To use, combine marinade and 8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs in a large glass or ceramic bowl. Toss until chicken is evenly coated, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and marinate in the refrigerator for1 to 8 hours. Cook chicken using desired method. Show
I Made It Print Nutrition Facts (per serving)79Calories7gFat5gCarbs1gProteinShow Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition FactsServings Per Recipe 8Calories 79% Daily Value *Total Fat 7g9%Saturated Fat 1g5%Sodium 631mg27%Total Carbohydrate 5g2%Dietary Fiber 0g0%Total Sugars 4gProtein 1gVitamin C 4mg18%Calcium 7mg1%Iron 0mg2%Potassium 32mg1% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption. Before cooking or grilling chicken, you should consider adding some marinade for tenderizing the meat and getting flavorful chicken. However, you need to determine how long to marinate it and which marinades to use. If you don’t know how long you should marinate chicken, don’t worry, you are in the right place. I’ll share with you some of my tips and tricks and help you learn how to prepare perfect marinated chicken. Quick Summary
Chicken Marinating BasicsKeep in mind that chicken meat requires a shorter marinating time compared to other types of meat. The marination time depends on whether you opt for fried chicken, barbecue chicken, or some other preparation method, as well as what part of a chicken you want to prepare. Don’t worry; I’ll dig deeper into this later. For now, let’s take a closer look at different types of marinades. The type of marinade you opt for will impact the flavor of the meat and how long will the chicken marinate. Acidic MarinadeThe acidic marinade is one of the common types of chicken marinade recipes. The contents of acid marinade break down meat proteins and make them tender. Cutting through your whole chicken is made easy by the acidic contents after they denature proteins. Things you can use for your acidic marinade include:
Oil MarinadeWhen they want to marinate meat, most people prefer oil marinades as they spread well on the meat and adhere properly. Moreover, those having BBQ prefer using oil marinades as they minimize chicken burns. Take a look at the common oil meat marinades:
Cream MarinadesThese are usually dairy-based products. Dairy products also contain lactic acids, though their acidic nature is mild and has less action on meat. However, they are still great marinades for tender chicken meat. Cream-based marinades have the following ingredients:
Enzymatic MarinadesThe enzymes in these marinades break down muscle fiber and connective tissue to tenderize the meat and add more flavor [1]. An enzymatic marinade may include:
3 Forms of Chicken Meat MarinadesMarinades used for meat preparation can come in the following forms: PastesPastes are lathered to form a layer on top and left to rest on the meat. Usually, they are sour-based cream or dairy-based marinades like yogurt. You might get them from your local grocery store as they are usually ready-made. The tandoori chicken marinade is an example of a paste marinade used on pork loins and poultry. It is commonly used in Italian dressing. RubsThey are often used for BBQ and pork tenderloin recipes. As the name suggests, these marinades are rubbed on the meat. The commonly used rubs for marinating meat are salt, brown sugar, oregano, and pepper flakes. LiquidsThere are plenty of marinades in liquid form you can use on beef, poultry, and pork. You dip the meat into the liquid and let it stay in it for some time. Some common liquid marinades are fish sauce, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Soy sauce is the most common among these chicken marinade recipes. Related Articles:
How Long Does it Take to Marinate Chicken?If you are unfamiliar with the time it takes to marinate chicken, here’s the answer - it can take 3 minutes, 3 hours, more than a day, or up to 2 days. Before marinating your chicken, ensure you have all the right ingredients for seasoning your meat.
