Is it okay to marinate chicken in lemon juice?

Is it OK to  marinate chicken in lemon juice?

Yes, it's totally fine to marinate chicken in lemon juice. Lemon juice is a common ingredient in many chicken marinades. Lemon juice adds flavour and tenderizes the chicken.

The acidity in the lemon juice helps to break down the proteins in the chicken, making it more tender.

But there's a catch: you can't marinate the chicken for too long in the lemon juice as it can start to cook the meat and change its texture.

Can you marinate chicken too long in lemon?

Yes, you can marinate chicken for too long in lemon juice.

While lemon juice tenderizes chicken and adds that lovely lemony flavour, it's also so acidic that it's starts to "cook" the meat if it's marinated for too long.

If chicken is marinated in lemon juice for too long, it can become tough and have a mushy texture (ew).

Plus, the acidic environment created by the lemon juice can promote the growth of harmful bacteria if the chicken is left at room temperature for too long.

How to get around this?

Marinade your chicken for no more than 2 - 4 hours in the fridge.

SWIPE UP FOR A LEMON MARINADE

full recipe

Hi, I’m April, a registered dietitian and mom of two young boys. Join me for easy, gluten-free recipes - perfect for busy moms with gluten intolerance.

Check out my website for healthy and simple gluten-free recipes!