What is a good substitute for vinegar

Just between you and me, I have a massive addiction to apple cider vinegar. One of my guilty pleasures is swigging it straight from the bottle. Not for everyone I know! If you don’t have any in the house, here are my favourite apple cider vinegar substitutes…

(in order of preference)

1. Rice Wine Vinegar

Lacks the slightly sweeter, fruity flavour of apple cider vinegar. However it’s an excellent match from an acidity perspective. My number 1. go-to. Won’t have the health benefits of unfiltered ACV.

2. Champagne Vinegar

The second closest match is champagne vinegar. Like rice wine vinegar it lacks the fruity notes but is close on the acidity profile.

3. White Wine Vinegar

Another good substitute. I find most brands are harsher and stronger than apple cider vinegar so I would use slightly less if substituting.

4. Sherry Vinegar

Adds a different flavour profile which may not be a bad thing! Similar acidity profile.

5. Red Wine Vinegar

Unless its home made, red wine vinegar is usually has the strongest and harshest flavour. If using it as a substitute for apple cider vinegar, start by using less and add more as needed. You’ll also have the red colour to consider.

6. Lemon / Lime Juice

Citrus juices rely on citric acid whereas all the wine vinegars mentioned above are acetic acid based. This means citrus juice has a completely different flavour profile.

But if you don’t have any vinegar in the house, a squeeze of lemon or lime will provide freshness and bring the other flavours of your dish to life in a similar way to vinegar. You may even enjoy the flavour differences!

More Tips for Cooking with Vinegar

• The Best Vinegar to Use in Cooking
• How to Make Wine Vinegar
• A Beginners Guide to the Art of Seasoning
• Best Substitutes for Sherry Vinegar

More Articles Similar to Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes

• The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Substitutes
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Kale
• Collard Greens
• Miso Paste
• Oyster Sauce
• Pesto
• Tahini

Also see see the Simple Ingredients Substitutes Index.

Have fun in the kitchen!

With love,
Jules x

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Out of vinegar and don’t have time to shop? Here’s the best vinegar substitute for the most common types used in recipes!

Making a recipe and realized you’re out of vinegar? There are many varieties of vinegar commonly used in home cooking, from dark balsamic to tangy apple cider vinegar and mild rice vinegar. Each is made from a different raw material, resulting in a different flavor and function in recipes. How to substitute for each one?

Here’s a list of the best vinegar substitutes for the most common types! It’s helpful to head to the related link to understand context around the substitution before you have a go at the recipe. Let us know if you have questions in the comments below!

1. Balsamic vinegar

The best balsamic vinegar substitute? Red wine vinegar + maple syrup or honey. Mix 1 tablespoon vinegar and 2 teaspoons syrup. Go to Best Balsamic Vinegar Substitute.

2. White wine vinegar

The best white wine vinegar replacement? See Best White Wine Vinegar Substitute or use a 1:1 replacement of (in order of preference):

• Red wine vinegar
• Rice vinegar (not seasoned)
• Sherry vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Champagne vinegar
• Lemon juice (in a pinch)

3. Red wine vinegar

The best red wine vinegar substitute? See Best Red Wine Vinegar Substitute or use a 1:1 replacement of (in order of preference):

• White wine vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Sherry vinegar
• Champagne vinegar
• Lemon juice (in a pinch)

4. Apple cider vinegar

The best apple cider vinegar replacement? See Best Apple Cider Vinegar Substitute or use a 1:1 replacement of (in order of preference):

• Red wine or white wine vinegar
• Rice vinegar (not seasoned)
• Sherry vinegar
• Champagne vinegar
• Lemon juice (in a pinch)

5. Sherry vinegar

The best sherry vinegar substitute? See Best Sherry Vinegar Substitute or use a 1:1 replacement of (in order of preference):

• Rice vinegar (not seasoned)
• Champagne vinegar
• Red wine or white wine vinegar
• Lemon juice (in a pinch)

6. Rice vinegar

The best rice vinegar replacement? See Best Rice Vinegar Substitute or use a 1:1 replacement of (in order of preference):

• White wine vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Seasoned rice vinegar (for every 1 tablespoon seasoned rice vinegar, remove ½ teaspoon sugar and ⅛ teaspoon salt from the recipe)

7. White vinegar

The best white vinegar replacement? See Best White Vinegar Substitute or use a 1:1 replacement of (in order of preference):

• White wine vinegar
• Apple cider vinegar

Related recipes

Here are some recipes where you could use these vinegar substitutions:

• Balsamic vinegar: Strawberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Beet Salad with Balsamic Dressing, Blackberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Perfect Spinach Salad, Blistered Tomatoes
• White wine vinegar: Honey Mustard Dressing, Dijon Mustard Dressing, Italian Dressing, French Potato Salad, Carrot Salad
• Red wine vinegar: Fresh Basil Vinaigrette, Greek Salad Dressing, Chimichurri, Red Cabbage and Apples
• Apple cider vinegar: Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing, Mexican Coleslaw, Simplest Pickled Red Onions, Red Cabbage Slaw, Black Bean Salad
• Rice vinegar: Quick Soba Noodle, Easy Grilled Tofu, Shrimp and Broccoli, Broccoli Stir Fry
• Sherry vinegar: Panzanella, Rice & Lentil Salad, Easy Romesco Dip