Problembeginnerdraft
Marinated meat turns mealy or mushy
Also searched as: mushy marinade, mealy meat, pineapple marinade too long, meat falls apart in marinade
In short: from pineapple, kiwi or papaya and strong acid attack the surface. Marinated too long, it turns mealy.
Picture it
Like a jumper washed too hot: the surface is never quite the same afterwards.
What happened in your kitchen?
Question 1
Was there pineapple, kiwi or papaya in the marinade?
All causes, by frequency
2
- Raw pineapple, kiwi or papaya in the marinade
The enzymes keep cutting up protein on the surface.
Next time: Marinate for half an hour to an hour at most · Or briefly boil the fruit first
- Too much acid for too long
Acid cooks the surface chemically; it turns white and crumbly.
Next time: Use acid sparingly; keep the marinade oily and spicy · Add acid only shortly before cooking
Sources · 1
- Harold McGee: On Food and Cooking (2004)