Important Vinegar Substitutions That Will Save Your Recipes (2024)
There's a multitude of options for vinegar at the grocery store, from apple cider vinegar to herbal-infused specialty varieties. This versatile liquid is used in salad dressings, for pickling and fermenting foods, and even to clean your house. But if you've got (among others) white vinegar, balsamic vinegar, and white balsamic vinegar in the pantry, they aren't all interchangeable. Certain vinegar substitutes work better than others, depending on what you're cooking. Use this handy guide for when you're making your next recipe and need a vinegar replacement stat.
Vinegar Substitute Guide
When substituting different kinds of vinegar for one another, you can generally use a 1:1 ratio for the amount of vinegar in the recipe. Use this guide on types of vinegar to choose one most similar to the vinegar called for in your recipe.
Balsamic vinegar is made from white Trebbiano grape juice and barrel-aged for many years (as few as three years and some at least 25 years!). It has a distinctive brown color, syrupy body, and slight sweetness. It's often used sparingly to add mellow sweetness to Italian and Mediterranean foods. However, it's also growing in popularity for use in salads and even desserts. This specialty vinegar is best used in dishes that call for it specifically (like this fan-favorite balsamic chicken recipe).
Balsamic vinegar substitute: For 1 tablespoon, substitute 1 tablespoon cider vinegar or red wine vinegar plus ½ teaspoon sugar.
Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apple cider. It's mild with a subtle hint of apple flavor. It's the most versatile vinegar and makes a good substitute for almost any other.
Apple cider vinegar substitute: Your best apple cider vinegar 1:1 substitutes are rice wine vinegar, distilled white vinegar, or white wine vinegar. If you only have red wine vinegar, use about 1 tsp. extra per tablespoon used since it's a bit lighter.
Fruit vinegars are usually mild in flavor and slightly sweet. They pair well as dressings for salad and in chicken recipes.
Fruit vinegar substitute: If you don't have a specific fruit vinegar for a recipe, apple cider vinegar or a wine vinegar should make a good replacement.
Herb vinegars, infused with fresh herbs while the vinegar is still warm, are savory but subtle. Before making a substitution, consider the herb that flavors the vinegar. If you would use that particular herb in your recipe, herb vinegar is a great replacement.
Herb vinegar substitute: Herb vinegars aren't common ingredients in your everyday recipes, so you could substitute herb vinegar with cider, white, malt, or wine vinegar.
Malt vinegar is made from malted barley and is mild and sweet, making it a good substitute. However, if you substitute malt vinegar for a more robust variety, such as white vinegar, you may wish to add a bit more than called for in the recipe (just a tablespoon or so should do the trick). The most common use of malt vinegar is served with fish and chips.
Malt vinegar substitute: Apple cider vinegar or lemon juice are your best options for malt vinegar substitutes.
Rice vinegar is the sweetest, most subdued vinegar, made from rice wine or sake. It's best for only the most delicate dishes.
Rice vinegar substitute: There isn't a great substitute for rice vinegar. Try replacing rice vinegar with white wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar if you're in a pinch. Add ¼ tsp. sugar per tablespoon you're swapping out.
White balsamic vinegar is made differently than balsamic vinegar. The grapes are pressure-cooked to prevent the caramelized color of balsamic vinegar and aged for a much shorter time (only 1 year) in uncharred barrels to keep the color light.
White balsamic vinegar substitute: Substitute white balsamic vinegar with white wine vinegar or rice wine vinegar to prevent color changes in your recipe.
White vinegar is made from distilled grain alcohol and has a sour, harsh flavor. As a result, it may overpower more delicate flavors in your cooking.
White vinegar substitute: If you need a different vinegar to substitute for white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar. You could also swap in lemon or lime juice, depending on your recipe. When you're canning or pickling, there are no comparable substitutes.
Wine vinegar (available in both white and red) tastes rich and fruity. Either red or white makes a flavorful substitution in most dishes. However, don't use red wine vinegar in dishes that contain pale, light ingredients because it may discolor them. Wine vinegars are the most common choice for salad vinaigrettes.
Wine vinegar substitute: The best substitutes for wine vinegars are apple cider vinegar, white balsamic, or white vinegar.
Use your newfound vinegar replacement knowledge to make a new recipe. Combine balsamic vinegar with wine for a unique twist on jelly. Make your own gut-healthy fermented foods such as spicy kimchi or sauerkraut. You could also find a new vegetable or fruit to pickle beyond cucumbers.
White vinegar substitute: If you need a different vinegar to substitute for white vinegar, use apple cider vinegar or malt vinegar. You could also swap in lemon or lime juice, depending on your recipe.
