The secret to barbecuing marinated steaks
Marinades are a great way to add a flavour twist to barbecued steaks – not to tenderise them like many think. Read on to find out the secret to barbecuing a marinated steak just perfectly.
How much marinade
Half a cup of marinade will flavour about 500g of steak.
How long to marinate the steaks
Refrigerate the marinating steaks unless you're going to cook them within 10 minutes. Depending on how much time you have, steaks can marinate for 12 to 24 hours.
How to barbecue marinated steaks
- Use a paper to towel to lightly blot dry the steaks before they hit the barbecue. This allows the steaks to brown well.
- Don’t pour marinade over the barbecuing steaks. This makes the steaks stew and causes flare-ups.
- Brush the steaks with a little of the marinade as they cook. This keeps the steaks moist. Don't brush marinade on the steaks during the last minutes of cooking.
- Never pour raw, leftover marinade over cooked steaks. Boil leftover marinade for a few minutes before pouring it over the steaks.
- Turn the steaks once only. The more you turn, the tougher it gets.
- Let the steaks rest for 2 to 4 minutes. This allows the meat juices to relax and re-distribute which keeps the steaks tender and juicy.
Tasty steak marinade combos
- Soy sauce, a little honey and orange juice.
- Tomato sauce, a little red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard.
- Olive oil, a little lemon juice and oregano, rosemary or thyme.
- Beer, red wine vinegar, seeded mustard and honey.
Experiment with different mixes but be cautious with sugar and salt. Marinades high in sugar will burn before the steak is ready. Too much salt will take out the steak’s juices making it dry.
The latest edition of Entice gives you hints on barbecuing the perfect steak.
View Entice here (PDF, 2,582kb).
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