marinate overnight

Meaning

To marinate overnight means to soak meat, fish, or vegetables in a seasoned liquid (a marinade) for several hours, typically while sleeping, before cooking. This extended time allows the flavors to penetrate deeply and helps tenderize tougher cuts of meat.

Examples

• For the most tender and flavorful chicken, you should let it marinate overnight in the fridge.

  For the most tender and flavorful chicken, you should let it marinate overnight in the fridge.

• I forgot to marinate overnight, so the steak wasn't as flavorful as it usually is.

  I forgot to marinate overnight, so the steak wasn't as flavorful as it usually is.

• The recipe recommends that you marinate overnight, but even four hours will do in a pinch.

  The recipe recommends that you marinate overnight, but even four hours will do in a pinch.

• Be sure to cover the beef and let it marinate overnight to break down those tough fibers.

  Be sure to cover the beef and let it marinate overnight to break down those tough fibers.

• He prepared the garlic-herb mixture and left the lamb chops to marinate overnight.

  He prepared the garlic-herb mixture and left the lamb chops to marinate overnight.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I left the fish to marinate overnight in a heavy lemon juice mixture.

  ✓ I left the fish to marinate for thirty minutes in the lemon juice.

  Seafood is very delicate. If you marinate fish overnight in highly acidic liquids (like lemon or lime juice), the acid will break down the proteins completely and make the fish mushy.

• ✗ I let the chicken marinate overnight on the kitchen counter.

  ✓ I let the chicken marinate overnight in the refrigerator.

  For food safety reasons, meat must always be kept cold while marinating. Leaving it on the counter overnight creates a dangerous breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If you want the tofu to absorb all the savory soy sauce flavors, let it ___.

  💡 Soak it in the seasoned liquid for several hours, typically through the night.

  Show answer

  marinate overnight

• I always prepare the barbecue meat the evening before so it can ___ in the refrigerator.

  💡 Allow it to sit in a marinade until the next day.

  Show answer

  marinate overnight