The right marinade adds color and flavor while tenderizing and keeping poultry juicy and succulent, even over the dry heat of a grill. CT These no-cook marinades can be prepared in minutes from simple ingredients. With grilled poultry, marinades make the difference between simply good and simply sensational. The right marinade adds color and flavor while tenderizing and keeping poultry juicy and succulent, even over the dry heat of a grill. How long to marinate depends upon the type and quantity of the poultry and the marinade ingredients, as well as the intensity of flavor you're after.
Spicy marinades take less time to impart their flavors than do more subtly seasoned ones.
Generally, the smaller the pieces of food with more surface area exposed, the shorter the marinating time. Boneless cubes of chicken or turkey for kabobs can marinate in the time it takes to get out the grilling gear and prepare the fire, whereas a whole chicken may need eight hours or longer to fully absorb the flavors of a marinade and become tender. Experimenting is the best way to discover how marinating times to suit your taste. Most also include olive oil to add mellow richness and to help keep the delicate flesh of poultry from drying out. Mixing the marinades is especially quick with a blender or food processor, which disperses the seasonings to make their flavors more readily absorbed.