8 Tips & Tricks for Marinating Meat
Marinating meat is an easy way to add flavor to a steak. Here are 8 tips and tricks, including what to do and what to skip.
A little extra flavor in a steak can come easily from a marinade. Here are the do's and don'ts of marinating meat, in 8 tips and tricks.
1. Pack your meat with flavor
A beautiful cut of premium Pre grass-fed beef can be delicious with just salt and pepper. But if you want to step it up a notch, marinating your beef is the obvious choice. A well-chosen marinade can pack your meat with a powerful punch of flavor, and it can also help tenderize your beef, for that melt-in-your-mouth texture we all love. Not sure which cut to marinate? See which steak should I choose?
2. Pick the right marinade for your cut
First things first: pair your marinade to your meat. Just like with wine, certain cuts of meat go with certain spices and acids to bring out the best notes of flavor. If you are grilling a ribeye, a New York strip, or another fattier cut, opt for a simple marinade like a honey sriracha marinade or a ginger marinade.
For leaner cuts like Pre Petite Sirloin, add more complex flavors to make up for the lower fat. Try a Korean beef bulgogi marinade, which uses soy sauce, pear slices, garlic, and ginger to build a complex flavor profile. Or stick with more traditional marinade ingredients: honey, maple syrup, and brown sugar for sweetness, and lemon juice or vinegar for acidity. Soy sauce is also a great way to add a bit of salt. Just remember to taste and adjust until it is right.
3. Score meat before marinating
Years of testing by home cooks and professional chefs have taught us that marinade typically does not penetrate further than two to three millimeters deep. So to get that marinade flavor below the surface, score your meat. To help the marinade go as deep as possible, prick your cut of Pre grass-fed beef repeatedly with a fork, or score it with a knife.
4. Flip and stir
While marinating, make sure both sides of the meat get a chance to soak. Place your meat in a zipper-lock bag, or in a dish big enough and deep enough to hold the meat and marinade, and cover it with plastic wrap. About halfway through the marinating time, flip the meat over and stir the marinade a bit to get the flavors soaking into the other side. Follow your recipe for timing. For example, our sriracha marinade goes in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 4 hours.
5. Refrigerate while marinating meat
Microorganisms and bacteria love warmer temperatures, so do not let your meat sit out on the counter while marinating. Put it in the refrigerator to keep it out of the temperature danger zone.
6. Clean up your marinated meat before grilling
If your marinade is thick or sticky, wipe the excess off your beef before it goes on the grill. Excess marinade can cause nasty flare-ups. Less marinade also makes it easier to keep an eye on the cooking process, so you know when your meat is done. Use our steak temperature chart to check doneness, and give it a good sear with these searing tips.
7. Don't recycle your marinade
It may be tempting to save the extra marinade and serve it on the side once the beef is off the grill, but do not do it. Used marinade is contaminated with raw meat juices and is unsafe to consume. If you want extra marinade, set some aside before you begin marinating.
8. Get your beef cuts from Pre
For an even bigger, bolder flavor, start with Pre's 100% Grass-Fed & Finished beef. It has no added hormones and no sub-therapeutic antibiotics, and it is Non-GMO Project Verified. Use our store locator to find where to buy, and you will be grilling perfectly marinated steaks in no time. Want more ideas? Read Memorial Day rubs and marinades for your cookout.
FAQ
How long should I marinate beef?
Follow your recipe. For example, our sriracha marinade goes in the refrigerator for a minimum of 1 hour and a maximum of 4 hours.
Can I reuse marinade that touched raw beef?
No. Used marinade is contaminated with raw meat juice and is unsafe to consume. Set aside some marinade before you begin if you want extra for serving.
Should I marinate on the counter?
No. Always marinate in the refrigerator to keep the meat out of the temperature danger zone.
Where can I buy Pre 100% Grass-Fed & Finished Beef?
Pre Brands beef is a lean, High Protein, delicious way to keep dinner healthy. Use our store locator to find a store near you, browse all Pre products, or find us on Instacart.
