Marination is the process of soakingfoods in aliquid before cooking. The idea is to addflavour, and totenderize tougher cuts ofmeat.[1]
The liquid in question, the 'marinade', may beacidic (made with ingredients such asvinegar,lemonjuice, orwine) orenzymatic (made with ingredients such aspineapple,papaya orkiwifruit).[2] In addition to these ingredients, a marinade often contains oils,herbs, andspices to further flavour the food.
The process may last seconds or days. Different marinades are used in different cuisines. For example, inIndian cuisine the marinade is usually prepared with a mixture of blends.