marinating times

[sumosmoke]

What is the minimum time necessary for meat to sit in marinade? The longer the meat can sit in a marinade the more prominent the taste of the marinade is when eating the meat, correct (hence overnight marinades, etc...)?

I'm getting ready to smoke my first london broil and have just placed it into a mojo marinade. I'd love to get it on the smoker in 4 hours to have for a late night dinner.

With the meat only getting 4 hours of marinade time, is it worth marinating at all, or should I be patient and marinate the meat overnight and start tomorrow morning? Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[abelman]

For a London Broil, 4 hours is ok. Some of your question depends on type of marinade as well. Since you're using Mojo, you have orange, lime and lemon juice in there. As such, they are acids and will actually begin to chemically cook the meat.

This is more pronounced in Chicken and especially seafood where it's much easier to over marinate.

For my London Broil, I marinate over night to 24 hours. However, the biggest factor is not over cooking it and thus drying it out. I'd go 135-140 internal max and you'll be good to go.

A way you can compromise is take the reserved Mojo and boil it for 30 seconds. That way, you'll have some as a side with the LB if you don't have the desired kick.

 

[bb53chevpro]

Yes the longer meat sits in the marinade, the more penetration it will have. A london broil is a flank steak I think. 4 hours should be ok since it is not too thick. But it is all up to your personal taste.
Hope this helps.
Andy.

 

[camocook]

I read that a london broil can be any cheap cut of meat.Around here the markets usually label a thick piece of top of the round."America's Test Kitchen" uses bottom round.

 

[travcoman45]

4 hours is alright on a london broil, you kinda wan't to taylor your marinades and brines to the meat your usin. I use a sweeter brine on my chicken which brines overnight and a more acid marinade or brine on a tougher cut of meat. Good luck on the smoke.

 

[desertlites]

also laurel next time if you food saver it in the marinade 4 hrs. will be like 8-12-so I have read here a few times.

 

[sumosmoke]

Thanks for the info, gang!

Dlites - a foodsaver sounds like it might be a good investment with this hobby. I don't have one yet but if one of the advantages is decreasing the actual time of marinating, might be worth checking into. Thanks!