• Pineapple juice can add an Asian accent to meat.ICHIRO/Photodisc/Getty Images
  
  Pineapple juice, like citric juices, contains citric acid. The acid tenderizes meat while the juice flavors it. Pineapple juice is an ingredient in may Asian cuisines, so you can add Asian seasonings like ginger, soy sauce and garlic to the juice. Some marinade recipes call for sugar, but add this in moderation; pineapple juice is naturally sweet.
  
  

Marinade the Meat

• Making your own marinade is quick and easy. A marinade made with pineapple juice and other flavors can be mixed in a few minutes.
  
  Marinade
  
  6 oz. fresh or canned pineapple juice
  
  1 tbsp. peanut oil
  
  3 tsp. soy sauce
  
  2 tbsp. brown sugar
  
  1 tsp. minced ginger
  
  1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  
  4 minced garlic cloves
  
  Combine all ingredients, stirring till sugar dissolves. Place in a resealable freezer bag, along with three pounds of meat, such as a rump roast or steaks. Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, shake the bag to distribute the marinade, and refrigerate until needed.
  
  

Health

• Keep the meat in the refrigerator while it marinates. You don't want anyone getting sick from meat that has been sitting out. Discard the marinade after using; it is unsafe to reuse marinade that has been used with raw meat. The plastic bag that the marinade and meat sat in should also be discarded.
  
  

Play With the Recipe

• You can make the marinade spicier by adding Tabasco sauce or more cayenne pepper. If you want more of a Thai flavor, add some Thai red curry paste and coconut milk. For a more Japanese flavor profile, omit the cayenne and use a tablespoon or two of teriyaki sauce.
  
  The marinade also works well with pork and chicken, which should be marinated for only a couple of hours because the more delicate flesh will break down faster than beef.