Marinating Meat

[Derek Yoder]

When you marinade meat will it take longer for that meat to be done? I did ribs that had been marinating in pineapple juice for about 8 hours on Sat. The flavor was great, but after 6 hours (3 open, and 3 foiled) they were just a bit undercooked. Now I will say that I had trouble getting my smoker up to temp, and then noticed that while in the foil, I missed a temp drop and the WSM was running at around 197 degrees for 2 mins or so. I'm guessing that I should have been fine with out the temp issues, but just wanted to make sure that I shouldn't count on a slightly longer cook with meat that had been marinated?

 

[Paul K]

Derrek,

No, marinating won't increase cook times. A marinade only penetrates the meat minimally and only adds some flavor. On the other hand, many will agree that brining can shorten cook times, but the 2 processes are totally different.

Paul

 

[Derek Yoder]

Thanks Paul, and that should have been that the cooker was at 197 for 20 mins or so, not 2. I'm guessing that the low temps were the colprit. Thanks again.

 

[K Kruger]

20 min doesn't matter but 6 hours, 3 of which in foil, and still not ternder means your cooktemps were quite low throughout the cook.