Best Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes

What can I use as a substitute for Apple Cider Vinegar?

The best substitute for Apple Cider Vinegar is Rice Vinegar. You can also use red wine vinegar, lemon juice, champagne vinegar, white wine, sherry vinegar, or malt vinegar.

If you are making a recipe that calls for apple cider and you don’t have any, there are great alternatives you can replace it with.

The best substitutes to use are rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, and lemon juice. There are also other alternatives you can substitute with.

In this article, we will go through the best substitutes and provide more information about them.

apple cider vinegar in a bottle with apples

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

It is vinegar that is made from fermented apple juice. The most common uses for this vinegar are salad dressings, marinades, preserving foods, meat tenderizers, glazes, and sauces.

The Best Substitutes For Apple Cider Vinegar

There are several substitutes you can use in place of apple cider. Let’s get started going through each of these alternatives.

1. Rice Vinegar

The first best substitute to use is rice vinegar. This vinegar is made from fermented rice.

It has a sweet and tangy flavor. When using this vinegar as a replacement make sure you are using the unseasoned version.

This vinegar is popular in Asian dishes such as sushi rice and salad dressings. It has a similar acidity to apple cider vinegar.

To substitute use 1 teaspoon of rice vinegar to replace the 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

2. Red Wine Vinegar

It is made through fermenting red wine and then straining and bottling it.

This vinegar is usually aged before it is bottled which gives the vinegar its flavor. The taste is similar to apple cider vinegar.

Red wine vinegar is not as strong as apple cider so you might need to add a little more of it to your recipes to get your desired taste.

Also, keep in mind that it is red so that could change the color of the recipe that you are making.

You can substitute 1 teaspoon of red wine vinegar for 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

3. Lemon Juice

You can use lemon juice as a substitute for apple cider vinegar.

Lemon is great and adds a great savory and sweet flavor to recipes.

It also acts as a tenderizer and preservative when added to marinades.

The thing to keep in mind is that if you do use lemon juice you will have a strong lemon flavor if you use too much.

I like to use lemon juice as a replacement in my marinade recipes.

Substitute 1 teaspoon of lemon juice for 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

4. Champagne Vinegar

It is a floral vinegar that is made from pinot grapes and chardonnay.

This vinegar is great for dressings and marinades.

It is less acidic and milder than the other kinds of vinegar. This is a great substitute for apple cider but is harder to find than the other options.

Substitute 1 teaspoon of champagne vinegar for 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

5. White Wine

Another alternative you can use is white wine. It has a slightly fruity flavor and is much stronger than apple cider vinegar.

I would recommend using less when replacing in your recipes.

Use 1 teaspoon of white wine to replace the apple cider vinegar.

6. Sherry Vinegar

It is a wine vinegar made from sherry.

The flavor is slightly sweet and nutty. Sherry vinegar is not as strong as red wine vinegar so it is a great option to replace apple cider vinegar with.

I would recommend tasting it first before adding it to your recipes. If you do like it then you can substitute 2 teaspoons of sherry vinegar for 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

7. Malt Vinegar

Malt vinegar is a dark vinegar that is made by malting barley.

This vinegar has an intense flavor. It can be overpowering in some recipes so it is best to use less if substituting.

Can You Use Regular Vinegar Instead Of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Yes, you can use regular vinegar ( white vinegar) instead of apple cider vinegar. The flavor will be slightly different. Apple cider vinegar has a more fruity flavor. While white vinegar is more acidic and has a more intense flavor. The level of acidity is similar.

Add less to your recipe first and then taste it to determine how much you should add as a substitute.

Can I Use Pineapple Juice Instead Of Apple Cider Vinegar?

Pineapple juice can be used instead of apple cider vinegar as it is acidic and sweet. Add a little bit of lemon juice and you can make a great marinade.

Conclusion

There are several substitutes that you can replace apple cider vinegar with. They include rice vinegar, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, champagne vinegar, white wine, sherry vinegar, and malt vinegar.

My personal substitute favorites to use in my recipes, especially marinades and sauces are lemon juice and rice vinegar.

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