Before looking at how to marinate chicken breasts, it is helpful to ask why people marinate anything. While marinating is sometimes done to improve the tenderness of the meat being marinated, the biggest reason for doing it is to let flavors seep in that weren't there before. This is especially true of chicken breasts, which tend not to be tough.

This is a key to understanding how to marinate chicken breasts because it gives several clues as to how to do it properly. A brief marinate bath won't allow the flavors to sink into the chicken, which rather defeats the purpose, for example. In addition, the stronger the flavor and the more acidic it is, the better it will sink into the meat.

It should also be noted that boneless chicken breasts marinate faster and more evenly, since the bone prevents absorption of the flavors. Even cutting the meat off bone-in chicken breasts is preferable to marinating while the breast still contains the bone. It can be done, even with the bone, but the results won't be as good.

Though this can be said of many meats, chicken does best of all with a sweet marinate. There is something special about the sweetness of this kind of marinate, that seems to naturally enhance the flavor of the chicken. This doesn't preclude the use of something acidic as an ingredient in the marinade, however. Here is an example of a quick and easy marinate that you don't even need to make from scratch, but which has both sweet and acidic ingredients:

1 can fruit flavored soda pop
1 can or bottle Hawaiian sweet and sour sauce
1 small can crushed pineapple
2 tablespoons teriyaki sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 eight ounce cans tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, basil, oregano, thyme, and parsley

Mix the preceding together in a bowl, and add 4-8 chicken breasts to the bath. Allow the breasts to soak at least 4 hours in this mixture; turning every half hour so all the meat is thoroughly soaked. A longer period is preferable, so overnight is even better.

Allow to drain unless the meat is baked, since sugar burns easily.

Note that there is both sugar and acidic foods in this simple marinate, yet it is easy to make. The flavors given to the chicken make it a winner with nearly everyone. Even kids like it because of the sweetness given to the meat, yet the chicken is still healthy to consume. The exception is for those with restricted diets, in which case, ingredients can be omitted or changed.

Marinating chicken breasts is easy. Mixing your own special marinate also isn't hard, since you know what you like.

Knowing what the marinade accomplishes and how it works is a key, and allowing enough time for it to do the work it is supposed to do is the other. Experimenting with various ingredients is encouraged. The result is succulent and tasty chicken everyone will remember for a long time.

If you've never marinated chicken, give it a try. Your taste buds, and those of your family, will thank you later on.

Learn more about this author, Rex Trulove.
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