top of page
Search

Thermomix Marinades: The Quiet Kitchen Hack

  • Writer: Paula
    Paula
  • 3 hours ago
  • 3 min read

Make your weeknight cooking easier with marinades!


If there’s one small habit that consistently makes weeknight cooking feel easier in my kitchen, it’s using marinades. They’re not complicated, they don’t require fancy ingredients, and they don’t add extra cooking time. In fact, they usually save time — and they make simple food taste far better.


This week I wanted to shine a light on marinades as one of those understated, practical kitchen tools that really support busy family life.


Why marinades are worth the (very small) effort


A good marinade does a few important jobs at once:

  • Adds flavour with minimal effort – most marinades come together in minutes

  • Helps tenderise meat – especially useful for chicken and beef

  • Supports prep-ahead cooking – do the work when you have time

  • Makes simple midweek food more enjoyable – without complicated recipes


For me, marinades are about front-loading a little effort so that dinner time feels calmer and more straightforward.


Marinades and prep-ahead cooking


One of the biggest benefits of marinades is how well they fit into a prep-ahead routine.

You can:

  • Prepare a marinade in the morning or the night before

  • Add your meat, cover, and refrigerate

  • Cook when you’re ready — grill, pan-fry, oven-bake or barbecue

On busy days, knowing that dinner is already underway and ready to cook makes a huge difference.


Why the Thermomix works so well for marinades


The Thermomix is particularly good for marinades because:

  • The recipes are right there and ready to go

  • Most marinades take 5 minutes from start to finish

  • Ingredients are chopped, blended or emulsified evenly

  • No extra bowls or equipment are needed

These are small things, but remove friction — which makes it more likely you’ll actually do it.


Three easy Thermomix marinades I use regularly


These are simple, flexible marinades that work well for family meals and everyday cooking.


  1. Honey, Soy & Mustard Marinade


A real crowd-pleaser and a favourite with children.

  • Sweet, savoury and balanced

  • Works well with chicken, pork or salmon

  • Great baked in the oven or cooked on a pan

  • I cook the remaining marinade (be sure to boil it vigorously for at least 5 minutes as there has been raw meat marinading in it) and serve it as a sauce.



  1. Indian Yoghurt Marinade (great for chicken)


Yoghurt-based marinades are brilliant for tenderising chicken.

  • Gentle, warming spices

  • Keeps chicken juicy when baked or grilled

  • I bake it in a glazed terracotta dish which stops it from drying out



Chicken cooked in a delicious Indian Yoghurt Marinade
Indian Yoghurt Marinade

  1. Teriyaki Marinade


All the flavours we love; soy, sesame & ginger.

  • Sweet and savoury

  • Ideal for beef, chicken or tofu

  • Perfect with rice and quick-cooked vegetables



How long should you marinate?


You don’t need hours and hours for marinades to work.

As a rough guide:

  • 30 minutes – good if you’re short on time

  • 2–12 hours – ideal for most meats

  • Overnight – great for chicken and tougher cuts

If you forget, don’t worry — even a short marinating time adds flavour.


A note on perfection (or lack of it)


This isn’t about cooking elaborate meals or doing everything “properly”. It’s about small, repeatable habits that support real life.

Sometimes a marinade is planned. Sometimes it’s thrown together quickly.

That’s good enough.


Final thoughts


If you’re looking for one simple thing to experiment with this week, try adding a marinade into your routine.

It’s a small change, but it often leads to:

  • Less stress at dinner time

  • Better flavour with the same ingredients

  • More confidence cooking from scratch


And that’s very much what Ecoconscious Living in the Kitchen is all about.


Thanks Paula


Real Food Made Easy 💚



If you like this post, you might like the following related posts:




 
 
 
bottom of page