When cooking, did you realize you ran out of vinegar? Here is the best apple cider vinegar substitute for recipes.
Are you making a recipe that calls for apple cider vinegar and you don’t have one? Apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apple cider, then filtered and bottled. It tastes tart and sour, with a strong aroma. You should be able to find it along with the other vinegars at your local grocery store. But don’t have time to buy it? Here are some replacement ideas.
Best Apple Cider Vinegar Substitute
1. Red wine or white wine vinegar
The Best Substitute for Apple Cider Vinegar? Red wine or white wine vinegar! These vinegars are made from fermented wine, and you may already have one or two in your cupboard. Red wine vinegar is slightly stronger than white wine with a stronger flavor. Use both as a 1:1 substitute.
2. Rice vinegar (unseasoned)
If you have it, rice vinegar works as a substitute too! This type of vinegar is made from fermented rice and is used in Asian cooking. It has a similar acidity to apple cider vinegar. Just be careful not to use seasoned rice vinegar: it’s flavored with sugar and salt and used to flavor sushi rice and Asian salads.
3. Sherry Vinegar
Sherry vinegar is another substitute for apple cider vinegar; it is medium-bodied and slightly sweet. It has a distinct flavor, but it goes pretty well with the zing of apple cider vinegar. It is often used in Spanish cuisine.
4. Champagne vinegar
If you have it, champagne vinegar might work as a substitute too! It comes from the fermentation of champagne. It has a very mild taste, so it doesn’t come close to the intensity of apple cider vinegar.
6. Lemon Juice (in a pinch)
Don’t have vinegar on hand? In a pinch, you can use lemon juice as a substitute. Lemon juice is also acidic and tart like apple cider vinegar. But of course it tastes like lemon and not vinegar! Lemon juice can work for salad dressings, but you may need to add a little more lemon juice to match the apple cider vinegar’s tartness (make it to taste).
What not to use as a substitute? We don’t recommend using balsamic vinegar or distilled white vinegar: they’re way too strong.
Here are some recipes where you could use this substitute for apple cider vinegar:
