Wine is a popular alcoholic beverage made from fermented grape juice.

Red and white wine are also popular cooking ingredients. They are included in many recipes to enhance flavor and color.

Additionally, wine is often used in cooking to provide moisture, tenderize meat or to deglaze a pan.

If you don’t have wine on hand, or if you choose not to consume alcohol, there are many non-alcoholic substitutes you can use in cooking that will make your food just as delicious.

This article discusses 11 non-alcoholic substitutes for wine in cooking.

Vinegar is a fermented, acidic liquid that is commonly used in cooking.

It mainly consists of acetic acid and water as well as compounds found in wine, which is frequently used to make vinegar. Vinegar can also be produced from apple cider, coconut water, malt or rice.

Red and white wine vinegar are great substitutes for wine in cooking. They have flavors similar to wine, and the vinegar will not substantially affect the taste of the dish.

Generally, wine vinegars are useful for liquid-based recipes, such as salad dressings and marinades.

Red wine vinegar is best used with beef, pork and vegetables, while white wine vinegar works well in less hearty dishes, such as those with chicken and fish.

Wine vinegar is more acidic than regular wine, so it is recommended to dilute it before adding it to recipes, for instance by mixing water and wine vinegar at a 1:1 ratio.

It is important to note that vinegar may contain trace amounts of alcohol, although it mostly disappears during the fermentation process. The alcohol content is also reduced with cooking.

However, if alcohol is restricted from your diet, you may prefer to avoid wine vinegars.

Summary Wine
vinegar can replace wine in cooking without having a major impact on the taste
of recipes. However, it is important to dilute vinegar with water before using
it in cooking, due to its intense acidity.

Pomegranate juice is a beverage with a rich, fruity flavor.

Additionally, pomegranate juice is fairly acidic and boosts the flavor of just about any food. Its flavor, aroma and acidity are comparable to red wine, so it may be used to replace red wine equally in cooking.

Since pomegranate juice is less acidic than red wine, you can mix it with a tablespoon of vinegar, which will result in a stronger flavor.

Pomegranate juice tastes great with several different types of dishes. It works well when added to salad dressings and sauces or when used in a glaze for vegetables.

Not only does pomegranate juice add flavor to recipes, but it may also provide some health benefits.

It is rich in antioxidants and has been studied for its potential to lower blood pressure, which is a common risk factor for heart disease (1Trusted Source).

SummaryPomegranate juice is an excellent
substitute for red wine in cooking due to its similar color, flavor and
acidity.

Cranberry juice is a tart beverage that makes an excellent red wine substitute due to its similar color, rich flavor and acidity. It deepens the flavor of just about any recipe.

Similar to pomegranate juice, you can replace red wine with cranberry juice in recipes at a 1:1 ratio.

Since cranberry juice is sweet on its own, it is suggested to cook with a version that doesn’t contain added sugar. Otherwise, the recipe may taste sweeter than what you intended.

Additionally, you can reduce the sweetness of cranberry juice by mixing it with a tablespoon or two of vinegar before adding it to recipes.

Cranberry juice may also have some health benefits. It has been studied for its ability to reduce the occurrence of urinary tract infections and is also rich in antioxidants that combat disease-causing inflammation (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).

Summary Cranberry juice has several properties similar to red
wine, so it makes a great non-alcoholic replacement for red wine in cooking.

Ginger ale is a carbonated soft drink flavored with ginger. It typically contains a few other ingredients, including lemon, lime and cane sugar.

Due to its similar appearance, ginger ale can be a replacement for white wine in cooking. You can substitute ginger ale for white wine in equal amounts.

The acidity of ginger ale makes it a great meat tenderizer, which means that it breaks down the proteins in meat, making it softer and easier to chew.

Keep in mind the flavor differences between ginger ale and white wine. Although they have similar dry and sweet tastes, ginger ale should only be used in recipes that will work well with a slight ginger flavor.

Summary Ginger ale may replace white wine in
cooking as a result of its similar acidity and sweet taste.

Grape juice is another beverage with a rich flavor profile that makes an excellent non-alcoholic substitute for wine.

Since wine and grape juice have almost identical flavors and colors, you can replace wine with grape juice in recipes at a 1:1 ratio. Naturally, white grape juice should be used in place of white wine, and red grape juice in place of red wine.

For less sweetness, you can add a bit of vinegar to grape juice, which will enhance the acidity and increase the tartness. Grape juice combined with vinegar also makes a great marinade for meat or vegetables.

Not only is grape juice useful in cooking, but it’s also rich in polyphenol antioxidants.

These have been studied for their potential to boost immune health and may lower some heart disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure (4Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).

Summary Since grape juice and wine have
similar colors and flavors, grape juice can be used to replace wine at a 1:1
ratio in recipes.

Chicken, beef and vegetable stocks or broths are liquids that are used as a base for many types of dishes, including soups and sauces.

Stock is made by simmering animal bones, meat, seafood or vegetables in water. Vegetable scraps, spices and herbs are often added to increase the flavor of stock, and it is generally used to simmer and tenderize meat.

Due to its similar function in cooking, stock is an excellent non-alcoholic substitute for wine.

Since beef broth has a deeper color and flavor, it works best as a replacement for red wine. On the other hand, chicken and vegetable broths are better replacements for white wine.

Depending on your desired flavor and use in a recipe, you can replace wine with stock at an equal ratio. However, it is important to note that stock is savory, much less acidic and has a mild flavor compared to wine.

If you are aiming for extra flavor, or need to tenderize meat in a recipe, it is useful to add one tablespoon of vinegar per cup of stock in the dish.

Summary Chicken, beef and vegetable stock
may be an effective replacement for wine in recipes, due to their similar
function in cooking.