It doesn’t seem appropriate to discard leftover marinade. In fact, it seems quite wasteful. The savory mixture is tempting, and you will try to think of ways to reuse it.
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Can You Reuse Marinade ?
The best plan would be to not reuse marinades. The reason is that the marinade has been in a container of some kind with raw meat. Therefore, the marinade probably is full of bacteria.
Does Boiling Marinade Kill Bacteria?
The FDA has excellent information on foodborne bacteria here.
If you simply must reuse marinade, you have to boil it. While it is true that most foodborne bacteria die at 165 degrees Farenheit, it can take quite a long time. The higher the temperature, the quicker the bacteria die. If you are going to reuse marinade, boil it for at least 5 minutes.
Boiling may alter your marinade a little bit; add more liquid if needed after boiling.
Related: How to Tenderize Chicken with Baking Soda
A Better Marinade Plan
Once you have made your marinade, instead of putting your raw meat into the marinade, which exposes all of your marinade to the raw meat, pour your marinade onto the meat. One the meat is sufficiently covered, you can save the rest of the marinade.
The best way to implement this method is to make a double batch of marinade, so that only half of it is devoted to the current meal being prepared, and you still have a full batch leftover.
This leftover marinade can simply be kept in the refrigerator and used how you see fit, with no need to boil it.
Marinade Safely
All unused marinade should be stored in the refrigerator, and all marinating should be done in the refrigerator.
Always marinate in a sealed container.
What to do with Leftover Marinade
- If it is leftover marinade that has not been exposed to raw meat, simply store it in your refrigerator and use it as you normally would
- If it is leftover marinade that has been in contact with raw meat, boil it for at least 5 minutes, allow it to cool, and then store it in the fridge until you use it
Summary
Marinating is a great way to tenderize your meat while enriching the flavor.
However, it is also a great way to cross contaminate your food and cause food poisoning.
Are you wondering what to do with marinade after use? Follow the steps above and enjoy your marinades without worry.
