How to Marinate Chicken Quickly for Tender, Juicy Results

Delicious tasting chicken served in restaurants has one thing in common – a good marinade. Whether generic or a signature concoction, marinades produce delicious tasting and moist meat; thus, no amount of recreating a chicken dish at home will yield the same results if you do not know how to marinate chicken.

Marinating meat is considered a long process. But is it still possible to make flavorful and juicy chicken without the luxury of time on your side? We'll let you in on a little secret — marinating chicken can be done faster than a load of laundry in the washing machine.

Learn to do it well with these basics.

Marinating, What Is It Exactly?

Marinades combine herbs, spices, condiments, and other seasonings to boost the overall taste of pork, beef, chicken, and even seafood. Think of the marinade mixture as a concentrated sauce that imparts flavor to all meat fibers.

Not to be confused with a dry rub, a method to season the outer part of the meat, marinades are meant to magnify the entire cut of chicken's overall taste. It is possible to use the duo at the same time. But to do them correctly, remember to pat the marinated meat down with a paper towel before applying the spice rub.

The Myth of the 24-Hour Marinade

Most cooks know that marinating chicken before cooking will make it taste better. The argument is on how long to marinate chicken. Many believe longer is better, but letting the meat sit in the marinade mixture for too long can mess up the protein structure. Too much acid in the seasoning solution can activate a faux cooking process, similar to how kinilaw is "cooked."

The longer it is in acids, the mushier it becomes. When learning how to marinate chicken for frying, grilling, and roasting, it is best to keep the marinating time to 30 minutes for chicken fillet. The rule of thumb is the smaller the cut, the easier it is for the marinade to permeate the chicken. Chicken can be marinated for 6 to 24 hours, provided your mixture does not contain acid components like vinegar, calamansi, or other citrus fruits.

How to Marinate Chicken in Minutes

For special occasions, you can whip up your signature chicken marinade. But for everyday meals, this simple and fail-proof marinade recipe teaches how to marinate chicken for frying.

You will need:

• 1 pc whole chicken, cut into pieces, or you can also use breast fillet
• 2 pcs Knorr Chicken Cube
• 1 cup hot water
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup all-purpose cream
• 2 pcs eggs, beaten
• 2 cups Japanese breadcrumbs
• cooking oil for frying

Steps:

1. Begin by diluting Knorr Chicken Cube in hot water.
2. Pour the mixture onto the chicken pieces, leaving it to marinate for 1 hour if bone-in and 30 minutes for fillet.
3. In 3 shallow dishes, prepare the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
4. Drain out the marinade from the chicken.
5. Proceed by coating the pieces in flour.
6. Next, dip into the beaten eggs.
7. Roll in breadcrumbs.
8. Take a pan and fill it with enough oil, heat on high.
9. Fry and cook the chicken until golden brown.
10. Drain on paper towels.
11. Serve and enjoy!

And there you have it, easy fried chicken marinade for juicy and tender meat each time. Other than frying, marinades are perfect for barbecues like the local chicken inasal.

5-Step Chicken Inasal Recipe

Barbecueing is a healthier alternative to frying. Here is an easy recipe to learn how to marinate chicken inasal.

You will need:

• 1/2 kg chicken, cut into serving pcs.
• 1 cup cane vinegar
• 6 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 pc ginger, grated
• 2 stalks tanglad, pounded, and sliced
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/4 cup annatto (achuete) oil
• 1 pc Knorr Chicken Cube, mashed

Steps:

1. Combine all ingredients except the chicken in a food-grade plastic bag or container.
2. Make sure everything is well mixed before adding the chicken.
3. Allow the chicken to sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour for bone-in, 30 minutes for fillet.
4. Grill your inasal over hot coal or pan fry.
5. Use extra marinade to baste the meat.

The recipe is comparable to how to marinate chicken BBQ. The main difference is that tanglad and achuete are part of the inasal recipe.

Cooking Marinated Chicken

When cooking the chicken you’ve marinated, all methods are fair game. You can roast, grill, and throw it in a slow cooker, air fryer, and sous vide.

Marinating has always been a fantastic way to add flavors to every part of the meat. Good marinade allows the natural flavors to come out, and the addition of Knorr Chicken Cube ensures you get meatier-tasting chicken dishes.

Aside from the flavor enhancement, prepare marinades to lock in the moisture so that every piece of chicken you cook is juicy and tender. No more wondering how to marinate chicken or how long to do it. Follow our marinade tips, and you’ll surely end up with mouth-watering chicken every time.