Knapplc's Jerk Recipe

[Metroid]

Yeah that's a myth, the salt in a marinade works much the same way the salt in a or brine works. Neither dry out the meat, and in fact they it make it more moist. Here is the science behind brining. The high salt level in the brine effects the the structure of the muscle tissue, it makes it so the muscles cannot contract as much...the more the muscles contract the more tough the meat is. So if the muscles contract less then the meat is more tender. Also the salt also interacts with the proteins in the meat, I've read it called "osmosis", allowing the cells to absorb more water.

The problem you may be having with meat drying out in marinades has nothing to do with the salt and everything to do with any acids in your marinade. Acids effect the meats proteins too, it kind of "opens the meat up" to allow flavor to seep in. However if acids are left on meat too long they can actually cook the surface causing the meat to dry out.

[AussieDodger]

The thing about marinating meat is that you are not supposed to do it for a long time. 30 min is probably the longest you want to do marinate as you don't want to dry out the meat.

I've gotten complaints when I only left it in for 30 minutes.

That's when you fell asleep and she couldn't push you off?


Zing!

[Metroid]

The thing about marinating meat is that you are not supposed to do it for a long time. 30 min is probably the longest you want to do marinate as you don't want to dry out the meat.

I've gotten complaints when I only left it in for 30 minutes.

That's when you fell asleep and she couldn't push you off?


Zing!

too easy, good effort though.

[Yoda]

The thing about marinating meat is that you are not supposed to do it for a long time. 30 min is probably the longest you want to do marinate as you don't want to dry out the meat.

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this. I've been marinating beef and chicken overnight for years, and it adds moisture and flavor, it doesn't remove it. I suppose if you caked your meat in salt it would dry it out, but that would take a while or you'd have to use a boatload of salt. For the most part you're not going to use enough salt or leave it on long enough (24 hours, tops) to pull juices out too much. Plus, since marinades have a liquid component, they typically add moisture, not remove it.

Of course when you marinade something it adds flavor but the salt dries out the meat. It's not my opinion. It's a fact.

[Dan Lambskin]

The thing about marinating meat is that you are not supposed to do it for a long time. 30 min is probably the longest you want to do marinate as you don't want to dry out the meat.

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this. I've been marinating beef and chicken overnight for years, and it adds moisture and flavor, it doesn't remove it. I suppose if you caked your meat in salt it would dry it out, but that would take a while or you'd have to use a boatload of salt. For the most part you're not going to use enough salt or leave it on long enough (24 hours, tops) to pull juices out too much. Plus, since marinades have a liquid component, they typically add moisture, not remove it.

Of course when you marinade something it adds flavor but the salt dries out the meat. It's not my opinion. It's a fact.

not all marinades have salt in fact, i just made some delicious chicken kebabs for Mothers Day that i marinated overnight in EVOO, Fresh Lemon Juice, Garlic and Rosemary...they were also had some Stew Beef done in EVOO, Balsamic and Rosemary that i let sit for just a few hours

[Yoda]

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this. I've been marinating beef and chicken overnight for years, and it adds moisture and flavor, it doesn't remove it. I suppose if you caked your meat in salt it would dry it out, but that would take a while or you'd have to use a boatload of salt. For the most part you're not going to use enough salt or leave it on long enough (24 hours, tops) to pull juices out too much. Plus, since marinades have a liquid component, they typically add moisture, not remove it.

Of course when you marinade something it adds flavor but the salt dries out the meat. It's not my opinion. It's a fact.

not all marinades have salt in fact, i just made some delicious chicken kebabs for Mothers Day that i marinated overnight in EVOO, Fresh Lemon Juice, Garlic and Rosemary...they were also had some Stew Beef done in EVOO, Balsamic and Rosemary that i let sit for just a few hours

That's true... I was just generalizing all marinades. It also depends on how much salt you put in it but generally, you don't want to marinate anything over night.

[Dan Lambskin]

Of course when you marinade something it adds flavor but the salt dries out the meat. It's not my opinion. It's a fact.

not all marinades have salt in fact, i just made some delicious chicken kebabs for Mothers Day that i marinated overnight in EVOO, Fresh Lemon Juice, Garlic and Rosemary...they were also had some Stew Beef done in EVOO, Balsamic and Rosemary that i let sit for just a few hours

That's true... I was just generalizing all marinades. It also depends on how much salt you put in it but generally, you don't want to marinate anything over night.

FWIW i completely disagree with you. i'm curious where you're getting this information from

[Yoda]

not all marinades have salt in fact, i just made some delicious chicken kebabs for Mothers Day that i marinated overnight in EVOO, Fresh Lemon Juice, Garlic and Rosemary...they were also had some Stew Beef done in EVOO, Balsamic and Rosemary that i let sit for just a few hours

That's true... I was just generalizing all marinades. It also depends on how much salt you put in it but generally, you don't want to marinate anything over night.

FWIW i completely disagree with you. i'm curious where you're getting this information from

From experience mostly. We cook a ton and rarely eat out.

[Metroid]

The thing about marinating meat is that you are not supposed to do it for a long time. 30 min is probably the longest you want to do marinate as you don't want to dry out the meat.

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this. I've been marinating beef and chicken overnight for years, and it adds moisture and flavor, it doesn't remove it. I suppose if you caked your meat in salt it would dry it out, but that would take a while or you'd have to use a boatload of salt. For the most part you're not going to use enough salt or leave it on long enough (24 hours, tops) to pull juices out too much. Plus, since marinades have a liquid component, they typically add moisture, not remove it.

Of course when you marinade something it adds flavor but the salt dries out the meat. It's not my opinion. It's a fact.

Actually no, it is not a fact, it is you misunderstanding the results you're getting. When you put a dry salt rub on meat yes it will dry it out, when you use salt in a marinade or brine it does the exact opposite and makes the meat more moist. This is not my opinion, it's science. Read my post above, and if you don't believe me do a quick Google search.

Again it's not salt that is drying out your meat in a marinade its any acids you've added.