Things You Should Know For A Good Ribeye Steak Marinade

by Ken Kudra

Many people feel that the right marinade is their answer for tenderizing tough meat. Unfortunately, that is not usually the case. Marinades may make your meat taste better, but they are not really all that good at tenderizing - the effect is only skin-deep. Here is a look at the way different marinades are made and the ways in which they work.



The major types of marinade are acid, enzyme, and dairy. Overly acidic marinades can actually toughen meat, while overly strong enzymatic marinades can overdo the tenderizing and result in mush. Dairy has been put forth as a tenderizer, but it does not work for every kind of cooking.



Acid marinades are among the most common in Western cooking, and use vinegar, wine and citrus to denature the proteins in the meat, unwinding them and tangling them back together. The same general process occurs when we heat food. This mesh of proteins will trap water initially, and the steak will be more tender. However, highly acidic marinades will tighten those bonds further, forcing out the water and making the food tougher.



Because of this, a marinade that is mildly acidic is usually a better choice than one that is extremely sour. A good marinade should be there mostly for flavor, and will tenderize best if relatively week. Stronger marinades are good for tightly grained meats, but those meats are not usually put on the grill.



Enzymatic marinades can actually break down the collagen and muscle fibers. They come from sources like honeydew, papaya, raw pineapple, fig, ginger, and even kiwi. However, if you use too much, they will turn the muscle to mush without tenderizing. The length of time the meat marinates will affect this as well. The texture gets softer over time. This is the kind of activity you will find from most commercial meat tenderizers, which use papaya enzymes.



The last category of easy steak marinades is based on mildly acidic dairy products, like yogurt or buttermilk. These are commonly used in India for goat and lamb, as well as for southern fried chicken.



Steaks can be interesting in this kind of marinade, but you may need to take a look at how you are cooking them, since this is not the most common type of marinade used for them. Try curry flavors along with your marinade for a good result.



A marinade does not have to be complicated if you know what it is likely to do. Knowing your ingredients will help you routinely end up with a great product. Take a while to look at all the different options out there when it comes to marinades, and you will get the one that will work best for your steak, no matter what kind you choose.

About the Author:

You have a special date coming up and you need to know how to cook New York steak. Do not fret... it is not very difficult, especially if you apply a flavorful marinade first. Visit EasySteakMarinades.net for good advice and recipes for delicious New York steak to prepare for your special night.

Edible Herbs You Can Grow Indoors

by Palti Shipard

Herbs are the plants that provide the highest quality food, containing vitamins, minerals and trace elements. They have been used in many different ways and forms like in food, as a medicine, in cosmetics and in fragrances. Herbs evolved in order to protect themselves from microbes, insects and animals that would eat them or to protect themselves from harsh environmental conditions. It just happens that certain herbs have some beneficial compounds that we find helpful. Knowledge related to the various uses of herbs as well as the different types of herbs has been passed down from generation to generation.



Herbs are useful in many ways. They augment the flavors of foods and improve health. Using herbs in cooking can add flavor and scents and make food much more fascinating. There are plenty of herbs that are straightforward to grow and look good when grown in the home and they can make your cuisine taste really good. They have the added benefit of providing freash air within the house.



There are culinary herbs meant for cooking, and medical herbs. Ornamental herbs look good and also they are useful, they can provide you home with a nice looking effect. Here are some examples of herbs you can grow indoors.



Licorice is a blue-flowering plant, which looks like a pea vine. It is simple to grow inside and looks good too. Licorice is utilized in many traditional medical herb formulas in many cultures because it covers up the flavor of other herbs.



You can use the whole root with skin or peeled, to naturally sweeten foods. You do not need to use much. It can be used to add flavor to teas Many herbal teas sweeten and flavor their formulas with licorice.



Oregano is a perennial herb with dark green, wide leaves in opposite pairs, and pretty pink, purple or white flowers. Oregano can be found growing wild on the mountains of Greece and the Mediterranean. The herb prefers partial shade as its leaves can be burned by the full sun.



It is easy to propagate Oregano and this is often done by seeding, cuttings and root division. For seeds, it is useful to sow them in boxes and cover the seeds with only a light layer of soil. Frequent pruning can encourage stronger and more fit expansion. Oregano is really easy to propagate, the plant will send out runners when grown up. Roots grow out from these shoots. Oregano grows well as a container plant. Oregano has an important place in Mediterranean cooking and may be employed in many dishes.



Anise Hyssop is an evergreen, whose silver green leaves release a superb liquorice aniseed fragrance. The rich violet blue colored flowers are loved by bees and butterflies. The fresh or dried leaves can be used in tea or crumble the tangy flowers over fruit salad. Anise hyssop is easy to grown from seed. Established anise hyssop will produce plenty of plants for you to share, they are very simple to grow by root division.



Other herbs you can grow inside include lavender, borage, bergamot and calendula. All of these herbs have colorful flowers. Indoor herbs will make your rooms smell and look gorgeous, many herbs are pretty and very fragrant. Your indoor herb garden will provide you with color, lush foliage, and a wide selection of flowers. You can also use fresh or dried herbs and mix them with products like soap, shampoo, lotion and oil.

About the Author:

By Palti Shipard, visit Dried Herbs by the Ounce, also visit Eat More Herbs.