The summertime is approaching quickly upon us, which means we are drawing closer to needing to perfect our perfect summer grilled recipes for the next dinner or barbecue party. Having a barbecue is no easy feat, for grilling delicious barbecued meat is certainly a science and skill that requires lots of knowledge and patience. Yet, while this is true, that doesn’t mean that those who are a bit on the amateur side of grilling can’t grill amazing foods to impress family and friends. If you are someone who recognizes the two most important aspects to a successful grilled dinner, marinating and grilling properly, then you are certainly on the right track to creating a mouthwatering and tasty grilled dinner. For today’s article, we won’t focus on both (we will save grilling for another time), but we will certainly focus on marinating, because it is definitely the aspect of grilled meats that is often overlooked. Upon reading this article, you will begin to realize the appreciation that more people should have for marinating grilled meats, because it is definitely a game changer!
The Benefits of Marinated Meat
Taste – One of the most important benefits to marinating meat before grilling it, is the fact that it provides you with wondrous flavors that you simply will not be able to get enough of. Marinating is the part where you can decide how you want your meat to taste. If you are someone who loves a smoky meat, then you can utilize marinades that will help enhance that smoky flavor. If you want a meat that is tangier or sweeter, then you can figure out the correct combination of ingredients to produce a meat that is incredibly sweet, tangy, and perfectly suited to your taste buds. Whatever the case may be, marinades are the outlet by which you can decide how you want your meat to taste. Without a good marinade, you would only have a grilled meat that may be juice and slightly smoky but produces no other flavors beyond that (nobody wants just that!).
Moisture/Tenderness – In addition to providing flavor for our meat, marinades do way more than they get credit for. They also lend a helping hand in creating a very juicy meat that is full of moisture and will not get dry as you cook it. Marinades use a combination of spices, sugar, salt, and herbs in order to fully tenderize and enhance the flavor of your meat, which is so important because flavor cannot be enjoyed with a meat that is tough or dry. Marinades ensure that both stand out in your grilled meat.
Texture – Additionally, marinades can also help with making sure that the texture of your meat exceeds expectations. Upon marinating your meat, the ingredients within the marinade can help in crafting a lean meat that is soft or make tougher cuts chewy and tasty, while making sure that it isn’t too hard or too un enjoyable to chew.
Marinades Can Provide Health Benefits
In addition to improving the overall quality of your meat, marinades can help in ways that are beneficial to your body, health wise. Marinades help to reduce carcinogenic compounds that can end up being present in your meat as you grill it in high temperatures. The marinades act as a buffer so that HCAs (heterocyclic amines) and PAHS (poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) do not stick on the meat in high amounts. So, you can feel satisfied knowing that marinades not only provide wonderful taste, texture, and tenderness, but also have the ability to make your grilled meats healthier for you!
These are just a few things about marinades that make them such an awesome addition to grilled meats. Hopefully through reading a little bit more about them in the article, you’ve come to realize and have a newfound appreciation for all that marinades do for your grilled meats. The next time you want to create a delicious grilled dinner, make sure to give some thought to your marinade. It will surely make a difference!
