Quick Answer: What Works Best To Substitute For Apple Cider Vinegar?
Lemon juice, lime juice, balsamic vinegar, rice wine vinegar, white wine vinegar are all excellent alternatives to apple cider vinegar. Try beer vinegar, champagne vinegar, sherry vinegar, or red wine vinegar if you enjoy alcohol. If you want a fruity flavor, you can use apple, malt, or orange juice. You may use any substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar.
If you don’t have any of your favorite cooking ingredients left (isn’t apple cider vinegar everybody’s favorite?) and you don’t feel like leaving the house, you’re in luck, as you don’t need to! We have the best substitutes for apple cider vinegar.
Here are 15 of the best substitutes for apple cider vinegar.
15 Amazing Apple Cider Vinegar Alternative
| Substitute | Calories (Per 100 gm) |
| Lemon Juice | 22 |
| Lime Juice | 25 |
| Balsamic Vinegar | 88 |
| Rice Wine Vinegar | 34 |
| White Wine Vinegar | 20 |
| Beer | 43 |
| Champagne Vinegar | 33 |
| Sherry Vinegar | 15 |
| Red Wine Vinegar | 6 |
| Apple Juice | 46 |
| Malt Vinegar | 21 |
| Orange Juice | 45 |
| Grapefruit Juice | 39 |
| White Vinegar | 0 |
| Citric Acid | 2 |
Lemon Juice
One really great substitute for apple cider vinegar is the lemon – or, more specifically, its juice! This is because lemon juice has a lot of the same properties as apple cider vinegar when it comes to apple cider vinegar’s sweet and acidic properties.
If you haven’t got any lemon juice ready to go at home, that’s fine! You can make your own lemon juice by juicing any lemons that you might happen to have laying around in the house! If you don’t have any lemons, however, you can choose to go to a store nearby, as most supermarkets and stores will sell lemon juice.
The good part about lemon juice is that it will give your dish an acidic and fruity taste that very closely resembles the taste that apple cider vinegar will introduce to a dish.
In order to use lemon juice as a substitute in your recipe, you should aim to use a tablespoon of lemon juice for every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that you should have added.
How To Substitute
The best thing about choosing lemon juice to substitute apple cider vinegar is that it will give your dish an acidic and fruity taste and it closely resembles the flavor of apple cider vinegar. You can easily make lemon juice by juicing a lemon.
Lime Juice
Lime juice works in a very similar way to lemon juice when it is acting as a substitute for apple cider vinegar. It is also incredibly delicious! Like apple cider vinegar, lime juice has both fruity and acidic qualities, meaning that it can bring that acidic, fruity flavor that you might have been looking for.
Whilst lime juice is amazing as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in salads, it is also really, really good in cooked dishes! The only things that you need to make sure that you have for this are the limes.
It’s harder to find lime juice in stores than it is to find lemon juice, so don’t be surprised if you have to juice them yourself. Even if you do manage to find some lime juice, you might choose to avoid it, as store-bought lime juice can contain many additives that you would not find in home-squeezed lime juice.
This is why it’s always best to juice your limes at home – lime juice that is obtained this way is always fresher, and as a result, much, much nicer!
Lime juice as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in the same way that lemon juice can be – by using one tablespoon of lime juice for each tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that you might have previously needed to use for your recipe.
How To Substitute
Lime juice is similar to lemon juice and can easily substitute apple cider vinegar the same way lemon juice can do. It’s best to prepare your lime juice to get fresh lime juice instead of buying it from stores.
Balsamic Vinegar
Another great alternative to apple cider vinegar is actually balsamic vinegar. Whilst balsamic vinegar is amazing on its own as a dressing for a salad, it is also sweeter than a lot of the other vinegar alternatives above, so it is particularly good as an alternative to apple cider vinegar, too!
It will give your food the same acidity that you would enjoy with apple cider vinegar. To correctly swap out your apple cider vinegar with balsamic vinegar, you might choose to use a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar to replace every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar asked for.
Some people find that balsamic vinegar is sweeter than apple cider vinegar, and so you might want to add slightly less than a tablespoon in order to avoid it overpowering your meal.
How To Substitute
Balsamic vinegar has a sweeter, less acidic taste than apple cider vinegar, which can be used in a variety of recipes as a substitute. Keep in mind to use it in limited quantities to avoid tasting your dish more like balsamic vinegar.
Rice Wine Vinegar
In all honesty – rice wine vinegar should be a lot more popular and get more credit in cooking! This is because rice wine vinegar tastes amazing, and it’s delicious in a wide variety of meals, from rice-based foods to stir-fries. Although rice wine vinegar can have a lower acidity than apple cider vinegar, it actually has a very similar taste.
The right way to use rice wine vinegar as an alternative for apple cider vinegar is to swap out a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for a tablespoon of this type of vinegar.
How To Substitute
Rice wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar has a similar taste and it is considered a great substitute to apple cider vinegar. It also has lower acidity than apple cider vinegar.
White Wine Vinegar
White wine vinegar is probably one of the best alternatives that can be used in place of apple cider vinegar out there! The only downside to this one is that it doesn’t have the same fruity flavor that you can expect to come with a dish made with apple cider vinegar.
Luckily, it’s still an amazing substitute, as it offers pretty much the same level of acidity as apple cider vinegar! It is important to note that many people will describe white wine vinegar as a substance with little to no flavor.
This might mean that you choose to make your dressing even better by adding a squire of either orange or lemon juice, as this will compliment both the white wine vinegar and your salad with its fruity taste.
The substitution for white wine vinegar is once again, a tablespoon of white wine vinegar for every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that you might have used otherwise.
How To Substitute
Apple cider vinegar is a great addition to a number of different recipes, but If you’re looking for a replacement, try white wine vinegar. White wine vinegar is less sour than apple cider vinegar and it has a milder flavor and can be used in any recipe with a variety of health benefits.
Beer
What? I can use beer as a substitute for apple cider vinegar? Yes, you can!
Whilst beer isn’t the most popular alternative to apple cider vinegar, if you’re truly desperate and have absolutely none of the other alternatives that we have listed, you can use beer, and it’ll taste okay!
To use beer as an alternative, you will need to be careful about the beer that you choose to use. This is because different beers obviously vary in their flavors, so choosing a beer that has a very mild taste will probably be a really good idea, as this way it won’t alter the taste of your food to the point that you don’t like it.
The beer adds the acidity to your food that apple cider vinegar would have, so this is how it can come in handy. However, apple cider vinegar is definitely the superior option here, as the taste that you will achieve if you use beer will be a little different, and maybe not as nice.
Either way, the quantity of beer for apple cider vinegar that you would like to use here is three tablespoons of beer to replace every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar!
How To Substitute
Beer as a substitute of apple cider vinegar looks bizarre however it’s a great alternative if you choose a mild tasting beer. You can substitute it in a ratio of 1:3 to make your dish perfect.
Champagne Vinegar
This is an extremely hard alternative to find for apple cider vinegar, so unless you’ve already got it, it might not be the best option for you. Whilst it definitely works in the majority of dishes that you would have usually used apple cider vinegar in, it will not give you any of the fruity tastes that you may rely on apple cider vinegar to provide you with.
Luckily, champagne vinegar does provide you with the same acidity as apple cider vinegar, so once again, you may choose to add a squirt of either lemon or orange juice to your dish to make up for the loss of fruity flavor.
Champagne vinegar resembles rice vinegar when you compare its taste and color, and you can even use it as a substitute for rice vinegar in pretty much all dishes. To use champagne vinegar effectively, you will need to use two tablespoons of champagne vinegar for every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that your recipe calls for.
How To Substitute
Apple cider vinegar is a traditional ingredient in many recipes however, if you want to cut down the amount of vinegar you use, champagne vinegar is a perfect substitute. This type of vinegar is made from champagne grapes and has a slightly sweet and tangy taste.
Sherry Vinegar
Sherry vinegar tastes a lot like the drink, Sherry – so if you like Sherry, you’ll probably like Sherry vinegar, too! This wine vinegar also has the same level of acidity as apple cider vinegar, however, like other kinds of wine vinegars, it also differs in taste from apple cider vinegar.
It’s always important to taste this kind of vinegar before you add it to your food. This is because you may or may not like it, and if you do not like it, you will almost certainly want to use less of it.
