What Does Yogurt Do to Meat

Yogurt tenderizes meat much more gently and effectively than regular marinades. While acidic vinegar- or citrus-based marinades can toughen proteins like chicken breast to a rubbery consistency, yogurt slowly tenderizes them, resulting in meat that can practically be pulled apart by hand.

How long can you marinate meat in yogurt?

You really only need 15 minutes to see a difference in your chicken, but since lactic acid doesn’t come with the same risk of making food mushy as other acid-based marinades, you can leave the chicken in the yogurt overnight or up to 24 hours.

What yogurt tenderizes meat?

Yogurt has two things working for it as a marinade: microbes and lactic acid. Dr. Justin Sonnenburg, a professor of microbiology at Stanford and author of The Good Gut, says that the active bacteria in yogurt breaks down protein, making chicken breasts and steaks moist and tender.