6x The benefits of marinating

Marinating enhances the texture and flavor of your final product. This offers a wide range of benefits. We've listed the most important ones below.

1 – Add more flavor or change the taste
Improving or modifying flavor is the number one reason we marinate. Generally, we use marinades to enhance flavor most often when preparing meat or chicken—think satay, steaks, and schnitzels. Changing flavor is also a common application. For example, with meat cuts that naturally have a unique flavor, such as various types of game. Marinades then alter the flavor and thus add value to the product.

2 – Add tenderness
The ancient Romans already discovered it : marinades have an effect on meat (or other ingredients we marinate). This is mainly because the salt in the marinade activates the meat's proteins. This activation allows the marinade's flavors to penetrate the meat, making it more tender. This process is called osmosis.
The cooking time depends on the meat cuts used. By tenderizing the cuts, you can enhance the quality of the meat or shorten the cooking time.

3 – Extend shelf life
Marinated products have a longer shelf life. This is because products have a specific " AW value " : this refers to the "free water" portion of the product. Meat, for example, typically has an average moisture content of 70%.
Using marinades positively influences the AW value because the marinade we use is bound. The marinade also largely seals the product from external influences, such as light and oxygen. Especially when we vacuum-seal marinated products correctly, we can potentially extend the shelf life even further.

4 – Make it visually appealing
Shine is what marinade visually adds to the final product. Marinating significantly changes the appearance and makes it more appealing. And the eye wants something too: most of the products we make are primarily sold based on their appearance, because an attractive product simply sells better. By using different colors and patterns, we can also create a wide variety of options.
Roasted products, such as spareribs, are already seasoned and cooked. When these products sit on the counter for a while, they often dry out a bit. However, applying a marinade to the outside of the product makes it visually appealing for a longer period of time.

5 – Adding Attachment
Another important advantage of marinating is that pre-marinated products provide an ideal base for other additives to adhere to the product. For example: schnitzels. Using a marinated schnitzel not only adds flavor to the meat but also allows the breading to adhere well to the exterior.

6 – Increase returns
Marinating can also increase the yield of your final product. For example, with meat and chicken, marinating increases the initial weight, resulting in a heavier final product. A commonly used method for this is tumbling.

Want to know more?
Marinating is a useful tool for optimizing your final product, and it's also relatively inexpensive. Would you like advice on the best marinades and applications for your situation? Then contact one of our specialists .