Chicken, turkey and pork are particularly suitable for marinating because they are neutral in taste and easy to season in all directions. But the other meats also have new sides to offer after a round in a good marinade. The purpose of marinating is to give the meat better tenderness, taste, appearance, roasting properties and shelf life. In general, a marinade must contain flavor, oil, and acid to achieve its desired purpose. A marinade can also consist of just one or two ingredients. We show here how you can easily marinate yourself.
Spices, oil and acid
Flavor is added to the meat in the form of herbs, dry spices (such as chili, garlic, ginger etc.), soy sauce and more. Acid is added to break down the connective tissue of the meat, which breaks down the structure and the result is softer meat. Acid is also a preservative, which in turn provides a better shelf life. Oil is added to make the meat juicier, improve frying properties and give a better shine.
Here's how to do it
1. Place the pieces of meat to be marinated in a plastic bread bag, cover with the marinade and seal. Such a method requires less marinade than if you have the meat in a bowl and store your dishes. The marinade “creeps” into the meat (from all sides).
2. Leave the meat in the refrigerator while marinating. Turning the meat occasionally will help it marinate more evenly. A larger cut of meat will take a few days to marinate, but there are a few tricks that will save you time.
3. Make deep cuts in the meat with a sharp knife. Rub and massage the marinade well. The actual trick is to use a marinade syringe, which is a large version of the regular syringe with a needle.
4. Put the marinade in the marinade syringe. Make a well in the meat about an inch apart and pipe the marinade towards the center.
5. Place the piece of meat in the rest of the marinade to let it rest while you have time. You can also brush the marinade directly on the meat just before grilling or roasting. You will not achieve the tenderizing effect, but you will get extra fat for the roasting properties of the meat and spices for the taste.
Everything can be marinated
Everything that needs to be on the grill, in the oven, pan or wok can be marinated. If you're grilling, don't forget to dry the meat before putting it on the grill. Feel free to use the rest of the marinade to brush with while cooking.
