Korean BBQ Marinated Chicken (2024)

FAQs

Is marinating chicken for 30 minutes enough? ›

As a general rule of thumb, follow these timelines as you perfect your skills in how long to marinate chicken: Boneless chicken: 30 minutes to 2 hours. Bone-in chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings, or thighs: 1 to 12 hours.

You can marinate chicken anywhere from 2 hours up to 24 hours, though marinating chicken for even 15 to 30 minutes can impart flavor and moisture into smaller pieces of meat. Generally, bone-in cuts of chicken, such as wings, drumsticks and breasts, will require a longer marinade time than their boneless counterparts.

Most recipes for marinating meat and poultry recommend six hours up to 24 hours. It is safe to keep the food in the marinade longer, but after two days it is possible that the marinade can start to break down the fibers of the meat, causing it to become mushy.

Contrary to popular belief, marinades never work their way far into a piece of chicken – they will always be surface flavours. Oil and fat won't penetrate flesh at all, but salt will get a little way in if used in large enough quantities (1½ tbsp salt per 250ml liquid), as it loosens the muscle fibres.

Marinating chicken is done 30-45 minutes before cooking the meat. This is the most essential step to infuse moisture and create an appetizing dish. A handful of spices, yogurt and acid are all you need to make it juicier and tastier.

Avoid over-marinating

While you can cook and eat chicken that has been marinating for more than 24 hours, you're risking exposing yourself to some strange textures. Chicken can get both mushy and tough when it's been left to marinate too long. If it's been more than 48 hours, the USDA recommends throwing it out.

When marinating meat, longer is not always better. And in fact, depending on certain variables, there is a point at which the quality of that meat will start to deteriorate if you marinate it for too long before cooking. Instead of flavorful, tender meat, you could end up with a mushy mess.

Don'ts of Marinating

Don't add too much salt. Too much salt drains moisture from the meat, causing the meat to dry out and preventing flavors from absorbing. Don't re-use marinades or use them as a sauce. Marinades are in contact with raw ingredients; therefore, the marinade could contain harmful bacteria.

A general guideline for marinating chicken is to allow the meat to sit and infuse in the ingredients for 2-3 hours. Chicken can be left in marinades that do not contain acids for a bit longer, but the added time won't necessarily make them work any better.

However Nestle, and USDA say that marinated chicken should not be kept in the fridge for more than 2 days.

How much marinade is enough? ›

A general rule of marinade-to-meat ratio is one-half cup of marinade per pound of meat. Times vary depending on the type, cut and size of the meat. Denser meats such as pork and steak can marinate for 24 hours or even longer. A lighter meat like chicken can marinate between 2 hours and 24 hours.

Remove the meat from the marinade and pat dry before grilling or broiling. For dry-rubbed chicken: Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Dry the surface of the chicken well, then coat the chicken with the dry rub. For the best flavor, massage the spice rub into the chicken.

Try poking holes for better penetration when you only have a short time for marinating the meat. It'll help maximize tenderness in the Flank steak without risking too much of a good thing.

Based on the type of marinade you're using and the kind of meat, your food could marinate for 30 minutes or overnight. Beef and lamb are always up for a long, leisurely soak, but delicate meats like seafood and skinless chicken only need a minimal soak.

Marinating times vary greatly depending on the kind, cut, and size of the meat. Denser meats like pork and steak can marinate for 24 hours or even longer. Lighter meats like chicken can marinate between 2 hours and 24 hours. Seafood marinating times range from 15 to 60 minutes.

Regardless of what type of protein dinner happens to be, make sure to keep your marinating period under 24 hours. And when we say under 24 hours, we're also talking way under 24 hours. Marinating chicken, lamb, pork, or steak for just 15 or 20 minutes actually makes a huge difference.

Can I use Grill Mates® marinades to marinate longer than 30 minutes? Yes. Be aware that the longer you marinate, the stronger the flavor will become. Beef can be marinated overnight and chicken for several hours in the refrigerator.