There's a lot of confusion out there about marinating meat and what effects it has in terms of flavor, moisture, and especially tenderizing. Nevertheless, many people wrongly believe that it does.
Scroll down for recipe for an easy steak marinade which can be used for a variety of different meats and cuts!
How Acid Changes Meat
The theory is that certain ingredients, particularly acidic ones like lemon juice, vinegar, or wine, do something to break the proteins in meat, causing it to become more tender. The theory is partly true. The acid in those ingredients does do something to meat—but it's making it firmer, not more tender.
Look no further than your nearest ceviche for proof. The whole principle behind ceviche is that marinating raw fish in acid, such as lime juice, causes the proteins to coagulate and become firm, almost as if it had been cooked with heat.
Marinating
Incorporating more flavor can be beneficial for a cut of meat that's on the leaner side, such as a sirloin steak, or even a tenderloin steak. Lean steaks tend to be less flavorful because it's the intramuscular fat (or marbling) that contributes much of a steak's flavor. This is why you so often see tenderloin steaks prepared with a strip of bacon wrapped around them.
On the other hand, rib eyes, T-bones and strip steaks don't need to be marinated. They are already naturally flavorful and juicy and don't need much more than salt,pepper or a meat rub. With expensive and good quality steaks, you want to taste the beef itself, not the marinade.
A Good Marinade
Liquids like wine and fruit juices are good for marinating, not because, but rather, in spite of the fact that they're acidic. Fruit juices contain sugars that caramelize when they hit the grill and wine contains all kinds of interesting flavor compounds, which become deeper and more complex when exposed to high heat.
The key with wine, however, is to cook off the alcohol before using it to marinate. That's because alcohol will also cause the proteins in the meat to coagulate. Even a simple marinade of olive oil chopped garlic and fresh herbs will add flavor to a steak or roast.
Marinating Only Affects the Surface
The truth about marinades is that they really don't penetrate much beyond the surface of the meat, a few millimeters at the most.
The marinade isn't soaking into the meat. It's merely coating the surface with the flavorful ingredients. This is why marinating beef in an acidic liquid doesn't turn it into ceviche. The acid simply doesn't penetrate, largely because of the amount of collagen-based connective tissue in meat. This connective tissue surrounds the muscle fibers, forming a barrier against the marinade. Fish and seafood have much less connective tissue, which is why ceviche is possible.
It's also why beef carpaccio, which is probably the closest thing to beef ceviche, is made with beef that's sliced paper-thin, which exposes cross-sections of the muscle fibers.
Acid won't have any effect on the tenderness of meat one way or another. If you marinate a piece of meat in an acidic liquid for a long time, those acids will cause the surface of the meat to take on a mealy, mushy texture. This undesirable effect should not be confused with tenderizing.
Note that because marinating is mainly about flavor and to a much lesser extent moisture, and because marinades only flavor the surface anyway, dry rubs are just as effective as marinating when it comes to imparting flavor to a steak or roast.
Ever wondered What is the best way to marinate meat?
This Greek easy steak marinade is a simple oil and vinegar mixture flavored with herbs and garlic that's a favorite with beef. Use it for marinating steaks, kebabs, and other cuts to be broiled or grilled. You'll end up with tender, flavorful meat with very little effort.
Prepare this marinade about four hours before you plan to cook the meat to give the beef long enough to marinate properly. This recipe makes enough marinade for about 1 to 1 1/2 pound of meat. If you're making more, simply double or triple the recipe.
Ingredients
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 clove garlic (minced)
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon dried Greek oregano
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Whisk the red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, thyme, oregano, and pepper together in a small bowl.
Pour the marinade slowly over the beef, making sure to cover it completely.
Refrigerate the beef and marinate for at least 4 hours before cooking.
recipe and text via spruceeats