The alluring scent of well-marinated meat can make one’s mouth water even before taking a bite. However, sometimes, despite adding an array of seasonings and spices, the meat still remains tough and lacks flavor.
That’s why finding the best marinating container is crucial for achieving optimal results. Contrary to popular belief, the number of spices used does not necessarily determine the flavor. The key factors are time and proper penetration of the spices.
Professional chefs often use a simple combination of salt, black pepper and garlic when marinating their meats. But the key to successful marinades lies in using the proper tool: an ideal marinating container allows the meat to absorb the marinade for consistent and flavorful seasoning every time. With so many options available, choosing the right container can be overwhelming. To help you out, we’ve narrowed down the top 5 marinade pots on the market.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of using Marinade Pots
If you’re interested in marinating containers, it’s essential to consider both the advantages and disadvantages of using them. Initially, we didn’t fully comprehend the pros and cons of these pots as most people only highlight their positive aspects, leaving out the not-so-great ones. In this article, we’ll discuss both the advantages and disadvantages of marinating containers.
Let’s start with the benefits:
- Marinade pots come with leak-proof lids that keep the flavors intact.
- Marinades simplify the marination process by giving food plenty of surface area to be coated in sauce and then stored for later cooling.
- Pots with raised grid surfaces ensure that the marinade covers the food evenly.
- Some marinade pots allow the marinade to seep into your food from beneath.
- This reduces cross-contamination risk when refrigerating the product
Now let us consider some potential drawbacks – though this only applies to certain types of marinade pots. It is best to avoid containers that are not BPA-free or don’t meet food safety standards because these may lack a quality seal, leading to air infiltration and cross contamination. Likewise, pottery bowls may react with acid in marinades, creating uneven cooking due to insufficient space for mixing spices evenly throughout food and tossing regularly. Lastly, metal containers should also be avoided since they chemically react with acids present in marinades, altering its flavor significantly.
In conclusion, marinade pots do have their disadvantages but these can easily be overcome by selecting the optimal container for your requirements.
Top 5 Best Marinating Containers Reviews for 2023
Our research revealed a variety of marinating containers. However, no matter which tool you use, marinade only treats the surface area of meat while salt will tenderize it. To make your search simpler, we’ve spent hours verifying the quality, durability, food safety and overall performance of each product we’ve handpicked. Let’s take a closer look at each one now.
1. Cuisinart CMT-500 Marinade Containers
At the top of our list are Cuisinart 2-pack marinade containers. If you’re not familiar with this renowned brand, they have been crafting high-end kitchenware and appliances since 1990s. Although more expensive than some options, investing in these pots pays off. Available in vibrant red or jet black, these marinade pots will surely impress any chef or host!
The red container is ideal for marinating meat, while the black one can be used either to serve or store your prepared meals. This simplifies the marinade process since there’s no longer need to wait overnight. Simply place your cut up meat inside a red container, add your preferred marinade mix, and rub it all over with your finger tips.
Once done, tightly close the leak-proof lid to let the marinade rest in your refrigerator, intensifying its flavor and increasing juiciness. While waiting, you can focus on other food preparations. The snapping lid keeps all of the flavor inside and its built-in handle makes transportation from fridge to grill a breeze. Once cooking is finished, store your meat in the black tray measuring 14.5″ x 8.5″, which is BPA-free and ideal for compact storage.
Cuisinart marinade containers boast several impressive features, such as their stackable design, two leakproof locking lids, ergonomic handle for convenient transportation, red container to prevent cross contamination and black container ideal for serving cooked meat.
2. Tupperware Serving Container for Seasonal Marinating
Tupperware’s Season-serve Marinating Container is an exceptional product that provides a dependable marinade for meat. With 75 years in the business, Tupperware has earned its customers’ trust and durability while staying committed to sustainability. Measuring 12.5 inches long, 10.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches high, this spacious container can hold two large cuts of meat securely.
Its unique red and white color combo stands out on your kitchen counter. The container features grids to ensure even marinade distribution around the meat. This means you get a consistently seasoned cut. The large container design enables you to flip your meat without any spills. You can also carry it to picnics and outdoor events with confidence since it seals securely, protecting against leaks.
