Should you marinade steaks with salt?

Yes, salting steaks before marinating is recommended for several reasons:

Meat Tenderization: Salt helps break down the proteins in meat, making it more tender. The salt draws out moisture from the meat, which then dissolves the muscle fibers, resulting in a more tender texture.

Marinade Absorption: When you salt the steaks before marinating, it allows the meat to absorb the flavors of the marinade more effectively. The salt enhances the meat's ability to absorb the marinade ingredients, leading to a more flavorful steak.

Flavor Enhancement: Salt, on its own, is a flavor enhancer. By salting the steaks before marinating, it helps enhance the natural flavor of the meat, making it taste better even without the marinade.

Seasoning: Salting the steaks before marinating ensures that the steaks are seasoned throughout, not just on the surface. When the steaks are cooked, the salt will be distributed evenly, providing a consistent flavor.

Timing: Salting the steaks before marinating allows the salt to penetrate the meat gradually, resulting in a more evenly seasoned steak. If you salt the steaks right before cooking, the salt may not have enough time to penetrate and could lead to uneven seasoning.

Marinating Time: Marinating steaks with salt doesn't require a long marinating time. Salting the steaks before marinating allows them to absorb the marinade's flavors more quickly, so you don't need to marinate them for an extended period.

It's important to note that when salting steaks before marinating, you should use a moderate amount of salt. Over-salting can make the steaks too salty and can overwhelm the flavors of the marinade. Start with a small amount of salt and adjust according to your taste preferences.