Anyone who loves a good steak is willing to go the extra mile to get the best flavor. Whether it’s the perfect method of grilling or the perfect dry rub, there are no limits to the ways you can make a great cut of steak even tastier by preparing it properly.
Another way to make your steak as flavorful and tender as possible is to marinate it. While there are rules for how long you should marinate your steak, with certain cuts of meat, you can marinate it overnight for a perfectly tender and juicy steak. If you’re looking for a simple way to enhance the flavor of your next meal, check out the best overnight steak marinades.
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Why Should You Marinate Steak?
While not every steak recipe calls for a marinade, it is common with certain cuts of meat. The marianation process can bring out all the delicious flavors in your steak and even make it as tender as possible.
Not every type of steak needs a marinade, but the simple trick of marinating your steak overnight can turn an inexpensive cut into the best steak you’ve ever made.
There are two reasons why you should marinate your steak: flavor and texture. Marinating your steak helps to bring out all the unique flavors and allow the steak to become tender. The right marinade can enhance the properties of your steak, which is especially important with cheaper cuts like skirt steak or flank steak.
Often, the longer you marinate a cut of meat, the more tender it is. With certain meats, like chicken, soaked them for too long can cause the meat to become mushy, but marinating your steak overnight provides enough time for the fibers to tenderize. If you’re in a hurry or want something simple, you can try a store bought marinade to pair with your steak.
Best Store Bought Overnight Steak Marinades
Even though making a homemade marinade requires only a few ingredients, sometimes you just don’t have the time or energy for that extra step. If you want to have a marinade or two that you can keep in the pantry for busy weeknight meals, here are some of the best store bought overnight steak marinades.
Sweet Baby Ray’s Steakhouse Marinade
You can’t go wrong with Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce. This marinade is a classic and is one of the best store bought marinades for steak. The sauce is gluten-free and has a delicious flavor packed with onion, garlic, and spices. You can use it for other meats as well if you enjoy the flavor.
A.1. Classic Steak Marinade
A.1. is another classic steak sauce and marinade. This has been the go-to steak sauce brand for many years and using it as a marinade overnight is one of the best ways to bring out the ultimate flavor in your steaks. It combines the tangy flavor of vinegar with the subtle spice of black pepper.
Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce
If you’re looking for a tangier flavor than your traditional steak sauce, teriyaki is the way to go. The Soy Vay Veri Veri Teriyaki Marinade is perfect for a variety of meals, but it’s also the go-to store bought marinade for many steak lovers.
Wicker’s Marinade
This soy-based marinade is the perfect choice for any steak and it’s specifically designed to pair well with red meat. It has a bold enough taste to enhance the flavor of your steak but it’s not strong enough to overpower it. This is important especially if you plan on letting your steak marinate overnight. The soy sauce adds a savory flavor to this marinade which keeps it from being too sweet or tangy.
Best Homemade Overnight Steak Marinade
If you do decide to try and make your own marinade, it only requires a few ingredients and they’re often ingredients that you already have on hand. Like making your own salad dressing, making your own marinade might seem intimidating at first, but the process is simple.
All you have to do is mix or blend all the ingredients together. If you have a blender, you can pulse it for a minute or two to mix the ingredients entirely. Or, if you’re in a pinch, with most marinades, you can use a mason jar or similar container and shake the jar until the ingredients are mixed.
Regardless of what method you choose, here are the ingredients for the best steak marinade:
- ½ cup of olive oil
- ⅓ cup of soy sauce
- ¼ cup of Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 ½ tablespoons of dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon of pepper
- ½ teaspoon of salt
The best thing about homemade marinades is you get to choose what goes in them and you can mix up the ingredients as well. If you want a little bit of spice, add a dash of red pepper flakes. If you want a more tangy flavor, you can swap out the soy sauce for balsamic vinegar.
There are no limits to the ways you can make your own marinade unique and cater it to your preferred taste. It’s also often healthier to make your own marinade since there will be no preservatives or artificial ingredients.
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- 4-serving meals starting at $3.77 per serving (up to 25% cheaper than HelloFresh).
- Incredible variety with 10+ weekly meal options, delivered directly to you.
- Easy to prepare meals ready in 30-minutes or less.
Tips for Marinating Steak
If you’re considering marinating your steak overnight, it’s important to note that marinating your steak may not always be necessary. While many cuts of steaks can benefit from an overnight marinade, this isn’t true for every cut.
When you purchase a more expensive cut of steak, such as filet mignon or ribeye, you might skip the marinade and do a dry rub instead. The dry rub helps to bring out the flavor of the steak and gives it a nice crust without interfering with the sear.
If you do decide to marinate your steak, here are some tips:
- The best steaks to marinate are ones that are tougher, cheaper cuts like flank steak or skirt steak
- You can use a knife to make small indents in the side of the steak to help it absorb the marinade
- If you’re marinating overnight, you can get away with a more mild-flavored marinade
- You can use store bought or homemade marinade for your steak, depending on your preferences
While marinades aren’t typically difficult to make, there’s no shame in using a marinade you already have in the cabinet as well. If you’re going to marinate your steak overnight, look for a marinade with a subtle flavor to keep it from overpowering the flavor of the steak.
Best Overnight Steak Marinades: Final Thoughts
Marinating your steak overnight is a great way to bring out all the best flavors and cook up a deliciously tender steak. No matter what type of marinade you choose, there are plenty of options that you can either buy in the store or make at home.
If you plan on marinating your steak, keep in mind what cuts of steak work best with a marinade. While it can make certain cuts of meat taste delicious, marinades aren’t necessary for more expensive cuts of meat. Next time you’re cooking up a steak, try these marinades overnight for an easy and delicious meal.
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