What Is a Marinade?
Marinades are an emulsion of acids, oils and aromatics to flavor and help tenderize meat or fish by immersing them in the emulsion prior to cooking. Pork chops lend themselves particularly well to marinating.
Pork Chops
Marinate pork chops for grilling. Blade or shoulder chops, rather than center cut, are ideal for grilling and marinating.
Classic Marinade
A good pork chop marinade combines cider vinegar as an acid and butter as oil with onion, garlic, salt and pepper as aromatics. You can add Worcestershire sauce-itself a combination of vinegar and aromatics-mustard, brown sugar, paprika or cayenne pepper for extra flavor.
Southwestern Marinade
Another good marinade for pork chops consists of peanut or olive oil, lemon and lime juice and New Mexico and ancho chiles. Other aromatics can include onion, garlic, oregano, cumin, cinnamon and dark brown sugar to give it a Southwestern flavor.
Making the Marinade
Proportions can vary as long as there is sufficient acid to create and hold an emulsion with the oil. Whisk in the oil, or shake the ingredient to emulsify the oil.
Timing and Method
Smaller cuts like pork chops only need to marinate for three to four hours. Immerse the meat in the marinade in a nonreactive container with cover or a zip-close plastic bag, and turn periodically to coat both sides.
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