14 Good Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes
One of the most famous types of vinegar, the one made from fermented apple cider, is causing quite a stir. What can’t it do? From cosmetics to cleansing, from healing to adding flavor to your food. If you just poured the last droplets of this elixir from the bottle and still need some, check out these apple cider vinegar substitutes!
Apple Cider Vinegar Flavor Profile
Made from fermented apple cider, this type of vinegar has a tangy and sour taste. Its bold flavor is quite fruity, fresh, zesty, and has a bite to it. Apple cider vinegar is rather sweet, compared to other types of vinegar.
It adds a certain brightness and crispness to any recipe. And while it may be the most popular vinegar right now, if you don’t have it around, don’t give up on your recipe. Just go for something else! Here is what to use instead of apple cider vinegar.
Best Cider Vinegar Substitutes
With a sharp, rich aroma, apple cider vinegar is a great addition to salad dressings, vinaigrettes, pickles, soups, sauces, dips, juices, meat marinades, glazes, and even desserts. While it may be the star of the show today, there are ways to find an alternative.
We’re focusing on the ones you will most likely have at home. Here is how to substitute apple cider vinegar in your recipes.
1. White Wine Vinegar
Can you substitute apple cider vinegar with white vinegar? Yes! Made from fermented wine, white wine vinegar has a light consistency, a floral, aromatic bouquet, and a mild tang and tartness to it, and the odds are you have it in your cupboard as we speak.
It’s safe to use this ingredient in a 1:1 ratio.
2. Red Wine Vinegar
Red wine vinegar vs apple cider vinegar: is there potential? Sure there is! Red wine vinegar is more pronounced than white wine vinegar (above), but it can replace fermented apple cider vinegar.
With a rich, fragrant bouquet, and quite the pungency, red wine vinegar will also add a pink hue to your food. So, expect a difference! Still, a 1:1 ratio should work.
3. Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar vs apple cider vinegar: should you ever play swapsies with these two? If you have the unseasoned rice vinegar at hand, sure! Made from fermented rice, this Asian vinegar has the same mild yet sour acidity as apple cider vinegar. Drizzle some in a 1:1 ratio.
4. Sherry Vinegar
Though you wouldn’t think so, sherry vinegar is one of the best apple cider vinegar substitutes. Medium-bodied, with a slight sweetness to it, a distinctive zing, and a complex, fruity flavor, this Spanish staple ingredient is not to be dismissed. It can replace apple cider vinegar in a 1:1 ratio.
5. Champagne Vinegar
The finest apple cider sub comes from France, oui! Champagne vinegar, if you have it around, is a good option to replace apple cider vinegar with. While it’s milder and does not pack that punch apple cider vinegar has, this vinegar made from fermented champagne will do.
About two parts the amount of champagne vinegar will replace one part of apple cider vinegar.
6. Distilled White Vinegar (Regular Vinegar)
Can you use regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar? Distilled white vinegar, aka regular vinegar, can replace any other type of vinegar. Its neutral aroma makes it a fine option.
However, distilled vinegar is highly acidic, with an intense, sharp bite to it, and you’ll feel it burning on your tongue and in your throat. Compared to apple cider vinegar, it’s therefore quite harsh. However, it will do if there is no other suitable substitute at hand. Use a little less, though. Start with a 1:2 ratio and go from there.
7. Malt Vinegar
A little snappy, with a rich aroma, with hints of nuttiness and yeast, malt vinegar can take apple cider vinegar’s place. Add it to fried dishes and you’ve got yourself a winner! A 1:1 ratio should be fine.
8. Apple Juice
Plain apple juice is one of the most similar apple cider vinegar substitutes. It’s, after all, apple cider vinegar’s unfermented cousin! Apple juice will not have that zest and intense acidity, that’s for sure. But you can complement it with a dash of lemon juice and ta-da! Use this ingredient in a 1:1 ratio.
9. Lemon Juice
Just a squeeze. That’s all you need! If you don’t have any apple cider vinegar at hand, lemon juice will do. It’s acidic; it’s tangy, and has that zing to it. It will also have a citrus flavor, just FYI. The same amount of lemon juice for the quantity of apple cider vinegar that the recipe mentions should be just fine.
What can you replace apple cider vinegar with? In case of emergency options
Apple cider vinegar is quite versatile, let’s give it that! So are the types of vinegar and ingredients we listed above. But so are the ones below. In case there’s no other option, you can always turn to them!
10. Balsamic Vinegar
Not your casual alternative. Still, balsamic vinegar makes it onto our list of substitutes for apple cider vinegar. Balsamic vinegar is like adding honey or maple syrup to apple cider vinegar.
So, the difference is that this type of vinegar will be sweet! Extra sweet. It also has a thicker consistency and a caramel vibe to it. If push comes to shove, use it as a replacement. Just know it will alter both the taste and the color of the dish. Add it in a 1:1 ratio.
11. Orange Juice
Citrus juice, as you’ll see more below, can complete any dish. It won’t be the same as any type of vinegar (maybe it will come closer to fruity vinegars) but it will add some brightness and acidity. Orange juice is sweeter, so keep that in mind when replacing apple cider vinegar with it. Still, a 1:1 ratio should be just fine.
12. Lime Juice
Lime juice is one of the best, most aromatic alternatives for apple cider vinegar if you don’t have any other vinegar at hand. Lime juice has the right amount of acidity but is rather mild and sweet. In terms of aroma, it will be more fragrant than any other citrus juice. Keep that in mind! A 1:1 ratio is all you need.
13. Grapefruit Juice
Another citrus squeeze to ramp up our apple cider vinegar substitutes list of suggestions. It’s tart; it’s acidic; it’s aromatic, and has that zingy, intense flavor to it. It’s less acidic than lemon and lime juice, and it has a slightly bitter flavor. But it will do if there’s nothing else around. Splash it in a 1:1 ratio.
14. White Wine
If there’s no apple cider vinegar around and none of the above either, but you have some white wine, ding-ding-ding, we have a winner! Their sweetness and tartness are similar. White wine is best used in cooked dishes, but it will do in dips and vinaigrettes as well. A 2:1 ratio is recommended. Or you could just drink it all! That’s fine too! 🙂
In a pinch, these apple cider vinegar replacements will be just fine. No need to panic, no need to be frustrated! Just enjoy your time in the kitchen!
