I am looking to add marinaded steak, chicken and turkey to my deli. I have zero experience other than marinading at home.
I have been asked by too many customers not to at least investigate this, and I have.
1) which tumbler should I purchase? does it need to be a vacuum tumbler? I have read vacuuming is good and also that it makes no difference? and there is a large difference in price on these two units.
2) the marinades? I have been putting some together from internet recipes at home and have found that by the time I purchase all the ingredients its just not cost effective for my business. does anyone have any advice on the few...very few, companies, I am finding online that offer powder based marinades to mix with water? I would like three good, solid, tasty, proven, sellable marinades for beef and also for chiken and turkey
I see this site is mostly for meat cutting but I am hoping to find someone with some expertise in the marinade trade
The closest place to me that does this is a franchise called the Meat House and it is over 80 miles away. I have tried their meats and they are very good, I would like to emulate what they have on a smaller scale
Thank you all very much in advance for the help. At worst you will find a new friend and a Florida connection!!!
there are many different tumblers on the market, to fit the different needs- there are tumblers with a 10lb capacity that will fit the beginners-they are also the cheapest-aroud 400.00-good to test the waters, without paying thousands-most of the tumblers I've seen are all vacuum tumblers- an air tube connects from a motor to the top of a "drum" vacuums out the air, in doing so, the pores of the meat opens like a sponge-after vacuuming the air out-then it rolls, roatates around (tumbles) mixing the marinade in the drum deep inside the meat-not just the surface of the meat-as in just soaking meat in marinade. Some on here do massive amounts of vacuum tumbled meats-with a huge capacity-100's of lbs at a time.
Ive grown to like tumblers alot- I love to marinade- as for spice companies- many spice companies are regional, you may never hear of the ones up this way in maine-but EVERSON, I believe is a national brand, and the burgandy Pepper, and Texas BBQ is one of the most popular flavors
The finished product gives you a competitive advantage-you can advertise- "professionally marinated" , but more importantly, you can offer brand new, delicious items, - I like to focus on some consistant staples-such as burgandy pepper rib-eyes, but I also like to focus on sale items- this allows you to introduce new items, without retail sticker shock.
Sirloin flap meat (for loin tips/steakhouse tips) are one of the best items (along with bnls chicken breasts) to offer at first.
Id try one smaller one at first-minimal investment, test the waters, then invest in a much larger one.
I don't believe (even in rural maine) I've seen a tumbler fail-if the meat manager gets behind it-customers are usually always willing "to try something new" and sampling new items, is a great way to sell a new marinade!
We have both vacuum tumbler and non-vacuum tumblers and according to the results of the tests of meat after tumbling vacuum is much testy than the other for the case of powder marinades mixed with water.
thanks for the replies, these spice companies that offer these powdered/mix with water marinades are of good quality? where I am located there is not a shop within 80 miles of me that has marinaded meat choices. and the vacuum tumbler is the way to go?
wish I could get samples from these companies
any other suggestions I wholeheartedly welcome....Thanks everyone
call around to spice/seasoning companies-some companies, have salesman, that will give you samples- Ive seen this firsthand-they will come sample thier product- but also, bring you to stores that are presently using them (non competing )
take the time to call,research the spice companies-it will be well worth your time- everson is a quality spice-you can even email, the spice companies website, and ask them if they have a saleman in the area-or see if they will send you a free sample