Chicken marination is aimed at adding flavor and making the meat tender. Always use the right marinade depending on your cooking plans. How Long to Marinate Chicken BreastsYou may marinate poultry breasts for up to two days in a fridge. However, you can also opt for a quick marinade and achieve the wanted results after two hours. It all depends on the type of marinade you choose. Carefully select the type of marinade you intend to use. Some marinades tenderize the meat, while others make it tougher. Since chicken meat is delicate, marinating chicken breasts for a long time may affect the surface texture. Boneless chicken breasts are easy to work with as the absence of bones makes them simple to prepare. How Long to Marinate Chicken ThighsWhen it comes to marinating chicken thighs, a good marinade should take less than 24 hours. Chicken thighs are more tender compared to chicken breast. Short-time marinades may work best along with less acidic marinades that have minimum impact on the meat muscle fibers. Do you know one can marinate the thighs in under 20 minutes? If you are in a hurry, you may use rub marinades like salt or something similar, and it will work fine. Lemon juice may also fit the description if it's one of your preferred food seasoning ingredients. How Long You Should Marinate Drumsticks (Legs)How often do you find marinated drumsticks? Chicken legs are some of the sensitive and delicate parts for marinating. However, with my help, you can marinate your drumsticks properly. To achieve the sweet spot, you should marinate these delicate meats for under 2 hours. Chicken legs make up dark meat, and you shouldn’t marinate them for more than 12 hours. If you keep the drumsticks in a marinade for too long, they may over-marinate and start falling apart. The marinating process should be short, and you should opt for mild marinades. Lactic acid marinades and little salt may give that additional flavor you are looking for. I suggest marinating your drumsticks a few minutes before cooking them. And during cooking, use indirect heat to achieve the best results. Read More: How to Grill Drumsticks How Long Does it Take to Marinate Whole Chicken?For a decent marinade concentration, you will need 4 hours of marination. You can also opt for an extended soaking - more than 12 hours. However, don’t leave the meat to soak for more than 2 days. According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, chicken can be left in marination in the refrigerator for two days [2]. This means 48 hours should be the maximum time to marinate foods, so they remain healthy for consumption. The time used to marinate your chicken will depend on the type of marinade you are using and the size of the chicken. Here is a breakdown of time taken to marinate chicken based on different factors to achieve extra flavor: Bone in breast, skin on1 to 3 hoursBoneless, Skinless chicken breast30 minutes to 3 hoursBone in thighs, Chicken quarters, wings1 hour to 6 hoursWhole bird 4 hours to 12 hoursStandard Safety Tips for MarinatingFood safety precautions should be paramount, especially when you are handling raw chicken. Always wash your hands thoroughly and clean up items you use for handling meat. Whenever there is a leftover marinade, it is better to dispose of it. Bacteria present in raw meat might find their way onto the marinate, and if you reuse it on the next meal, you might suffer food poisoning. Don't worry about the bacteria on the meat as they are killed during the cooking process. As such, be keen not to undercook your chicken to minimize the chances of ingesting bacteria. Another thing, the type of container you use for carrying or storing food should have a lid and be airtight. The material of the container also matters, and you can use glass containers, resealable bags, and reusable plastic food containers. Metal containers or aluminum containers may react with acid marinades and impact the chicken flavor. The meat's color might also change due to the reaction. Lastly, one should not use countertops for marination. The whole marination process should be done in the refrigerator to minimize bacterial growth and spread. The safest option is when meat marinates at a low temperature. Related Articles:
Final Thoughts on Marinating Your ChickenMarinades help add different flavor profiles to your meat, no matter if you want to prepare chicken, pork loin, or any other meat. Whether you just add some salt, opt for typical marinades many people use, or choose uncommon and original marinades, you can transform your chicken dish into an extraordinary meal. Now that you know how not to overdo chicken marination, the marination process is simple. Keep in mind that you don't have to let your chicken stay in a marinade for days to achieve rich flavors; it can be just a matter of hours. You can be creative with your ingredients and create a new recipe from your favorite food seasoning spices. Have that unique ‘secret blend’ and surprise your friends. Whatever you choose, pay attention to how long you leave the chicken meat to marinate. How long can chicken thighs marinate for?How Long Can I Marinate Chicken Thighs? You can marinate chicken for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. It is OK to marinate chicken thighs overnight using this marinade. I don't recommend marinating the thighs any longer than 24 hours, as the meat will start to break down.
Can you marinate chicken thighs too long?Can I Marinate Chicken for Too Long? For the most part, you shouldn't plan on marinating your chicken for longer than 24 hours. However, the USDA's website indicates that you can safely marinate chicken for up to 48 hours. Past that, however, you're going to risk turning your chicken into a mushy mess.
Is 2 hours enough to marinate chicken?As a general rule of thumb, follow these timelines as you perfect your skills at how to marinate chicken: Boneless chicken: 30 minutes to 2 hours. Bone-in chicken breasts, drumsticks, wings, or thighs: 1 to 12 hours.
Is 20 minutes long enough to marinate chicken?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.
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