Low-fat chicken marinades that use grape juice or cherry juice are flavorful alternatives for commercial marinades. Many marinated chicken recipes call for alcohol, but some cooks prefer to use non-alcoholic substitutes, such as grape juice and, less frequently, cherry juice. However, when marinating chicken, it's important to choose wisely. According to the Gourmet Sleuth, although non-alcohol substitutes can be used, in some cases they may not provide as much flavor.
Grape Juice as an Alcohol Substitute
According to the Gourmet Sleuth website, white grape juice can be used in marinated chicken recipes calling for beer or ale, brandy, Riesling or rum. If a recipe calls for bourbon, you can substitute sparking grape juice. Gewurztraminer, a type of sweet German white wine, may be replaced by white grape juice mixed with water and a pinch of sugar. You also can substitute white grape juice mixed with lemon zest for Mirin, a Japanese alcoholic condiment that resembles sake and is often used in Asian chicken marinades.
Grape Juice as a Marinade
Some recipes specifically call for grape juice as a main ingredient in the marinade. For example, an Argentinian chicken dish known as "pollo al jugo de uva" requires you to marinate chicken in a mixture of grape juice and cilantro for two to four hours before grilling it. You also can use grape juice alone as a marinade. However, you may not like the flavor. A study published in 2009 in the German journal, "Fleischwirtschaft International," examined sour cherry juice versus grape juice as a marinade for chicken breast meat. Researchers found that while study participants appreciated the tenderness imparted by grape juice, they did not enjoy the flavor.
Cherry Juice as an Alcohol Substitute
Cherry juice has a sweeter flavor and a thicker consistency than grape juice, making it less suitable as a substitute for many commonly-used alcoholic beverages in chicken breast marinades. However, you can substitute cherry juice for kirsch, a clear German liqueur, or use the juice from canned cherries as a substitute for cherry brandy, also known as Kirschwasser, according to Gourmet Sleuth.
Cherry Juice as a Marinade
As with grape juice, you can use cherry juice on its own as a marinade for chicken, but you probably will not like the taste. According to the aforementioned German study, participants appreciated the juiciness imparted by sour cherry juice but found it to have a "foreign" taste. Cherry juice is almost never used in marinated chicken recipes, either as a stand-alone ingredient or in combination with other ingredients.
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