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What You Should Never Do When Marinating Chicken

A bowl of chicken marinates in spices.
nerudol/Shutterstock.com

Marinating is an amazing way to add a punch of flavor and juicy tenderness to your meat dishes. You can add seasonings, improve texture, and keep your whole meal tasting scrumptious as long as you marinate correctly. Yes, you can do it wrong.

There are a few things you want to keep in mind when learning how to marinate chicken, otherwise, you could end up with a disappointing meal.

One of the most important things you should consider when marinating your chicken is to avoid metal containers. Marinate your chicken in a glass container, a plastic Tupperware, or even a plastic bag, but avoid metal containers at all costs.

Stasher Silicone Reusable Storage Bag

Stasher bags can be great for marinating.

Eat This, Not That! spoke with Chef Nate Berg, culinary manager at UNFI. According to Berg, the acids in the marinade can react with the metal of your container, resulting in an off flavor that can ruin your dish.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t use a metal spoon to create your marinade. However, pay attention to what material you leave your chicken to sit in. It’s much better (and tastier!) to use glass or plastic when marinating chicken. According to Berg, zip-lock bags are a great marinating tool since you can easily fill them, close them, and squeeze all the air out without taking up much space.

The next time you’re planning to grill chicken or have a flavorful baked chicken dish, be sure you marinate it correctly.

Abbey Ryan Abbey Ryan
Abbey Ryan is a storyteller, preferably of stories in written form. Across the 5 years of her professional writing career, her work has been featured in The Chicago Tribune, Amazon, The Medical News Today, and more. When she's not writing (which is rare), she's likely traveling, painting, or on the hunt for a good snack. Read Full Bio »
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