When Steak Marinade Is A Good Idea
The most common reason people use steak marinades is to tenderize tougher pieces of beef. Generally, cheaper cuts are the ones that can benefit from a good steak marinade. Skirt steak, hanger steak, flank steak, and chuck are a few options that work well with a marinade.
As these steaks soak in the marinade, the acids in the marinade go to work breaking down fibers and tenderizing the meat. The longer the steaks stay in the marinade, the more time they have to tenderize and get more flavor.
Another reason to use marinades is to add extra flavor to steaks that arent as full of beef flavor as others. Again, these are usually the cheaper cuts.
Grilled steak is another excellent option for marinades. The grill tends to leave a char on steak, and some people dont find the char very appetizing. But the flavor of a marinade can create a more pleasant taste that some will find more palatable.
How Long Do You Have To Marinate Steak
How long you marinate steaks really depends on how thick the steak is before cooking. If youre using a Tri-Tip steak, which is 2-3 at its thickest part, youll want to marinate it for 6-7 hours. Skirt teak or flank steak is one of my favorite cuts of beef for a few simple reasons- its inexpensive, super tender and easy to cook! Skirt steak often is folded in the package so once you remove it, youll see its quite thin. Thin steaks dont need to marinate very long! I aim for 3-6 hours, and usually end up marinating mine for 4 hours.
This really is the BEST Steak Marinade ever! Its very simple to make as it uses just 6 ingredients that you likely already have in your pantry. Marinade for 3-6 hours, depending on the type of steak youre using. Small, thin round steaks take less time to marinade than flank steak, but I love flank steak, so thats what I use most often. The marinade yields a flavorful, juicy steak that everyone loves. Its reminiscent of teriyaki with a slight twist- try it and youll see what I mean!
What To Serve With Steak
Nothing pairs more perfectly with steak than potatoes and vegetables. Try this marinated steak recipe with any of these side dishes for a winning meal!
- Flank Steak
- Skirt Steak
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How To Make Steak Marinade:
Mix all the marinade ingredients together in a bowl. Add the steaks of your choice in a sealable bag.
Then pour the marinade on top of the steaks in the bag.
Seal and toss about to make sure that the steak is completely covered in the marinade.
Place the bag in the refrigerator for 4-24 hours.
When you are ready to cook the steak, allow the steaks to come to room temperature.
Then cook the steak based on your preference. You can also baste the steaks with the excess marinade. Allow the steak to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
What To Do With Extra Marinade
If you are planning to recycle the marinade, I’d recommend boiling it for about 10 minutes after you use it then cool it completely in refrigerator before the next use. You’ll likely lose some flavor, but it should still be delicious.
If you mixed the marinade in a bowl and reserved half of it , then you can use it for other purposes such as a salad dressing or sauce for other dishes. I’ve even used leftover marinade in stir fries before!
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Other Recipes For The Grill
If you love grilling as much as I do, then you should check out my Grilled Flank Steak with Mexican Corn Salad. Topping this recipe off with a corn salsa is delicious! I even like to eat it as a snack! These Asian Steak Roll Ups are healthy and keep me full for several hours. I also love making kabobs on the grill. These Italian Marinade Steak and Vegetable Kabobs are perfect for any lunch or dinner. And this Greek Marinated Chicken is hands down the most flavorful and juicy chicken dish! The secret is in the marinade!
What Does A Marinade Do
Marinades are made from acidic or enzyme components like wine, vinegar, lemon juice, or any combination of them. The acids change the consistency of the meat, making it tender.
Marinades usually contain salt herbs & bold flavors which in turn flavor the meat.
Marinades help with caramelization to give that nice brown crust we love so much.
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How To Apply A Steak Marinade:
- First, decide what steak marinade recipe youre going to make. Weve listed several of our favorites homemade recipes below, but a quick online search will result in hundreds of recipe options. If youre pinched on time, you can buy one too .
- Next, make the steak marinade recipe. Most marinades use very simple pantry ingredients like olive oil, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
- If you want a deeper flavor, prick the surface of the meat with a fork before marinating. Less tender cuts should be marinated for anywhere from 20 minutes to 24 hours. The longer you marinade the beef, the stronger the flavor will be.
