Tips for Marinating Chicken

Chicken, especially boneless, skinless chicken breasts, usually tastes better and has a better texture if marinated before cooking. Marinades combine an acid, like lemon juice, yogurt, or vinegar, with some oil and flavoring ingredients like salt, pepper, herbs, fruits, and mustard.

• If marinating time is longer than one hour, place the marinating chicken in the refrigerator.
• Reduce oil in the marinade for more flavor. The best marinade (unlike the best salad dressing) is about half oil and half acid.
• Chicken shouldn't be marinated longer than called for in the recipe. The chicken can become mushy if marinated too long, as the acid breaks down the flesh.
• Use fresh herbs whenever possible. If you are using dried herbs, crush them between your fingers to release aromatic oils before adding to the marinade.
• Mix your marinade right in a heavy-duty zip-lock food storage bag. Add the chicken, squish a bit to mix, then refrigerate.
• Place the bag containing the chicken and marinade on a pan or in a bowl to prevent leakage.
• To cook marinated chicken, just lift out of the marinade and place on the grill or pan. Don't rinse or dry with paper towels.
• You can brush some of the marinade on the chicken as it cooks, but be sure to stop adding uncooked marinade 3-5 minutes before cooking time ends for food safety reasons.
• Discard any remaining marinade. You can place it in a small saucepan and boil for 2-3 minutes, then serve as a sauce for the chicken. Never serve uncooked marinade.