The "Instant" Marinater actually takes a few minutes, but it's still really, really quick. Especially compared to conventional soak-it-for-hours marinating. The secret is that the Instant Marinater works by creating a vacuum inside the dish. Just a few quick pulls with the hand-operated pump is all it takes. The vacuum opens up the pores and fibers of the meat allowing for a deep and really, really quick marinating process. Lke all marinating, this process also tenderizes the food. 2.5-qt. capacity.