Tenderize The Toughest Cuts Of Meat With A Popular Soda

Fizzy drinks aren't just for sipping during backyard cookouts: carbonated beverages like Coca-Cola work well as BBQ ingredients, serving as a tenderizer for tough cuts of meat. The science behind why soda works so well as a meat marinade comes down to the fact that it is a triple threat due to its high acidity, bubbles, and sugary flavor. 

When it comes to Coca-Cola, this soda has it going on. Its flavor profile is dominated by vanilla and cinnamon, along with some type of citrus oil. Additionally, there may be traces of spices that make the taste unique, like nutmeg in Coke. It's a flavor bath that also tenderizes when you soak your meat in it.

How does it work? Its acidity comes into play when breaking down proteins without turning the meat into mush. Cola generally has a pH that hovers around 2.7. Vinegar's pH level is generally between 2 and 3, and the same goes for lemon juice. When you replace these acids with Cola, it will not only soften those connective tissues that make the meat tough in the first place, but it will also make each bite of meat nice and juicy. The carbonation helps with this process as well, while its sugar content helps create that beautiful caramelized crust that will make your protein even tastier. 

What cuts of meat should you start using this Coca-Cola hack with? Meats such as beef and pork fare well with this ingredient, but large, tough, affordable cuts benefit the most. Coca-Cola can turn a chuck roast into a tender and mouth-watering bite with a low and slow cook that allows you to braise the meat in this liquid. Pork ribs would taste lovely if marinated in soda, which could also be transformed into a glaze. Additionally, skirt, flank, brisket, and top round are all tougher cuts that can benefit from marinating and cooking in soda. 

The good news is that it can tenderize these meat cuts in as little as 30 minutes if you are grilling. Or, soak your meat in your favorite flavor of Coca-Cola for up to 24 hours if you want a succulent and yielding end result. While you can marinate a filet mignon or ribeye in soda, it's probably not the best idea unless you keep the time it spends in this liquid on the short side. However, it might not have any noticeable effect. Tender cuts of meat are already like butter, and soda has little power to do much more for their texture. Still, the next time you are looking for a practical, flavorful, and easy ingredient to use for a marinade, Coca-Cola is a tasty tenderizer.