Does meat marinate while it is in the freezer?

Put a skirt steak in a plastic bag with a marinade and then promptly put it in the freezer. It has been in the freezer for a couple of days now. I want to thaw it out for dinner tonight, but I'm wondering if the meat has had a chance to marinate in its frozen state?

Best Answer

Marinating steak - apart from very acidic marinades - will affect only the outer few mm of your meat. While these are the first to freeze, they are also the first to thaw, together with the marinade.

Your total marinating time will be

(time until outer layer is frozen) + (time since outer layer thawed, before cooking)

Unless you flash-froze your meat and thaw in a microwave, this can be a few hours. In frozen state, marinating is basically stopped. So do the math, according to your desired total marinating time. You can always leave the meat thawing/marinating in the refrigerator for a bit longer, if neccesary.

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Quick Answer about "Does meat marinate while it is in the freezer?"

In frozen state, marinating is basically stopped. So do the math, according to your desired total marinating time. You can always leave the meat thawing/marinating in the refrigerator for a bit longer, if neccesary.

Will meat marinate in the freezer?

How to Use Freezer Marinades. This seriously couldn't be easier. Just combine your marinade ingredients in a zip-top freezer bag, add the raw chicken or pork, seal it, squish things around a bit to coat the meat, and then toss the bag in the freezer. The marinated meat will keep well there for up to nine months.

Does freezing meat stop marination?

There's no problem marinating and freezing a fresh steak. If you've bought more steaks than you can possibly eat, freezing marinating meat is an option. It's safe to marinate the lot of them and then freeze anything you won't prepare immediately.

Ask the Test Kitchen: How Long Will Meat Last in the Fridge?

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