Build flavour before the pan ever gets hot
Match the marinade to what you are cooking
Five minutes of prep, hours of flavour
Timing and safety, done properly
Citrus or vinegar past two hours starts breaking protein down — the texture turns mushy, not tender
Always in the fridge, never on the counter — a warm marinade is a bacteria bath
Wet meat steams instead of browning. Blot it dry and you get a proper crust
If you want it as a sauce, boil it hard for a full minute first
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