We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Do I Choose the Best Teriyaki Beef Marinade?

By Meg Higa
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,935
Share

Teriyaki, the sweet soy sauce flavor of Japan, has spread throughout the world. Bottles of it in a variety of brands are likely available in most markets near you. There are several criteria to choosing the best teriyaki beef marinade preparation. The first evaluation should be color and consistency. A quick look at the bottle’s front label will eliminate some of your choices, and a detailed study of its back list of ingredients is your final determinant.

Many people enjoy grilling with marinades, and teriyaki is a good choice for it. It’s not traditional, but beef teriyaki can also be prepared in a pan on the stovetop, as well as in the oven. Choose your favorite cut of meat, but also choose how it will be cooked. Look for bottles with labels explicitly stating its use for “marinade.”

One of the ingredients in a teriyaki beef marinade is some type of sugar. Sugar, however, has a tendency to burn quite easily. Grilling a thick cut of beef over hot charcoal to “well done” might give it a burned crust. Thin slices on a stovetop pan over low heat is more likely to produce a soft, chewy meat with no char. The traditional sugar component is a sweetened rice wine called mirin, but you can try other ingredient sources of sugar such as pineapple juice, honey or an artificial sweetener.

There is one necessary step when cooking with marinades. You have to marinate the beef before cooking, letting the meat soak in the liquid seasoning for a time. A teriyaki beef marinade is especially good for this because of its second main ingredient, soy sauce, which contains quite a bit of salt. Salt pulls liquid out of the beef tissue, replacing it with the liquid of the marinade.

In addition to injecting flavor deeply into meat, the second purpose of a marinade is to tenderize it. The essential ingredient is an acid of some type. In a teriyaki beef marinade, this is usually vinegar, but any acid will do. The acid dissolves and breaks down beef’s tough muscle tissue. Follow the bottle’s stated recommendations for marinating duration, and then double the time if it is not specified when using beef.

Along with the three main ingredients, two spices are almost always found in a teriyaki beef marinade: onion and ginger, usually powdered. If they are freshly pureed, or there are other whole ingredients such as toasted sesame seeds, the bottle must be refrigerated after opening. Combining all of the typical ingredients, it’s also easy to concoct your own homemade marinade. The only experimental issues will be sweetening and spicing to taste, and reducing over heat to thicken.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-choose-the-best-teriyaki-beef-marinade.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.