Let’s get things straight right off the bat—rice wine, like sake, is not the same thing as rice wine vinegar. While fermented rice is the base for both, they have their differences. The biggest being that while you can use rice wine for cooking or drinking, you really wouldn’t want to sit back and relax with a glass of rice vinegar. Whether you’re in a pinch or looking to change up your usual ingredients, there are a few substitutes for rice vinegar that are sure to keep your recipe tasting delicious. So before you anger the culinary gods, take our advice and check out these 8 rice vinegar substitutes.
Best Rice Vinegar Substitutes
1. Apple cider vinegar
Although apple cider vinegar tends to be a bit cloudier and more potent, it makes for a great rice vinegar substitute. It’s sweet and sour combination makes it a close enough match to work in most circumstances by using a 1:1 ratio. Great Value Apple Cider Vinegar, $4, Walmart
2. Lemon juice
When using lemon juice as a substitution, use twice as much lemon juice as you would rice vinegar. This also works the same with lime juice! ReaLemon 100% Lemon Juice, $3, Walmart
3. Sherry vinegar
Although it has a more complex flavor than rice vinegar, when used in the right dishes it works just as well in substitution. Substitute the rice wine vinegar with equal parts sherry vinegar, and be sure to use slightly less sherry vinegar in dishes using milder ingredients. 15-Year-Old Sherry Vinegar, $17, Walmart
4. Champagne vinegar
You can use champagne vinegar instead of rice vinegar in recipes such as seafood recipes, marinades, salad dressings, and dipping sauces. With this substitute, start with a 1:2 ratio (rice vinegar to champagne vinegar) and then adjust until you get that right balance. Williams Sonoma Champagne Vinegar, $16, Williams Sonoma
5. White wine vinegar
You can easily swap rice vinegar for white wine vinegar if you’re in a pinch. The flavor profiles are similar and the substitution calls for a 1:1 ratio. Pompeian Organic White Wine Vinegar, $2, Walmart
6. Distilled white vinegar
White distilled vinegar is less sweet compared to rice vinegar, but will work as a 1:1 replacement. This is also a great alternative if you’re looking for an ingredient with a lower acidity level. Distilled White Vinegar, $1, Walmart
7. Balsamic vinegar
If you’re fresh out of rice vinegar, balsamic vinegar can be used as a 1:1 substitute. Although it is commonly used in Italian dishes, balsamic makes for an easy substitution in recipes like salad dressings and marinades. Terra Verde Organic Balsamic Vinegar, $4, Walmart
8. Rice wine
Rice wine has a less acidic flavor than rice vinegar, remember? Since rice wine is sweeter, you can blend it with white vinegar to create an ingredient very singular to rice vinegar. Kikkoman Sweet Rice Wine, $3, Walmart Check out…Best Butter SubstitutesBest Brown Sugar SubstitutesBest Heavy Cream Substitutes
