Don’t ruin expensive steaks by marinating them; quality cuts like rib-eye, porterhouse, T-bone, filet mignon, and NY strip are great as they are don’t need to be marinated. For more info, see How to Understand Cuts of Beef. [2] X Research source
In general, the more surface area that’s exposed to the marinade, the better the marinade will do its job.
Most marinades use one of the following acidic liquids as a tenderizer: wine, vinegar, or lemon juice. However, don’t go overboard: while acidic marinades work by breaking down (denaturing) protein bonds, putting a steak in a highly acidic marinade (pH around 5 or lower) for more than two hours has the opposite effect, tightening the protein bonds, drawing out moisture, and making the meat tougher. There are also tenderizing enzymes in ginger, kiwi, papaya, and pineapple. It’s possible to go overboard with these, too, turning the steak into mush. Dairy products like Greek yogurt and buttermilk can also have a tenderizing effect, although the way this works is not fully understood. Most likely, it’s due to the lactic acid content.
Marinating a flat cut of meat in a large ziploc bag can be very useful since you will need less marinade to completely cover it here than you would inside a bowl. If you’re running low on time, you can work in the marinade by massaging the meat. Otherwise, time will do the work.
You can also use a vacuum marinator to force the air out of the bag and instantly marinate your steak. [6] X Expert Source Ollie George CiglianoPrivate Chef & Food Educator Expert Interview. 30 August 2021.
2 medium shallots, minced 1 tablespoon dried thyme leaves 3 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar 1/4 cup soy sauce 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt 2 teaspoons freshly ground pepper 1 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil 2 tablespoons of white vinegar
1 1/2 cups steak sauce 1 tablespoon soy sauce 1/3 cup Italian-style salad dressing 1/3 cup honey 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
