We definitely know that as the summertime passes by, the need for delicious barbecued meats is at an all-time high. During this time, the need for marinated meat recipes and delicious marinades for a new barbecue feast are on the rise. Yet, before you delve into the marinade recipes that you need for your own barbecue extravaganza, let’s highlight some incredibly helpful and important marinated meat facts that’ll, as the title says. “Knock your socks off.”
Marinated Meat Facts – What You Need to Know
The Obvious
Before we delve into the less obvious facts about marinated meat, let us first highlight some of the obvious facts around marinated meat. Marinated meat is exactly what it sounds like – meat that is marinated for cooking. It is often soaked in a marinade that can be a mixture of many different things but most commonly includes some type of acid such as vinegar, citrus juice, wine, tomatoes, etc., followed possibly by an oil of some sort such as olive oil, chile oil, sesame oil, etc. as well as a mixture of herbs and spices such as salt, pepper, thyme, Italian seasoning, and more. The marinade allows the exterior of the meat to be cooked into the seasonings for a delicious burst of flavor in every bite.
Reusing is a No No
When it comes to food, a lot of us feel the guilt and pressure of throwing away foods that we make or buy. We don’t like to be wasteful so to follow through with that we try our best to reuse the things we have left over so that we feel better about it. Yet, when it comes to marinades, you should never reuse a marinade. You should never reuse it as another marinade, and you should never use it a s sauce for cooking other foods. This is due to the fact that the marinade comes in contact with raw ingredients and this can contain harmful bacteria. For that reason, always discard your marinade after using it.
Marinated Seafood Can Easily Over-Marinate
Fish is different from other types of meat such as pork, beef, and chicken. Most of those types of meat can take a minimum of 30 minutes or a whole night to marinate properly. Fish on the other hand is naturally quite tender and becomes mushy really quickly. For that reason, any sort of seafood can marinate from 15 minutes to no longer than 1 hour before it is ready for cooking.
The Marinade Ratio
When it comes to marinades there is actually a ratio that typically should be followed. The rule of thumb ratio for a marinade is typically about 3-to-1. This essentially refers to about three parts oil and 1-part acid. This allows for a nice marinade that can mix together well while providing what is needed for a flavorful piece of meat. Mix about 1 cup of oil such as olive, canola, vegetable, etc., and do about ⅓ cup of acid such as vinegar, lemon, lime, citrus, etc. From there you can create a good marinade ratio. Just add in some herbs and spices and you are good to go. Sometimes, making your own marinades can be incredibly fun and rewarding, but you can always follow a recipe if you are unsure. There are so many amazing marinade recipes that exist out there. All of them are full of flavor and bring an extra special something to any piece of meat.
