Enhance the Flavors of Meat and Other Dishes

Many types of meat taste pretty good all by themselves, but there definitely is potential for them to taste better. Marinades and seasonings add so much to all different types of meat, but as with anything else, they require balance. Too much of anything is definitely not a good thing. Here are some guidelines about marinating different meats.

The point of marinating meats is to tenderize and add flavor. Marinades contain three basic ingredients: oil, seasonings, and acid. In order to make sure you have the right amount of marinade, a typical guideline is to have one-half cup of marinade per pound of meat.

The ingredients in your marinade determine how long you should marinate your meats in the refrigerator. Any marinades that contain salt, alcohol, or anything acidic should not be marinated for more than four hours. Marinades with citrus juices should only be marinated for a couple of hours to avoid changing the color and texture of the meat. If your marinade does not contain anything acidic, then it is safe to marinate your meats overnight. It is not safe or sanitary to save any marinade after you have already used it, so be sure to discard it.