For people that enjoy the taste of Sherry vinegar, we would recommend using around two tablespoons for every single tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that you might have added.
However, if you’re someone that does not enjoy the taste of Sherry vinegar, we would probably recommend that you choose to use one tablespoon of Sherry vinegar for every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that your recipe might have called for. This will prevent the Sherry vinegar taste from being too overpowering and ruining your meal.
How To Substitute
Not everyone likes the taste of sherry vinegar in your dish however it is an excellent substitute. With the same level of acidity but a different taste it makes it one of the great choices to try.
Red Wine Vinegar
This vinegar is actually pretty easy to find in the majority of supermarkets. Red wine vinegar is made using red grapes, so it does have a similar fruity taste to the one that comes with apple cider vinegars!
Even though they have a similar fruitiness, red wine vinegar isn’t quite as fruity as apple cider vinegar. This means that you will probably need to add more of it to your recipe to gain the same level of fruitiness that you want in your recipe.
You should also take note that red wine vinegar is red, so there is a very good chance that it will alter the color of your food, and you should not be alarmed. The color change is normal, and it doesn’t affect anything other than the overall appearance of your meal.
To replace your apple cider vinegar with red wine vinegar without ruining your meal, you should try to use somewhere around 1 and 1 and a quarter tablespoons of the red wine vinegar to replace each of the tablespoons of apple cider vinegar that your recipe would have previously asked for.
How To Substitute
With the fruity taste of grapes, red wine vinegar is considered a great substitute to apple cider vinegar. Although it will slightly affect the appearance of your dish, the taste will remain the same.
Apple Juice
So, it’s not too surprising that apple juice would work brilliantly as an alternative if you have run out of apple cider vinegar. Of course, apple juice will not have anywhere near the same acidity as apple cider vinegar, but it will taste amazing!
You may need to use more apple juice in your meal in order to gain the level of flavor that you are looking for. Either way though, if you need a replacement for apple cider vinegar, apple juice is always a good choice!
Because you need more of it, you should use two tablespoons of apple juice for every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that you would have needed to use otherwise within your food. If you really like the apple taste, you can choose to add even more! It’s up to you.
How To Substitute
Apple Juice is a very popular drink that has a sweet taste and a high content of fructose. The drink is usually made from apple cider vinegar, which is a product made from apples and apple cider and tastes amazing. It can substitute apple cider vinegar for a different drink.
Malt Vinegar
So, not many people know that malt vinegar is actually a truly incredible alternative for apple cider vinegar! Even though you might be wary, it’s one of the best options out there!
Malt vinegar is made from barley that has been fermented. Because of this, it has a yeasty flavor that will almost certainly come through in your food, so you should make sure to consider this when cooking.
Other than the yeasty flavor, malt vinegar is a brilliant substitute! All you need to do is add one tablespoon of malt vinegar in replacement of every tablespoon of apple cider vinegar that you may have needed to add any other day.
How To Substitute
Made with fermented barley the malt vinegar can easily replace apple cider vinegar. However it contains a yeasty flavor that might ruin your dish’s flavor so use it wisely.
Orange Juice
Believe it or not, orange juice is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar too! Because oranges are citrus fruits, they have a similar acidity to the acidity that lemon brings as a substitute, and as a result of this, they can be used as a substitute successfully.
The delightful orange flavor that comes with orange juice will almost certainly compliment your meal. If you could have previously used apple cider vinegar, you will probably find that the orange notes that come with this juice are quite refreshing within your meal!
You can easily use orange juice as a substitute here by swapping out a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar for a tablespoon of orange juice. Easy, and delicious!
How To Substitute
Orange juice is a great way to substitute for apple cider vinegar in recipes. The sweet and tangy taste of orange juice can be used in many recipes as a substitute for apple cider vinegar. It can be used as a marinade for fish or chicken, or you may use it for salad dressing.
Grapefruit Juice
Apple cider vinegar and grapefruit juice are both popular natural remedies with various health benefits. In addition, they share some similarities, Which makes grapefruit juice a suitable alternative to apple cider vinegar.
