Marinating your food before it goes on the grill adds depth of flavor and variety to your finished dish. Speed up marinating time with this state-of-the-art vacuum seal and cycling system that quickly and automatically boosts the flavor and enhances the texture of beef, poultry, fish, seafood and other foods in minutes. Just place food and marinade into the 12 x 9-inch oval base, cover with the lid and turn the unit on. The vacuum pump draws most of the air out of the base to create a perfect seal. Then the seal is released to draw air and pressure back into the base. During the cycling process, the bottom of the base gently expands, stretching the fibers of food to enhance tenderization and full absorption of the marinade. The cycle repeats automatically for about five minutes and then shuts off automatically, producing food that is superbly marinated and ready to be placed on the grill.