Defrost and store your meat in the fridge with ease, thanks to its nearly airtight seal that maintains freshness. Plus, this container is dishwasher-safe and resistant to damage caused by chipping, cracking or peeling. Plus its high-domed design provides more space for marinating thicker or larger cuts of meat.
The blue seal clasps onto the base to guard against leaks while the pyramid-shaped grid design lets the marinade penetrate the underside of the meat for even seasoning. In summary, Tupperware’s Season-serve marinating container is a high-quality, durable, and efficient product that guarantees perfect marination every time.
Key Features:
- Blue seal clasps onto the base and protects against leaking
- The pyramid-shaped grid design of the base and seal let the marinade penetrate the underside of the meat
- The airtight seal helps to store effectively
- High-domed, a large container for stacking large-cut meats
- Dishwasher safe
3. Agtrade Large Marinating Glass Bottle with Lids
AGTRADE offers this 112 oz container with locking lid that can comfortably fit a whole chicken, vegetables and tofu. It’s perfect if you need room to move while marinating. One of the greatest advantages to this container is that you can mix and marinate your meat inside it – not only convenient, but it saves you from using multiple bowls.
You can store this container in the refrigerator to marinate meat properly, and it’s even microwave and freezer safe. Constructed from durable glass with a BPA-free plastic lid that seals airtight, you can keep your food at optimal freshness with this container. Plus, its silicone seal can easily be removed and cleaned – making it ideal for marinades or other food storage items.
Plus, its lid prevents leaks so you can flip it over easily to allow spices to penetrate evenly into your meat. Perfect for families – this container serves up to four people! Marinating your meat properly will enhance its flavor and tenderness, while an airtight lid helps preserve moisture and juiciness. In conclusion, this container is an ideal choice for anyone needing a convenient container to marinate and store food.
4. Jim Beam Marinade Boxes with Vacuum Seal Pump
If you’re someone who frequently hosts guests or simply craves grilled meat on a whim, you know the struggle of marinating meat properly in a short amount of time. Fortunately, Jim Beam has the perfect solution. They provide an extra-large glass marinating container with an airtight seal to create a vacuum inside the jar, opening up meat pores and allowing marinade to penetrate more quickly into tissue.
Traditional marinating takes hours, but this container speeds up the process to less than an hour so you can enjoy your succulent meat in no time. Plus, it’s BPA-free and user friendly with a built-in vacuum pump to open up the meat pores for optimal flavor and tenderness. Once your meat has marinated, simply lock the lid with its external locks and use your vacuum pump to extract any air trapped inside. When ready to cook, unlock the lid and press in the center of the air spot so that all pressure can escape.
This container is ideal for marinating all types of meat, poultry, fish and vegetables. Traditional marination can lead to flavor infiltration into the tissue due to thick molecules from spices; however this container helps the flavors penetrate faster and deeper into your meat. Make sure to leave an inch of air space before closing the lid and pumping out air. Cleaning the container is a breeze, making this product ideal for anyone who wants to marinate meat quickly without sacrificing flavor or juiciness.
5. Jaccard 201301 Speedy Plus Instant Marinater
Welcome the Jaccard 201301, an innovative marinating container that can quickly marinate your favorite meat, poultry, fish and vegetables in just 5 minutes! That’s right: this instant marinater features vacuum technology which makes the marinating process faster than ever before. When marinades are applied to meat, it can take some time for them to penetrate past the skin and reach inside.
But with vacuum technology used in this container, marinades can penetrate up to 600% faster than using traditional methods. The meat tenderizer included with this container helps expedite the tenderizing process even further. Unlike other marinade containers that may leave your meat dry and unevenly flavored, the Jaccard 201301 guarantees even flavor and juicy meat every single time.
Jaccard 201301 can accommodate up to 12 boneless chicken breasts and features locking tabs that protect precooked juices, prevent messy spills and cross contamination. Furthermore, the product is highly sanitary; no need for additional platters are needed when marinading your meat quickly in this container.