Grapefruit juice is higher in vitamin C and potassium. In addition, grapefruit juice has been shown to improve heart health and lower cholesterol levels.
If you are looking to substitute one for the other, keeping these differences in mind is essential. For example, apple cider vinegar may be a better choice for those looking to lose weight or improve their digestion. On the other hand, grapefruit juice may be a better choice for those with heart health concerns.
How To Substitute
Swap out one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with two teaspoons of grapefruit juice to enhance the recipe’s taste.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is a popular substitute for apple cider vinegar. However, they don’t have a similar taste, but the end product you get will be delicious.
Apple cider vinegar is tangy in flavor, whereas white vinegar has a mild taste profile that would make a delicious addition to your recipes.
If you are not familiar with using white vinegar as a substitute for apple cider vinegar, the most common way to use it is to use it as a salad dressing.
However, if you are not in the mood for dressing, you can use it to substitute for apple cider vinegar in recipes like BBQ sauce, dipping sauce, and marinades.
How To Substitute
Substitute one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of white vinegar.
Citric Acid
Apple cider vinegar is a sour, acidic liquid made from fermented apples. It is used in cooking and baking and has various health benefits. Citric acid is a tart, an acidic compound found in citrus fruits. It is also used in cooking and baking and has various health benefits.
Both apple cider vinegar and citric acid can be used as substitutes for one another. When substituting apple cider vinegar for citric acid, use a 1:1 ratio. When substituting citric acid for apple cider vinegar, use a 1:2 balance.
When used in place of apple cider vinegar, citric acid can provide the same acidic properties without the pungent vinegar smell. In addition, citric acid is less likely to cause skin irritation than apple cider vinegar.
How To Substitute
The best ratio to substitute citric acid with apple cider vinegar is to take a teaspoon of water and add ⅛ citric acid for each apple cider vinegar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Use White Wine Vinegar If I Don’t Have Any Apple Cider Vinegar To Use For My Recipe?
Absolutely! We would recommend for you to use white wine vinegar as an alternative to apple cider vinegar, as it works brilliantly! You should, however, bear in mind that white wine vinegar can be lacking in taste compared to apple cider vinegar.
Luckily, you can choose to improve the taste of white wine vinegar by adding either lemon juice or orange juice, as this can help you to gain that fruity flavor that you’re looking for with apple cider vinegar!
What Happens If I Choose To Use Regular Vinegar Instead Of Apple Cider Vinegar?
Luckily, you can use regular vinegar (and any of the other alternatives that we have picked out for you in our guide above) as a substitute for apple cider vinegar. You should, however, expect regular vinegar to alter the taste of your dish, as it does not contain the same flavor properties that you will find in apple cider vinegar.
Can I Use Lemon Juice Instead Of Apple Cider Vinegar?
Of course, you may add lemon juice to substitute apple cider vinegar. Likewise, you can use it in place of lemon juice in many recipes. However, if you’re using a recipe for lemon juice and apple cider vinegar, you may use one teaspoon of lemon juice to substitute one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.
Can I Mix Apple Juice And Vinegar To Make Apple Cider Vinegar?
Yes, you may use apple juice and vinegar to prepare the apple cider vinegar; however, it is not a reliable method that one can choose as it requires fermentation from bacteria and yeast in your home. Also, you must be mindful while using vinegar as it will affect the taste of your apple cider vinegar.
Is Apple Cider Vinegar Better Than White Vinegar?
Because of the fruit content in apple cider vinegar, it is considered to be healthier than white vinegar. However, while choosing it, make sure you choose an organic one.
15 Of The Best Substitutes For Apple Cider Vinegar
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minutesThere are plenty of substitutes for apple cider vinegar that you can find at your home quickly, and will give you the same result.
Ingredients
Lemon Juice
Lime Juice
Balsamic Vinegar
Rice Wine Vinegar
White Wine Vinegar
Beer
Champagne Vinegar
Sherry Vinegar
Red Wine Vinegar
Apple Juice
Malt Vinegar
Orange Juice
Grapefruit Juice
White Vinegar
Citric Acid
Directions
- Choose your favorite substitute from the list given above
- Follow the directions given in the recipe after having substituted the ingredient in the correct ratio
Recipe Video
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
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