Marinades are a great way to add flavor to meats as well as reduce their cooking time. A proper marinade should contain an acidic ingredient such as vinegar or wine, oil such as olive oil, and seasonings such as herbs and spices. Citrus fruit juices may be used in place of the vinegar or wine to provide the acidic ingredient that is necessary to soften the tissues of the meat.

There are several important points to remember when using a marinade:

1. The marinade should completely cover the meat
2. Always marinate meat in the refrigerator
3. Since the marinade contains an acidic ingredient, reactive containers such as metal bowls should not be used. It is best to use containers such as glass or plastic bowls or plastic bags that can be sealed.
4. Twelve hours of marinating will reduce the cooking time by 30 to 35%