Can I Use Teriyaki Sauce as a Marinade?

Yes, Teriyaki Sauce Works Great as a Marinade — With a Few Simple Tweaks

Teriyaki sauce can absolutely be used as a marinade for meats, seafood, tofu, and vegetables. Using teriyaki, with just a few added ingredients, can bring a delicious balance of sweet, salty, and umami flavors to your favorite proteins. However, teriyaki tends to be thick, and most varieties are high in sugar, so it’s best to adjust it slightly before using it for marinating.

How to Turn Teriyaki Sauce Into a Marinade

Dilute it slightly

Teriyaki sauce is usually thick and concentrated. For this reasons alone you generally do not want to use teriyaki ‘alone’ as a marinade. Instead, to prevent overly salty or sticky results, mix 3 parts teriyaki sauce with 1 part water or citrus juice (like orange, lemon, or lime). This allows it to penetrate the food more evenly.

Add acidity

A splash of rice vinegar, lemon juice, or pineapple juice will help tenderize meat and balance sweetness – this is especially important for chicken thighs, pork, or steak.

Add aromatics for depth

On its own, teriyaki doesn’t have much aroma. As such, you’ll want to enhance it aromatics like:

• Grated garlic
• Ginger
• A dash of sesame oil
• Red pepper flakes, chili paste, or chili sauce

Best Practices for Marinating with Teriyaki Sauce

Marinate chicken or beef for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight
Don’t reuse the marinade. Doing so is a safety hazard.
For grilling or broiling, let excess marinade drip off to avoid burning, or use it as a glaze in the last few minutes of cooking.

Bonus Tip:

If you’re short on time, use teriyaki sauce as both a quick marinade and a finishing drizzle. Just thin it slightly for marinating and reduce separately for a sticky-sweet glaze. Simple!

Recommended Pairings For Teriyaki Marinade

My go-to is heavier fish, such as salmon. Salmon fillets are delicious marinated in a mix of teriyaki, ginger, garlic, olive oil, and lemon. You might also try teriyaki-marinated chicken with steamed rice, grilled veggies, or pineapple salsa for a quick summer meal.

And that’s our answer to whether or not you can use teriyaki as a marinade.

Happy Cooking!

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