Before refrigeration existed, marinades were relied upon to preserve fish, meats and other foods for long periods of time. The oil prevented oxygen from coming into contact with the food and the acids helped to slow the growth of bacteria. Nowadays, however, marinades are used primarily to add flavor to food. It may surprise you at just how many different cultures use marinating to add interesting layers of flavor to food.

In this lesson, you will learn how to incorporate more flavor into food by marinating it. You will learn about the components of a marinade and what their functions are. You will be able to prepare a marinade from scratch and determine the appropriate marinating times for the type of food you are marinating. Finally, you will know how to handle used or leftover marinades.