Spice Chicken Wings<\/a><\/h2>These baked Asian chicken wings are tender, juicy and irresistible. They soak up complex flavors from an Asian-inspired marinade made with sweet chili sauce, fish sauce, garlic and Chinese five-spice powder.
<\/a><\/div>
Slow-Cooked Mandarin Chicken<\/a><\/h2>Oranges and olives are elegantly paired in this different but delicious dish. The chicken is marinated, then cooked slowly in a flavorful sauce, so it stays moist. \u2014Aney Chatterson, Soda Springs, Idaho
<\/a><\/div>
Caribbean Chicken<\/a><\/h2>This Caribbean chicken dish is a very simple recipe that uses easy-to-find ingredients, but its flavor profile is quite complex.
<\/a><\/div>
Flavorful Chicken Fajitas<\/a><\/h2>Sizzling chicken fajitas are super easy to make and full of flavor. The secret is in the skillet, which can go from stove to table for restaurant-quality presentation.