Grilling Meats: Great Marinade Ideas

When the weather's warm, it is a great time for grilling outside! From backyard barbeque parties, to casual evenings at home, chances are you will be grilling something this season. Instead of just putting your meat straight from the package right onto the grill, you might want to consider some kind of a marinade to tenderize and flavor the meat first. There is such a variety of ways to prepare your meat before placing it on the hot grill.

When you are marinading meat, you want to let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. The longer it sits, the more flavorful it will be. I like to put it all in a glass bowl, or a ziplock bag to allow the marinade to cover all the meat. Depending on how much meat you are cooking, you will need to tweak the amount of marinade you use. I am pretty much an "eyeball it" kind of a cook. A little of this, a little of that. I will give you some basic marinade ingredients, but you will have to look into the amounts. :)

Here are some great marinade ideas.

Asian Marinades

These are my absolute favorite! A good Asian marinade goes well with steak, chicken, or pork. Here are some basic tips when making your own Asian marinade.

1) Soy sauce and sugar are the main two components of a teriyaki sauce, so you'll probably want to include these. You could substitute honey for the sugar if you like.

2) Add in some garlic. A little garlic goes a long way, but the flavor is unbeatable.

3) A little ginger can heighten the Asian flare.

4) If you are going for that orange glaze idea, try adding in some orange marmalade. It works great!

5) Add a little oil to help bind everything together.

Southern Barbeque Marinade and Sauce

If you are planning on using barbeque sauce for your meat, don't forget to marinade it in some first! This will really bring out the flavors. Of course they are a lot of great store bought barbeque sauces, but here are the ingredients of a great home made barbeque sauce!

1) Use equal parts of ketchup and mustard.

2)Add in a little molasses and some brown sugar for sweetness.

3) Put in a little hot sauce for some spice.

4) Add some freshly chopped onion.

5) Add some oil to help bind everything together.

Use about half of your sauce to marinade in, and save the other half to brush over your meet while it's grilling, or use it as a dipping sauce.

Italian Marinades

When I think of Italian flavor, I think garlic and herbs! So that is just what I use. If you don't want to make your own marinade, an Italian salad dressing works great as a marinade. Or, if you do have the time and desire to make your own, here's some tips. These are great for chicken.

1) Garlic, garlic, and more garlic! Just finely chop or mince it, but don't be shy.

2) You can use fresh or dried herbs, whichever you have on hand. I like oregano, basil, and parsley. Any dried "Italian blend" would be just fine.

3) Add some vinegar for that tangy flavor. I like to use balsamic because it has a little sweetness to it.

4) Use olive oil to bind it all together.

So, there you have three great marinade ideas. Be sure to mix it up and add your own flare to these marinades! When you are grilling out, nothing beats the taste and smell of a deliciously marinated meat for dinner!