- Then, place the steak marinade and steak in a sealed plastic bag or glass container. Immerse the beef in the liquid, and refrigerate until its time to cook. Dont use a metal container for the marinade since the acidic ingredients can react with metal.
- Once youve placed the steak in the steak marinade mixture, place it in the refrigerator for anywhere from 20 minutes to overnight. Never marinate beef at room temperature for health safety reasons.
When To Skip The Steak Marinade
Are there times when skipping the use of a steak marinade is a good idea? Absolutely.
In most cases, youll want to skip the steak marinade unless you buy budget-friendly cuts. More expensive steaks, like ribeye, strip steak, and filet mignon, end up juicy and tender without the help of a marinade. Plus, many of the high-priced steaks are also full of flavor, so they dont need any help in that area, either.
Filet mignon is one exception to the full-of-flavor rule. Its not as beefy as other cuts, but its one of the most tender cuts there is. Therefore, a marinade isnt the best option. However, it can benefit from an au jus or an herb butter placed on top after cooking for just the right amount of flavor.
Another downfall to steak marinade is that it creates a lot of moisture on the outside of the steak. Although you should always pat your steak dry before cooking it, marinade soaks into the meat, and some of that escapes during the cooking process. Therefore, if youre looking for a perfect sear on the outside of your steak, you might end up disappointed when using a marinade.
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Meal Prep Tools For This Recipe
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning these steaks into your weekly lunches.
- I get all my grass-fed beef from Butcher Box, conveniently delivered to me frozen.
- Get a meat thermometer to make sure your steak is cooked through
- Use these Ziploc bag holders if you’re marinating the steak then freezing it
Best Steak Marinade Ever
Besides being the best marinade for all types of beef steaks, the marinade is also awesome with the following:
- Pork
- Seafood
- Vegetables
- Roasts
Anyhow, this is the way I like my steak done medium, but well done on the edges .
I never bother to make large batches, as this Marinade takes only minutes to make, and it contains all standard, everyday pantry ingredients.
This way I can also make a single batch, double or even more, depending on how much meat we want to cook on a specific day.
I always have to share the recipe with all our family and friends when we have them over for a barbecue or dinner ! Many people refer to this recipe as the best steak marinade for bbq, but it is so much more.
Using this Marinade turns out the meat , tender and juicy, each and every time.
Cooked to perfection and ready to be served
Update:
Over time we have used the Marinade not only with most red meats, but it is also very good with chicken and pork.
My daughter also marinated a pork roast and they loved it !
She did however, marinated the roast over night as she had a busy day ahead.
Every now and then she turned over the marinade container. And then she cooked the roast, using her rotisserie gadget in her oven. Below the roast she had a dish with plain, lightly salted potatoes into which the juices from the roast dripped.
Hearing about how fantastic her pork roast turned out, I just had to try it, also with the potatoes in a separate dish below the roast. Absolutely amazing !
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Grilling Vs Pan Frying Steak
You can cook these steaks on the BBQ or on the stovetop. Using a cast iron skillet is best for pan frying as the heat is distributed more evenly and gives the steaks a better cook. Grilling is a great option as well to get that smoky flavour most people associate with steak. Either way, you’re going to be looking at approximately the same amount of cook time and cooking on high heat for a short time period for best results.
How To Grill Sirloin Steaks
Once the steaks are marinated, I highly recommend cooking them on a grill for the best flavor. To grill the perfect sirloin steak, follow these simple steps.
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What Is The Ultimate Steak Marinade
We all want our grilled steak to be flame-kissed with a rosy, juicy center, so the ultimate steak marinade should aid us in those goals. It also makes good sense to spend money on a great steak and be scrappy when it comes to the marinade ingredients. The ultimate marinade should freeze well and be effective in an hour or overnight. This marinade also works well on a variety of steaks.
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What Is The Best Way To Tenderize A Steak
If you take a little extra time to tenderize your steak, you can really take a cheap cut of meat to the next level. Especially if you tenderize and marinate the steak!
The easiest and quickest way to tenderize your steak is to salt it. Yes, you read that right, just salt. A coarse salt, such as sea salt, is your best option here.
Simply lay your steaks out on a plate after you marinate them and cover in a layer of salt. Flip them over and repeat.
