I hate to be the voice of reason, but you can’t marinate chicken at room temperature. Please don’t.
Chicken is a diva. It needs to stay below 40°F (4°C). That means always refrigerate your marinating chicken. Always. Even for just 30 minutes.
The official rule? The USDA says no more than 2 days in the fridge. That’s their safe blanket. I’d say stick to 18 hours max for most marinades. It’s the sweet spot between flavor and safety.
And please—use a glass or stainless steel bowl. Never aluminum. The acid reacts with the metal and gives your chicken a weird, metallic taste. Not cute.
