SaurabhApple cider vinegar is used in a wide range of recipes, from salads to cooked dishes. Thus, it might be very frustrating to start a recipe and discover that you are missing the apple cider vinegar.
In this case, you will need a good substitute. We found a few apple cider vinegar substitutes that will work great for all types of recipes.
However, there are other alternatives as well so, keep on reading to find all the substitutes you can try.
Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes
You can try to replace your apple cider vinegar with any of the following ingredients and you will end up with a great dish. The ratio, however, might differ from one substitute to the next so pay attention to such details too when you are cooking.
1. Lemon juice
One of the handiest and similar in taste and acidity substitutes for apple cider vinegar is lemon juice. You can get lemon juice at home from squeezing lemons so you don’t have to buy it from the store.
If you don’t want to do that you can find lemon juice in most supermarkets. It will give your dish the acidity and fruity taste that apple cider vinegar does. Substitute 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
2. Lime juice
Lime juice, just like lemon juice, will be a delicious substitute for apple cider vinegar. It is fruity and acid enough to enrich the flavor of all your dishes.
Lime juice is ideal for salad dressings but it can be used in cooked dishes as well. All you need to obtain lime juice are limes. You will rarely find lime juice in stores and if you do, most likely it has certain additives that you don’t need in your food.
The best lime juice is the one obtained at home, from fresh limes.
Keep in mind that this juice is stronger than lemon juice so expects a more refined taste in your food. The substitution ratio is 1 tablespoon of lime juice to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
3. White wine vinegar
White wine vinegar is one of the best substitutes for apple cider vinegar on the market. It doesn’t have the fruity flavor of the classic apple cider vinegar. However, it does offer the same level of acidity.
Some say that white wine vinegar has little to no flavor so you might have to enrich your dressing with some lemon or orange juice to offer it a fruity taste. The substitution ratio is 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
4. Champagne vinegar
Champagne vinegar is one of the hardest substitutes to find. However, it definitely works great in most dishes. It will not offer you a fruity taste but it will have the same acidity as apple cider vinegar.
It resembles rice wine vinegar in terms of taste and color, so you can use it in the same dishes as you would rice vinegar. The substitution ratio is 2 tablespoons of champagne vinegar to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
5. Sherry vinegar
If you like the Sherry drink, you will definitely like the Sherry vinegar as well. It is a type of wine vinegar that has the same level of acidity as apple cider vinegar but a very different taste.
It is a great idea to taste this type of vinegar before using it in any of your food. The ratio will differ according to how much you like the taste of Sherry vinegar.
If you like it, you can use 2 tablespoons of Sherry vinegar for 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. If you don’t like the taste so much, stick to 1 tablespoon of Sherry vinegar for 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
6. Red wine vinegar
Red wine vinegar is easy to find in most supermarkets. It comes from red grapes and has a fruity taste that is very similar to the one apple cider vinegar has.
However, you will notice that it is not as strong as apple cider vinegar, so you will have to add more of it in order to get the recipe you want. Also, it’s red, so it might change the color of your food which is definitely an aspect to keep in mind.
The substitution ratio is 1 and 1/4 tablespoons of red wine vinegar for one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
7. Rice wine vinegar
Rice wine vinegar is not as popular as it deserves to be for its amazing taste.
You can use it successfully in stir-fries, soups, dishes with rice, and even salads. This vinegar has a lower level of acidity but a very similar taste to apple cider vinegar. The substitution ratio is 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
8. Apple juice
Apple juice could also work great in different dishes if you don’t have apple cider vinegar. Since this is a juice and not a vinegar type, its level of acidity will be lower.
Meaning, you might have to use more of it in order to obtain the taste you want. But apple juice comes with a delicious apple taste that you will definitely appreciate in your dish.
Use 2 tablespoons of apple juice for 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Depending on the dish you are making and your personal taste, you might want to use even more than that.
9. Malt vinegar
This is not such a common alternative but it is one of the best to try. Malt vinegar is made of fermented malted barley. It has a yeasty flavor that will change the taste of your food.
However, ultimately, this could replace apple cider vinegar successfully. The ratio is 1 tablespoon of malt vinegar to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
10. Orange juice
A surprising alternative to apple cider vinegar that many people don’t expect is orange juice. Just like lemons, oranges are citrus so they have that acidity you want to add to your dishes.
Oranges also have a defined fruity taste so they will add to the flavor of any type of food. You can replace 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 tablespoon of orange juice and end up with a delicious dish.
11. Beer
Beer is a very controversial alternative to apple cider vinegar. It doesn’t have the acidity that apple cider vinegar has or the fruity taste but somehow, it can save your dishes.
When picking the beer you want to use, go for one that has a mild flavor so it doesn’t alter the taste of your food too much.
Your food will have a certain level of acidity. However, it will taste slightly different if you use beer instead of apple cider vinegar. The ratio is 3 tablespoons of beer to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar.
12. Balsamic vinegar
The last but not the least alternative to apple cider vinegar is balsamic vinegar. There are many types of balsamic vinegar on the market.
This type of vinegar is sweeter than other types of vinegar. However, it is still acidic enough to give your food the flavor you want.
Balsamic vinegar goes great in all salad dressings. Add 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Sometimes you might need to add even less since it is sweeter than your regular vinegar.
FAQs
Can you use regular vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar?
Yes, you can use regular vinegar or any of the substitutes above in your recipes if you don’t have apple cider vinegar. However, expect the taste to be slightly different.
Apple cider vinegar has a fruity taste that also adds a fruity flavor to the food. If you use regular vinegar, you will miss the fruity taste but you will keep the level of acidity which is quite important as well.
Plus, all types of vinegar have their specific flavor. It is important to find the one that matches your dish best and it is suitable for your taste as well.
Can I substitute white vinegar for apple cider vinegar in a recipe?
White wine vinegar is one of the best substitutes for apple cider vinegar. However, it is blander in taste and you might want to enrich it with lemon or orange juice if you want to get fruity of the apple cider vinegar.
You can even add apple juice to your white wine vinegar in order to get a more similar taste to apple cider vinegar. White wine vinegar will go great in all types of dishes from cold ones such as salads to cooked ones.
Was This Helpful?
Apple cider vinegar is tasty and healthy for you but it is definitely not irreplaceable.
You can use any of the substitutes in this guide if you run out of apple cider vinegar and enjoy a lovely dish. Pay attention to the ratio since different types of vinegar and other substitutes can change the way your food tastes significantly.
