Distinguish marinating effect and safe marinating time frame.

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Marinating works by introducing flavor compounds and some of the marinade’s moisture into the meat, while also letting acids or enzymes begin to break down proteins. That softening can improve tenderness, but if you leave poultry in an acidic or enzymatic marinade for too long, the texture can become mushy. So there’s a practical window: enough time for flavor and juiciness, not so long that the texture is damaged. For poultry, that window varies by cut and thickness, but a common, usable range is about 30 minutes up to 12 hours, with shorter times for smaller pieces and longer times for larger or bone-in cuts. And always marinate in the refrigerator to stay safe.

That’s why this option is the best: it notes that marinades add flavor and moisture, warns that too much time can degrade texture, and gives a realistic, cut-dependent time frame. The other statements either oversimplify or misstate how marinades interact with moisture and texture, or suggest unsafe or impractical conditions.