Prime Rib Rub

All About Marinades and Rubs

Most cuts taste great with just a pinch of salt and pepper, but take your steak or roast to new flavor heights with a marinade or rub. Use our marinade and rub tips and recipes to help take your next meal to another level.

Marinade Quick Tips:

There are two reasons you might want to use a marinade:

  1. To help add flavor
  2. To tenderize
While the two different types of marinades may contain similar ingredients, the key is the length of marinating time. If you’re just looking to add flavor, you only need to marinate for 15 minutes to 2 hours. If you’re looking to tenderize cuts, you’ll want to marinate for 6 to 24 hours.

  • When marinating beef, always marinate in the refrigerator, never at room temperature.
  • Allow 1/4 to 1/2 cup of marinade for every pound of beef.
  • Marinate in a food-safe plastic bag or in a non-reactive container such as glass or plastic. Turn or stir the beef occasionally to allow even exposure to the marinade.
  • Before cooking, remove beef from marinade and pat dry with a paper towel to promote even browning and prevent steaming.
  • If a marinade is to be used for basting or as a sauce, reserve a portion of it before adding to the beef. Marinade that has been in contact with uncooked meat must be brought to a full rolling boil for at least one minute before it can be used for basting or as a sauce.

Rub Quick Tips:

Steak rubs and roast beef rubs are seasoning blends applied to the surface of beef like roasts, steaks and burgers. These quick mixtures add flavor to beef, but do not tenderize.

  • Dry rubs consist of herbs, spices and other dry seasonings.
  • Paste-type rubs, which are perfect for roasts, contain small amounts of wet ingredients, such as oil, crushed garlic or mustard.
  • Rubs can be applied just before cooking or up to 2 hours in advance and refrigerated until cooking time.
  • Simply combine the ingredients and apply evenly to all surfaces. Cook beef to desired doneness.

Dry vs. Wet Marinade | Which One Should You Use?

Marinating beef is an easy way to add big flavor—but should you choose a dry rub or a wet marinade? This video breaks down the differences so you can choose the right option for your cut of beef, your cooking method, and your schedule.

Learn More

Flavor Boosting Rub & Marinade Recipes:

Chili Cilantro Marinade

Sesame-Soy Marinade

Give your steaks a burst with this Asian-inspired marinade of soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil and fresh ginger.

See Recipe

Cowboy Barbecue Marinade & Sauce

Cowboy BBQ Marinade & Sauce

Thinking barbecue? Look no further than a few simple pantry items. Enjoy it on your next steak.

See Recipe

Lemon-Oregano Steak Marinade

Lemon-Oregano Steak Marinade

Whip up this simple and flavor-packed lemon, garlic and fresh oregano marinade in minutes.

See Recipe

Chili Seasoning Rub

Cowboy Steak & Roast Rub

Have your steak taste like you're on the open range with this Cowboy Steak and Roast Rub.

See Recipe

Spicy Rub & Seasoning Mix

Garlic-Thyme Rub

Thyme, sweet paprika, garlic and ground red pepper provide just the right amount of spice to steak.

See Recipe