Undoubtedly, your local supermarket shelves are full of marinades to add flavor to the meats you prepare for your family. Unfortunately, commercial marinades are often expensive and may be high in sugar and sodium. If you want more control over the ingredients you put in your marinade and would like to save money at the same time, why not try making your own at home? Here's how to make a marinade:
The anatomy of a homemade marinade is simple and straightforward. To make a marinade, you'll need several basic ingredients. You need a substance to serve as a weak acid such as vinegar, lemon juice, white wine, or fruit juice. The acid has the benefit of helping to tenderize the meat so it's soft and delicious. You'll also need a flavoring agent which can vary depend upon your individual taste but can consist of a variety of herbs and seasonings. An oil such as canola oil or olive oil is added to serve as an emulsifier to keep the oil based and water based ingredients mixed. Finally, you'll need a salt. Not only does salt add flavor but it also helps to tenderize the meat to make it tender and juicy.
To make a marinade, choose a glass or ceramic container to hold your ingredients. Start by mixing together your chosen oil and acid in a three to one ratio. Stir thoroughly to ensure that the two parts are completely blended. Now comes the creative part. Add your chosen seasonings and herbs to give additional flavor. You have an infinite number of possibilities here. Open up your spice cabinet and start experimenting with spices such as garlic, black pepper, garlic, ginger, and cumin to name a few. Once you've added your spices, add salt to taste. When you make a marinade, you can also get creative with your choice of acids. For a sweet marinade, try using fresh pineapple, grape, or pomegranate juice. If you'd like your marinade to be tarter, use lime or lemon juice. White wine also adds a nice flavor to marinades.
Once you've made your marinade, marinate your meat in the refrigerator for no more than thirty minutes unless you're using the marinade as a meat tenderizer. Once you know how to make a basic marinade, you can quickly create your own custom marinades in minutes that will not only taste better but will lack the preservatives in most commercial marinades. Imagine the money you'll save!
