It’s grilling time and a great way to kick your meat up a notch is to utilize the beauty of marinades.  It will help bring out the natural flavors as well as adding the flavor of the marinade to whatever you are throwing on the grill.  Marinating for the appropriate amount of time will also affect the tenderness of the meat.

Different types of protein require different marinating times due to different thicknesses and abilities to absorb the marinade.  The best way to get the most of your marinade is make sure that the marinade and protein is placed in a Ziploc bag with all the air removed and then placed in the refrigerator.

Make Your Marinade Penetrate

• For fish, meats or poultry, remove any layers of fat and skin. It's better to have the marinade in the meat and not the parts you don't eat!
• Do not poke holes in meat before marinating. This actually drains out the juices.
• Don't use very thick marinades, since these don't penetrate the food very well.
• Be sure to cover the food completely with the marinade. Occasionally turn the food while marinating to ensure a full coat.

Marinate Safely

• Never reuse marinade for a different recipe. Marinades in contact with raw items (especially meat) can contaminate other foods, possibly causing food poisoning.  If using left over marinade as a baste while grilling, be sure to use the last of the marinade at least several minutes before you're done grilling (on both sides) to allow it to cook and kill off any harmful bacteria. Boiling the marinade for a few minutes before using can also kill bacteria.
• Do not use metal containers. Acidic ingredients in marinade (i.e. vinegar, lemon juice) can react with the metal.  This not only introduces an unpleasant taste, but also increases the risk of food poisoning. Ideally, use plastic, glass or ceramic containers, covered with plastic wrap.

A great way to try a marinade is to find a great deal!  Allegro Marinades have a $1 off UNLIMITED coupon on their Facebook page. This unlimited coupon means that you can save $1 off each flavor to find just the right one!

Go to Facebook.com/allegromarinade to get your coupon and make grilling part of your last days of summer!