Before we look at the question of whether we can marinade chicken and beef together, it will be helpful to understand what a marinade is and why we marinate meat in the first place.
What Is a Marinade and Why Do We Put It On Meat?
A marinade is a liquid mixture used for soaking foods, particularly meats before they are cooked.
Marinating adds flavor and usually contains ingredients that tenderize the meat, in effect beginning the cooking process before heat is applied.
The tenderizing action can be done with acidic ingredients such as lemon or other fruit juice, vinegar, or wine. It can also be done with enzymes such as are found in papaya, pineapple, or ginger.
Breaking the proteins down enables liquids and seasonings to penetrate the meat, flavoring and moistening it in the process.
Marinades are especially important when grilling meat because of the intense heat being used. Grilling can cause harmful substances to form on the outside of the meat. Acidic marinades reduce this tendency.
Also, marinades keep meats moist while grilling them over high heat. Chicken breast and pork chops in particular can dry out very quickly because of their low-fat content.
Store-bought marinades are available but it is easy to make your own at home. See the end of this article for two free bonus recipes that are suitable for both chicken and beef!
Can You Marinate Chicken And Beef Together?
Now that we’ve got the basics down, let’s get back to our question of whether chicken and beef can be marinaded together. There is no harm in marinading them together.
However, beef would usually be marinaded for longer than chicken because it is tougher.
Also, one tends to use different seasonings for chicken and beef. This might make coming up with ingredients that work for both a little tricky. It is not impossible to do so, though.
Another thing to bear in mind is religious preferences. Some people belonging to a particular religion do not consume beef yet do eat chicken and would not like them to be mixed.
People from different cultures have various opinions on chicken and beef. Some have dietary preferences and limitations.
For example, some might want to consume less fat for weight loss, so they would like to avoid beef as it has more fat. This can cause a problem.
However, just because they are marinaded together does not mean that they have to be cooked or served together.
Keeping Food Safe When Marinading
The marinade will come into contact with raw chicken and beef and will pick up any bacteria that are on them. This is why it is important to keep the food in the fridge when marinading to prevent the bacteria from multiplying.
Never marinade at room temperature. Also, always throw away the marinade once it has been used and wash any containers in hot, soapy water.
Do not use the marinade from the meat/chicken for basting while cooking. Keep aside some extra “clean” marinade for this purpose.
Avoid putting the meat and chicken into aluminum foil, a metal that is not stainless steel, or pottery when marinading.
These materials can react with acidic ingredients and release unhealthy elements like lead. Use glass containers or Ziploc bags for marinading.
Guide To Marinading Them Together
You need to be conscious of the time used to marinate different types of meat. Too long in an acid marinade is not good for chicken.
A maximum of two hours is recommended for marinading poultry. Too long in an enzymatic marinade can make beef soft and mushy. Beef can be marinaded for up to twelve hours. So, what to do?
We suggest marinating them both for just two hours in a marinade that suits the flavors of both. Use tender cuts of beef so that the tenderizing component isn’t as critical.
Here are a couple of suggested recipes to end off with. For both, simply mix all the ingredients together and coat the meat with the mixture. Remember to keep it in the fridge.
1. Asian Flavored Marinade for Beef and Chicken
- ¾ cup sunflower oil
- ¾ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- ½ fresh pineapple, peeled and grated
2. Rosemary and Garlic Marinade for Beef and Chicken
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper1/4 teaspoon dried chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
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Conclusion
We hope this answers your question about marinading beef and chicken together. Yes, you can. Yes, it is safe if you follow a few rules. Please let us know how your mixed grill turns out!