MANILA, Philippines – Marinating is one of the oldest, well-known and effective food preparation tricks. Here are some tips to keep food moist, tender, and flavorful through marinating:
• An effective marinade includes acidic liquid (which is the tenderizing component in the mix), vegetable oil and seasonings like spices and herbs. Some marinating ingredients you can try are lemon and other fruit juices, vinegar, wine, beer, olive oil, oregano, parsley, onion, garlic, sauces and brown sugar. Marinating can take hours or overnight depending on the size of the food cuts, and the type of recipe.
• Slicing meat into small, thin sizes allows marinade to penetrate the pieces more quickly.
• Don’t use a metal container when marinating; acid will react with metal, affecting the flavor of the dish and possibly causing food poisoning. Opt for plastic, glass, or ceramic containers instead. Every so often, turn meat around so all parts are coated. If you choose Glad freezer sipper bag, food gets covered in marinade thoroughly since bag conforms to the shape of its contents. Using Glad freezer zipper bag helps avoid kitchen mess since you can reuse the bag! Just be sure it is used for the same type of meat to avoid contamination.
• Marinated meat is highly perishable so don’t marinate for more than 24 hours. And place it inside the fridge, not on the kitchen counter where bacteria proliferates fastest. Make sure to cover or seal the container or Glad zipper bag to avoid cross-contamination, which results in food-borne illnesses.
• As much as possible, do not reuse the marinade since it contains juices from the raw meat and could harbor bacteria.
Glad makes it easy to prepare and store great-tasting food for your family. Glad storage zipper bag and Glad freezer zipper bags seal tight to keep food fresh and keeps your refrigerator organized. Glad freezer bags are extra thick to better protect your food from freezer burns. The write-on strip takes the guesswork out of what’s in the freezer. The Glad line of wraps and bags helps busy homemakers create delicious but conveniently prepared dishes. Glad products are available in leading supermarkets nationwide.