Buying Guide
Instead of lamenting over spilled milk, be a wise buyer and consider some key details before purchasing. We’ve listed our top picks and described their characteristics for you; however, ultimately the decision must be yours; whatever we offer must meet your preferences in the end. So let’s dive into our buying guide that we’ve created to assist you with this process.
Marination Style
Before you begin marinating, it’s essential to determine which style best suits your individual needs. If cooking comes easily to you or waiting for the process to start is something you dread, then opting for an expeditious method may be advantageous. Traditional marination containers or those with sealed lids may take longer to absorb marinades but they preserve food quality and reduce cross-contamination risks.
These containers are perfect for serving meat, vegetables and other food items. On the other hand, there are marination containers with vacuum pump technology which allows quicker absorption of sauce ingredients. It ultimately depends on what style of marinating best suits your individual circumstances.
Durability
It is essential to consider durability when purchasing a product in order to guarantee it lasts for an extended period. One way of evaluating durability is by inspecting the materials used. Check customer reviews and evaluate quality before making your final decision. When selecting a marinating container, options include high-quality BPA-free plastic or glass. Glass may be more fragile compared to plastic so if you feel confident caring for glass marinade pots, then they could work just fine; just remember that some glass pots have thicker walls which may reduce cracking or damage better than others. Be sure you weigh all options carefully before making your final choice!
Size and Shape
Selecting the ideal marinating container is essential to guarantee that your meat gets fully marinated. The size should correspond to the weight of your cuts of meat, as this ensures there’s enough room for them to absorb all of the marinade. When marinating a whole chicken or large cut of chicken breast with vegetables, a small container won’t do. Therefore, make sure the container you choose accommodates the size of your meat perfectly. When it comes to containers, square-shaped ones tend to offer more volume than round ones. This helps prevent meat from folding inside the container and instead spreading out evenly throughout. Based on these considerations, we suggest opting for a square-shaped marinating container for optimal results.
Weight
Though weight may not have an enormous effect on performance, it’s essential to consider how easy it is to transport and carry. Glass containers tend to be heavier than plastic ones; thus, if you want something lightweight yet easy-to-transport and carry, plastic-made or lighter containers are your best bets. By selecting a lighter option, you’ll enjoy hassle-free transport of your marinating container wherever needed.
Additional Features
When it comes to marinade containers, having extra features can make a big difference. As we’ve seen in reviews of different marinade pots, some offer useful extra functions that we think you’ll appreciate. For instance, certain containers allow you to repeatedly flip the contents in order to ensure even distribution of spices throughout your meat. Furthermore, some come equipped with built-in meat tenderizers which create more openings for marinade penetration. The good news is that these advanced features don’t come at a hefty price tag, making it worthwhile to invest in a marinating pot with extra capabilities. By investing in such an item, you can take your marinating game to new heights and enjoy even more flavorful meals from it.
Price and Variants
We all know how irresistible bargains can be, but you need to consider your options carefully. Are you in search of a low-cost product that won’t last long or would rather spend more for something that will last? Obviously, the latter would be preferable; so be the more responsible person and stop searching for savings when an item that will fulfill all your needs is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I marinate in a stainless-steel bowl?
Yes you can
Is it safe to marinate in a plastic container?
Yes
Is it safe to use metal containers to marinate foods?
Metal containers should never be used for marinating foods as they can lead to chemical contamination that is unsafe for consumption. Instead, opt for non-reactive containers like glass, plastic or ceramic so the marinade doesn’t react with the metal and create health risks.
Is bag marination better than bowl marination?
Bag marination is an ideal option if you need to save space and avoid the cleanup effort. Additionally, it’s a better alternative than marinating inside a bowl since resealable bags are non-reactive and provide ample room for meat marinade. On the other hand, if you prefer a container that doubles as both storage and serving tray, then using a bowl may be preferable. Ultimately, your preference and convenience should ultimately determine your choice between bag or bowl marinating.
Should I cut my meat before putting it inside the marinating container?
If you plan to marinate large cuts of meat, ensure the marinating container is wide and tall enough. However, for smaller items like steak, cutting before marinating allows better flavor absorption. To further maximize flavor absorption, cut slits into the steak before marinating – it works like magic!