You don't want to inadvertently lower the acidity of a recipe that you'll be storing long term. For 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, swap in 1 tablespoon of either lemon juice, lime juice, cider vinegar, or malt vinegar.
There are other household acids than can substitute for vinegar in some cases, normally in cooking situations. Lemon juice and lime juice are both acidic. Some cooking applications are in hollandaise sauce (or béarnaise sauce), mock buttermilk, salad dressings, jams and jellies, and some baked goods.
You can use lemon juice in place of vinegar, using double the amount of vinegar required. If you need a non-acidic alternative, you can use 3/4 tsp of cream of tartar and 2 Tbsp of water. Combine the cream of tartar with the dry mix and blend well.
How to Use It: That neutral flavor profile makes it the most versatile vinegar of the bunch — that's why its uses literally run the gamut from cooking to cleaning.
But you'll need to make some slight modifications to your recipe. If your recipe calls for wine vinegar and you've only got balsamic vinegar on hand, you'll need to make the recipe a little less sweet. You might try to remove sugar from the recipe to help even out the sweetness provided by the balsamic vinegar.
Acetic acid, also known as ethanoic acid, is a clear colourless liquid which has a pungent, vinegar-like odour. When it is pure (100% acetic acid) it is referred to as glacial acetic acid.
White and distilled are types of vinegar. They differ fundamentally in their acetic acid content. White, also known as spirit vinegar, has 5% to 20% acetic acid. This is generally higher as compared to distilled vinegar's 5%-8%.
Acetic Acid Makes the Difference in Vinegar for Cleaning
That extra 1 percent of acid in undiluted cleaning vinegar amplifies its power and makes it 20 percent stronger than white vinegar. So, while cleaning vinegar has a stronger concentration for cleaning, it also means one should never consume cleaning vinegar.
Citric acid, ascorbic acid, or tartaric acid (cream of tartar). if you are looking for leavening with soda or baking powder. Citrus juices can also substitute but will impart a fruit flavor.
Rice vinegar, or rice wine vinegar, is made from fermented rice wine. It has a sweet, delicate flavor and is less acidic compared to most types of vinegar. The color of rice vinegar can vary depending on the bottle's country of origin, ranging from clear to brown to red and even black shades.
Pickling involves steeping foods in an acidic liquid, usually vinegar. This gives the pickled foods a distinctive flavor and helps to preserve them. If you don't like the flavor of vinegar or simply have an abundance of lemons, you can use lemon juice instead of vinegar for your pickling projects.
Dairy products can also help mellow and neutralize the acidity of vinegar. The creamy texture and subtle sweetness of dairy can counterbalance the harsh sourness, creating a more pleasant taste.
Because it is very acidic, it may cause stomach discomfort or digestive problems. However, this is unlikely to happen unless a person drinks a significant amount of the undiluted vinegar. Research into apple cider vinegar is limited, but some people do experience adverse side effects.
By adding more stock or increasing the other ingredients you can attempt to balance out the flavours to drown out the overpowering one. However, this is no good if you've only bought what you need. Your other option is to add an opposing flavour. If it's too spicy add something sweet or creamy for example.
Depending on the variety, vinegar can bring a sour, tangy, sweet, mild, malty, woody or even buttery flavor to your dish. It can also be used to color or discolor foods. Because of its unique ability to break down proteins, vinegar is also used as a marinade to help tenderize meats and veggies.
Vinegar and lemon juice are both popular choices when making homemade soft cheeses such as cottage cheese or farmers cheese. Cheeses can be produced using either and acid, like vinegar or lemon juice, or an enzyme called rennet.
Sourness comes from acidic ingredients (including tomatoes, wine and vinegar). If your dish tastes too sour try to add sweetness—think sugar, honey (it's healthy!), cream or even caramelized onions. You can also dilute the dish (same as you would with a dish with too much salt).
Address: Suite 461 73643 Sherril Loaf, Dickinsonland, AZ 47941-2379
Phone: +2678139151039
Job: International Administration Supervisor
Hobby: Dowsing, Snowboarding, Rowing, Beekeeping, Calligraphy, Shooting, Air sports
Introduction: My name is Catherine Tremblay, I am a precious, perfect, tasty, enthusiastic, inexpensive, vast, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
:strip_icc()/vinegar-substitute-03-369e29112f1145d68aef4c107ec65b93.jpg "Important Vinegar Substitutions That Will Save Your Recipes (1)")
:strip_icc()/vinegar-substitute-01-89b0bbc921a94bc2803eaf3849197802.jpg "Important Vinegar Substitutions That Will Save Your Recipes (2)")
