Chicken marinades are similar to brine except that active ingredient is acid. Although marinades have a reputation for tenderizing as well as flavoring, they really affect only the surface of meat. Brines are a mixture of salt, water and flavoring that use the power of salt to open up the physical structure of meat, allowing it to form chemical bonds that infuse its fibers with moisture and flavor. Rubs are a way to flavor the outside of chicken by literally rubbing a dry seasoning mixture into its surface.