Some cuts of meat can be tough, so what do you do about this dilemma when you want to improve the results of meaty main courses? Our cooking and baking expert, Cordon Bleu-trained pastry chef Andrea Boudewijn recommended using a marinade.
While some home cooks may question the effectiveness of soaking and basting the meat in marinade to soften the texture, Boudewijn said that the right ingredients will definitely have a tenderizing effect. The Pyrex 3-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set, McCormick’s Grill Mates Everyday Grilling Variety Pack , the Cuisinart Griddler and other essentials are included in this article to help you achieve delicious results.
Regardless of your favorite types of meats to prepare, you’ll improve the texture and flavor when you marinate them before cooking. Boudewijn explained how marinades work.
“Marinades not only add flavor, texture and color to a dish but can make meats more tender. The two main ways to do this is by adding enzymes like mango or papaya or an acidic element like lemon juice or vinegar to your marinade,” she said. “Enzymes and acids penetrate the meat and actually break down the fibrous tissue, making it softer on the teeth, more pliable for cutting, and it allows other flavors in the marinade like soy sauce, honey, and onion powder to absorb more easily in the cuts you're serving.”
Boudewijn added that salt assists enzymes in reacting and softening meat but is optional. So if you or someone you are cooking for is on a low-sodium diet, you can skip the extra salt and still get great results when you follow Boudewijn’s advice for marinade ingredients.
Tough, dense cuts of red meat like brisket, chuck roast and bottom round are examples of the types of meats that benefit the most from marinades, Boudewijn said. She added advice about the best time recommended for marinating. “Never marinate meat longer than 24 hours — less time if marinating small cuts. Twelve hours tends to be a good all-around amount of time.”
Some ingredients work better than others for tenderizing meat. Our expert recommends using ingredients with a high acid content for the marinade, including vinegar, pineapple, mango, citrus juice, buttermilk, kiwi, yogurt, papaya and other acidic foods. “The more acid, the faster/deeper the softening process,” Boudewijn said.
We asked our expert for ideas for making a marinade that will make your favorite meats tender and tempting.
“There are so many good ingredients to include in your marinade. Mine is simple and usually contains some combo of soy sauce, onion powder, smoked salt, freshly ground pepper and fruit juice. There are lots of other ingredients you can use though!”
Pyrex 3-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set
A measuring cup set will be useful for measuring and pouring marinade. The Pyrex set of three includes 1-cup, 2-cup and 4-cup sizes. Each one is made of strong tempered glass and includes a spout for added convenience.
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McCormick Grill Mates Everyday Grilling Variety Pack
Made by a top brand in spices, this set includes four tasty spice combinations that will give your meat marinades flavors that pop.
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Once your meat is marinated, it’s simple to cook it on a panini press. The Griddler doubles as a grill, as it features a versatile hinge that makes it possible to use the machine in the open or closed position. The temperature controls are easy to operate to achieve perfect cooking temperatures.
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Farberware Measuring Spoons, Set of 5
When you spice up your meat marinade, a set of measuring spoons will guide you in achieving precise flavoring. This affordable set includes five color-coded spoons.
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Nordic Ware Baker’s Delight 3-Piece Baking Sheet Set
Boudewijn said baking sheets are ideal for roasting marinated meat in the oven. Made by a top brand, this set includes a half sheet, quarter sheet and jelly roll pan.
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Chicago Metallic Professional Roast Pan
A spacious size, nonstick cook surface and aluminized steel construction make this roast pan ideal for large cuts of meat after they’ve soaked up a flavorful marinade.
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KitchenAid Gourmet Utility Whisk
Whipping the ingredients of your marinade together won’t take much effort when you use a whisk. This one has a thick handle that’s simple to grip and a stainless steel top that resists corrosion.
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OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs
Tongs are essential for placing the meat in the marinade, then moving to the grill or a pan for roasting. OXO Good Grips tongs are long, durable and feature an easy-to-grip handle that resists slipping during use.
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If you decide to salt your marinade, a unique salt like these sea salt flakes will make it easy to achieve the right flavor without adding too little or too much.
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It’s easy to roast small pieces of marinated meat on skewers for flavor-rich shish kebab. This set includes 10 skewers made of durable stainless steel. A storage bag is included.
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Jennifer Manfrin writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
