marinate
/ˈmær.ɪ.neɪt/ IELTSAcademic
verb
- 1.
To soak food in a sauce, oil, or seasoned liquid before cooking. This adds flavor and can make the food softer.
- Marinate the chicken for two hours.
- She marinated the paneer overnight.
- Let the fish marinate in lemon juice.
- 2.
To leave something in a liquid or mixture for a while so it absorbs the flavor or effect.
- Marinate the vegetables in the dressing.
- The fruit marinated in syrup.
- He marinated the tofu in soy sauce.
Adinary Nuance
Marinate is more specific than soak, soak means putting something in liquid for many reasons. Marinate usually means food, and the liquid is flavorful, like oil, spices, or vinegar. People use it before cooking, not for simple washing or cleaning. It is different from season, because marinating takes time and uses liquid.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ướp
- Spanish
- marinar
- Chinese
- 腌制
- Japanese
- 漬け込む
- Korean
- 재우다
Etymology
Marinate comes from French mariner, meaning 'to pickle or preserve in brine.' It entered English in the 17th century through cooking language.
Common phrases
marinate overnightmarinate the chickenmarinate in olive oil
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is marinate the same as soak?
- Not exactly. Marinate usually means soaking food in a seasoned liquid for flavor.
- What is the difference between marinate and season?
- Season means adding salt, spices, or herbs. Marinate means leaving food in liquid for some time.
- Is marinate used in cooking only?
- Mostly yes. It is mainly used for food and cooking preparation.
- How long should I marinate chicken?
- It depends on the recipe. Many recipes suggest at least 30 minutes or several hours.