Let the steaks sit for 30 minutes to allow the salt to break down the muscle fibers and create a natural brine. This will also allow the steaks to come to room temperature which will help the steaks to cook more evenly.
Pat the steaks dry before you cook them to help get that picture-perfect, flavor-locking sear. After your steaks are cooked, allow them to rest 5 minutes before serving.
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What Type Of Steak Should You Use For This 3
When it comes to choosing the best steak for grilling, look for a tender cut of beef. The most tender cut is beef tenderloin, also called filet mignon. The filet comes from an underused muscle in the beef, so it has very little fat or connective tissue. It cooks up very quickly, and it takes well to marinades. Another grilling favorite is the ribeye steak. This steak has plenty of fat and marbling, which protects it from drying out as it cooks.
You don’t have to go with an expensive steak, either. Top sirloin the steak we cooked to test this 3-ingredient steak marinade recipe is inexpensive and it has a great, beef-forward flavor. Other steaks that take well to acidic marinades like this one include flank steak and skirt steak. These steaks have more connective tissue than traditional grilling steaks, but they cook up quickly and become tender when marinated for up to 12 hours.
Acid Makes Tougher Cuts Perfectly Tender
The acid component of the marinade is what helps to soften and break down tougher cuts of meat. It tenderizes muscular connective tissue and can completely transform steaks that would be chewy into something that melts in your mouth. Vinegar is a great choice and you can select the perfect flavor based on your preferences and the other ingredients in the marinade. Balsamic, red wine, apple cider or rice vinegar can all be great options depending on what youre cooking. You can also use the acid from citrus fruits like lemon, lime or orange for this part of the marinade.
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Can You Make These Steaks Into Shish Kabobs
Yes! Sirloin is one of the best cuts of steak for making shish kabobs. When using this marinade to make kabobs, I recommend cubing the steak, then adding it to the marinade. This means, more of the steak surface area gets to soak up the delicious marinade.
After marinating the cubes of steak for at least 20 minutes, skewer the steak by itself or with veggies like bell peppers and onions. Grill the steak shish kabobs over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, flip and continue grilling for an additional 4-5 minutes.
The Pop Of Papaya Marinade
This one’s probably a bit different than steak marinade recipes you’ve used in the past. Papaya naturally tenderizes tough meat fibers through an enzyme in its skin, while also adding a natural flavor to it. This recipe just requires the papaya skins, but don’t let the fruit go to wastea fresh papaya salad goes great with this marinated steak.
What You Need
- 1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves
- 34 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 14 teaspoon ground ginger
- 14 teaspoon ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, stir scallions, mustard, thyme, pepper, ginger, and cumin. Rub the mixture evenly over the steak.
Put 2 of the papaya skin halves in a glass baking dish, flesh side up. Place steak on top of them, then top with remaining 2 papaya skins, flesh side down. Be sure the skins are touching the meat’s surfacethat’s what will break down the fibers to effectively marinade
Cover baking dish and refrigerate for 2 hours or more.
Heat grill pan to medium high.
Discard papaya skins and lightly oil both sides of steak, seasoning with salt. Grill the steak about 5 minutes on each side. Carve the meat across the grain into thin slices and serve.
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Can You Make The Marinades Ahead Of Time
You can make the marinades themselves and keep them in mason jars in the fridge up to one week in advance. I wouldn’t recommend any longer than that, especially for marinades with fresh herbs as they can lose their flavour. But creating the marinades ahead of time is a great way to cut down on prep time if you like to do a little bit of meal prep earlier in the week before cooking.
The Garlic Special Steak Marinade
Some guys love garlic, some hate it. During dates and romantic evenings, it’s probably best avoided, but for a hearty night of steak at home, you’d do well to make friends with the bulb. Here’s a simple, delicious recipe that will allow you to do just that.
What You Need
- 6 cloves garlic, smashed and coarsely chopped
- 15 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
- Coarse salt and pepper
What To Do
In a mixing bowl, combine oil, garlic, and thyme. Add steaks, making sure to completely coat. Cover dish and refrigerate at least 1 hour or as long as overnight. Turn steaks a few times if marinating overnight.
Prepare grill, lightly oiling grates. Remove steak from marinade and season with salt and pepper, discarding marinade. Place steak on grill, and cover, turning once, until meat is desired doneness .
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