Marinating is an important step in preparing flavorful dishes like fajitas, roasted chicken, or barbecue. The right container for marinating can make all the difference in ensuring your food absorbs the marinade fully and evenly. When choosing a marinating container, there are a few key factors to consider:
Type of food
The food you are marinating determines what type of container works best. For example:
- Meat: Use a shallow dish like a baking pan or glass baking dish so the marinade surrounds the surface of the meat.
- Chicken: A resealable plastic bag works well to coat the chicken fully.
- Vegetables: Go with a bowl or zip top bag for full coverage of vegetable pieces.
Marinating time
How long you marinate also impacts the ideal container choice. For short marinates of 30 minutes up to 2 hours, you can use any container. But for longer marinating times:
- Use a zip top plastic bag or covered bowl to prevent evaporation or spills in the fridge.
- Glass and stainless steel containers are ideal for overnight or multi-day marinating.
Amount of food
Pick a marinating container size based on how much food you need to marinate. Aim for a container that:
- Allows the food to lay in a single layer immersed in marinade.
- Provides enough room for stirring or turning food halfway through.
- Has at least 1-2 inches of headspace above liquid to prevent spilling.
For example, a 9×13 glass baking dish is perfect for marinating 2-3 chicken breasts or a few portions of meat and vegetables. While a 1 gallon resealable bag has ample room for a larger batch of meat or multiple servings of kabobs.
Material
Choose a nonreactive material that won’t react with acidic ingredients in the marinade such as:
- Glass
- Plastic
- Stainless steel
- Ceramic
Avoid metals like aluminum, copper, and cast iron which can impart a metallic taste.
Marinade ratio
Depending on the marinating time, you’ll need enough liquid to fully immerse the food. Some general guidelines for marinade to food ratios:
- 15 minutes to 2 hours marinating: Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup marinade per 1 pound food.
- 2 to 6 hours marinating: Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup marinade per pound.
- Overnight or multi-day marinating: Use 3/4 to 1 cup marinade per pound.
Be sure to pick a container large enough to hold the marinade and food using the appropriate ratio. And if needed, you can place the sealed container in a rimmed baking sheet or large ziptop bag to catch any leaks.
Ease of use
Consider a marinating container that’s easy to:
- Get food into and out of
- Seal or cover
- Turn or stir food
- Pour unused marinade out of
Features like wide openings, lids, and handles make the process simpler. And opt for leakproof, spill-resistant options when possible.
Food safety
For safe marinating, only use containers that are:
- Food-grade, non-toxic, and BPA-free
- Can be sealed or covered fully
- Fit in the fridge or stay fully immersed if marinating in a cooler
This prevents contamination and improper marinade cooling. And be sure to discard used marinade after marinating raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
Conclusion
The best marinating containers make it simple to fully immerse your food in marinade. Resealable plastic bags, glass baking dishes, stainless steel bowls, and lidded plastic containers all work well. Pick an appropriately sized, food safe container based on the food, marinade ratio, and marinating time. This ensures your dishes get perfectly flavored and tenderized with each marinade.