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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask can you marinate something for too long?

41 replies

Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:05

I bought some chicken pieces today (use by 27th) and put them in a jerk marinade to have tomorrow. My mums now coming over for dinner on Thursday and she loves jerk chicken! Would it be ok to leave them in the marinade until then? Obviously they won't go off but will they go weird/not nice tasting if I leave them in that long? The ingredients, if that helps, are various spices, salt, chilli, soy sauce and lime juice. Thanks!

OP posts:
dertyyuoih2 · 20/08/2017 22:07

Yeh they will go off it they are open and exposed for that long. Once a packet is opened and the air gets too it the use by date doesn't really mean anything as they go off.

I'd freeze it marinated then get it out thurs am.

AfunaMbatata · 20/08/2017 22:08

Ewwww! Just make another batch when she comes.

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:09

They're now tightly wrapped in a sealed plastic bag if that helps? Probably better covered than they were in their original packaging. But I hadn't thought of freezing them, thanks!

OP posts:
missiondecision · 20/08/2017 22:10

Put it in the freezer now. Take it out Thursday morning to defrost.
It will be off by then otherwise.

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:10

Why ewww? They have a use by date of next Sunday and I want to use them on Thursday Confused the only difference is they have spices on them now?

OP posts:
Oysterbabe · 20/08/2017 22:10

They will go off because they are open. You need to cook meat within a day or so once the packaging is open.

sonjadog · 20/08/2017 22:11

You need to cook within a couple of days when meat has been opened. Freeze and defrost.

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:12

I'm not trying to be argumentative but why will they be off? They're in the fridge and more wrapped up now than they were originally - do you mean the marinade will make them go off? Because I would have thought the acidic marinade would keep them fresher for longer. I meant more would the flavour be affected rather than would they go off... I'm so confused now!

OP posts:
Hassled · 20/08/2017 22:12

Yes, freezing and defrosting is probably the answer. Although as long as they're fully sealed in their marinade box/bag I'm struggling to see why they'd go off if they're still in date.

MimsyFluff · 20/08/2017 22:12

I got a chicken Friday for a BBQ had 4 days left before it went off and it was off I'd freeze the chicken OP

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:13

But... but... they're more well packaged now than they were. They were in a plastic box with a film lid and now they're in a sealed plastic freezer bag which is full of marinade and tightly wrapped around the chicken in the fridge

OP posts:
StillDrivingMeBonkers · 20/08/2017 22:14

They wont go off with a 30 second exposure to air before putting in a Tupperware box with marinade and putting back in the fridge for a couple of days.

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:14

But I will freeze them to be safe Smile

OP posts:
JadeT2 · 20/08/2017 22:15

Meat generally has a shelf life of 2-3 days in the fridge once open. I wouldn't risk pushing that til Thursday. Bacteria will start growing as soon as air touches them so by then they could make you ill. Definitely freeze them.

MimsyFluff · 20/08/2017 22:15

Does anyone else find chicken goes off before the use by date? My fridge is fine so it's not my end?

blacksax · 20/08/2017 22:16

They will have been packaged in a special environment with clean air inside the packaging. The use-by date applies only if unopened and now you've opened the packaging. As a pp says, just freeze them, and they will be fine.

AfunaMbatata · 20/08/2017 22:17

It's ewww because once u open the packaging the meat starts to age.

caffeinestream · 20/08/2017 22:17

It's because you've opened the original packaging. It doesn't matter that you've resealed it - it's been exposed to the air and other substances/bacteria and will go off.

LadyMaryCrawley1922 · 20/08/2017 22:18

Ignore the stuff about it being open. People are obsessed with a the daft notion that chicken is hermetically sealed in the supermarket. What if you bought it in the butchers? It's no more open now than it was in its original packaging, and no more likely to go off if stored properly.

I think you can marinade too long, tbh, if there is acid in the mixture it can toughen the meat, if there is salt or spice it can get very strongly flavoured. It's not going to hurt you though.

kateandme · 20/08/2017 22:18

Date only applies wen unfolded in original sterile packaged state.once opened that changes to 1-2 days.Wednesday maybe but I would say Thursday a tad too long hun.try freezing option.

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:18

Ok ok I'll freeze it Grin

OP posts:
AfunaMbatata · 20/08/2017 22:18

I don't mean age! Meh, too much Wine

Btw I love jerk chicken and want some now

Oysterbabe · 20/08/2017 22:19

The gas mixture inside the packaging is different than air to help preserve the meat. Once you have opened the packaging and exposed it to air you have to use it.

Oysterbabe · 20/08/2017 22:21

And the difference with meat bought at the butchers is that the meat from the butchers will have a much shorter shelf life.

Original poster
Redberets · 20/08/2017 22:22

Afuna I know, I love it too! It's the scotch bonnet flavour that makes it!

OP posts: