Marinating Meat - Covered or Not?

[Jan Primus]

So I often marinate meat in a shallow dish in the fridge for just an hour or two...Is it necessary too cover the dish with plastic wrap? Is it about keeping the meat from drying out or absorbing flavours from other stuff in the fridge? TIA.

[Dave the Cook]

Yes, it's about keeping the meat from drying out or absorbing flavors from other stuff in the fridge. But for a couple of hours, he effect is negligible. Save your plastic.

[DesertTinker]

Maybe about keeping odors in? Saving other foods from the marinade odors?

I'd cover, cost of a foot of plastic wrap vs. cost of ruined food = no contest.

[Marlene]

You can always use a ziplock bag for marinading as well. I always cover my meats when marinading.

Edited June 27, 2008 by Marlene (log)

[TheSwede]

Using some sort of plastic bag is usually optimal, since you can completely cover the meat with minimal ammount of marinade.

[budrichard]

Zip lock!-Dick

[Smithy]

Tupperware or the equivalent. The top seals tightly and I don't feel wasteful about the wrap.

[ermintrude]

4. Covered with film in bowl or sealable plastic container.

3. Plastic bag tied.

2. Ziploc.

1. Vacuum packed.