can light beer be used as substitute for white wine vinegar in marinade recipe?

A chicken marinade recipe calls for both 1/2 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup white wine vinegar. I was wondering if I can swap the vinegar with a light beer, and if so, would proportions remain same as if when using vinegar?

If not, can unfiltered apple cider vinegar work as a substitute for white wine vinegar?

Best Answer

The answer to this is: No, beer won't substitute, but another vinegar could.

The main reason here is flavour - beer tastes completely different to vinegar, and would change the flavour profile of your marinade substantially. This may work out, but it may not, and the only ways to tell would be to test it and/or look for recipes with the same ingredients as your marinade but beer instead of vinegar.

Another reason beer might not work work is that beer is not generally acidic, whereas vinegar has a substantial amount of acid (acetic acid in the case of vinegar from grapes) in it. The acid will help macerate/soften the tissue so that it is easier to eat. Having said that, beer will contain enzymes that break down protein, that might do the equivalent of the acid, but these may not work in the presence of other substances in your marinade recipe.

Interestingly, if you are going to marinade with beer, use a canned pasteurized beer or a fresh brew of unpasteurized beer as the proteolytic enzymes in the beer are broken down in unpasteurized beers (warning: PDF, possible paywall).

Pictures about "can light beer be used as substitute for white wine vinegar in marinade recipe?"

can light beer be used as substitute for white wine vinegar in marinade recipe? - Interior Design Of An Empty Restaurant

can light beer be used as substitute for white wine vinegar in marinade recipe? - Assorted Alcoholic Drinks

can light beer be used as substitute for white wine vinegar in marinade recipe? - Boxes of Wines

Can I use beer instead of vinegar?

Beer actually makes a great substitution, depending on the recipe, and you may have it on hand. What is this? Because beer doesn't have the same acid profile as apple cider vinegar you should select a mild-flavored beer and use a 3:1 ratio.

How do you substitute beer in a marinade?

These are the best rules of thumb for booze substitutions:

If you're using booze to tenderize or marinate meat, replace the alcohol with soda, sparkling juice, acidic fruit juice, or vinegar.

For alcohol-free flavor substitutions, go with what's going to taste the most like the alcohol you're leaving out.

Can you use beer instead of white wine?

Beer can serve to be a good substitute for white wine in cooking. If you're out of white wine, you'll have beer on hand, if nothing else. Beer has more taste and flavor profiles than white wine, making it a good substitute. Also, it means different variations can be used in a recipe that calls for white wine.

How to make Red or White Wine Vinegar

Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Chan Walrus, Edward Eyer, Kelly L, Florent B.