What to use in place of apple cider

Of all the vinegars out there, apple cider vinegar is one of the most multi-purpose. It can do everything its fellow vinegars do (including clean!) and even gets touted as a health elixir within the wellness community. So, what happens when you find yourself pouring out that last precious drop in the bottle? Forget the last-minute grocery store run! You're bound to have a few apple cider vinegar substitutes in your well-stocked pantry already.

Apple cider vinegar is derived from a combination of fermented apples and water; it's slightly sweeter than most vinegars with its apple notes. Keep in mind, however, that there is a key difference between apple cider vinegar and apple cider versus apple juice. This particular vinegar is considered to be mild—it's less sweet than balsamic but sweeter than most wine-based vinegars (think white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or sherry vinegar). It can brighten and sharpen salad dressings or cooking liquids, work culinary magic as a quick-pickling solution and even function as a key ingredient in baking recipes, where it helps activate leaveners. Ree Drummond herself uses it in all sorts of recipes: the best baked beans ever, apple, pecan, and blue cheese salad with dried cherries and glazed ham. Before you start cooking, read on to find an apple cider vinegar substitute that works for you!

White wine vinegar and apple cider vinegar have a similar level of acidity, making for an easy swap. Add a splash of fruit juice to sweeten it up a bit, if desired.

SHOP GLASS MEASURING CUPS

Champagne vinegar is milder than apple cider vinegar, though a 1:1 swap will work just fine. If you need more of a punch, add a bit more champagne vinegar to taste.

The overall flavor of red wine vinegar is more pronounced than white wine vinegar, but it still works as a suitable sub for apple cider vinegar. Keep in mind, however, that the dark hue of red wine vinegar may affect the color of a dish.

Sherry vinegar has a distinct flavor that is more pronounced and complex than apple cider vinegar, but it's still a great swap. If you're a fan of sherry or sherry vinegar, feel free to up the amount to taste—just don't alter the amount of liquid in a baking recipe!

Sweeter and milder than apple cider vinegar, rice wine vinegar is still a great substitute. It has a pleasant taste, but also adds the snappiness you'd expect from a vinegar.

If you stir a little honey or maple syrup into apple cider vinegar, you'll end up with a mixture resembling balsamic vinegar. You can use the mix as 1:1 swap for apple cider vinegar, but keep in mind that balsamic vinegar is significantly sweeter, so consider adjusting the amount as needed to taste. It's also much darker and opaque, so it will affect the color of a dish.

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Distilled White Vinegar

Though your standard white vinegar is considered neutral in flavor, it is highly acidic and has a pronounced sharp bite. Use it as an equal swap for apple cider vinegar, but consider adding a splash of fruit juice or a pinch of sugar to balance out the flavor. On its own, distilled white vinegar can be a bit harsh.

A good match for all things fried and crisp, malt vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar, though it will add a yeasted note in terms of overall flavor.

This non-fermented cousin of apple cider vinegar makes for a worthwhile sub. Just keep in mind that it doesn't offer the acidity of vinegar, so it won't activate leaveners. If using in savory recipes, add a splash of another vinegar or some citrus juice for acidity.

Lemon juice is naturally tart and acidic—which means it's an ideal substitute for apple cider vinegar. Use it in dressings, sauces or any time you need a splash of acidity.

Any citrus juice will add brightness to a dish, but orange juice is slightly sweeter than the other citrusy contenders. Use it as a 1:1 swap, but feel free to add a splash of another vinegar, if desired, for a sharper note.

Another ideal sub, lime juice packs in all the right acidic notes. Keep in mind that it's a bit sharper than both lemon and orange juice, and it has a very distinct flavor.

SHOP CITRUS JUICERS

If you are halfway through a recipe and suddenly realize that you have no cider vinegar, don’t worry! Here are 14 Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes to help you out with your baking, preserving, and cooking. These are some alternatives that you can make from items you may already have in your pantry.

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Apple cider vinegar adds tons of flavor to foods, including recipes, beverages, salad dressings, and more. In recent years, people have become increasingly aware of the health benefits of consuming apple cider vinegar, too, so it’s a great addition to your diet. Healthy and delicious? What’s not to love?

If you’re pulling together a recipe that calls for apple cider vinegar, what do you do if you don’t have any? Or maybe you just don’t like the flavor of apple cider vinegar. Fortunately, there are several different things you can use instead. Everything from apple juice to other types of vinegar can be used.

What Exactly is Apple Cider Vinegar?

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Apple Cider Vinegar (also known as cider vinegar) is made from apples! Apples are squeezed to extract the juices from the apple, which are then subsequently turned into vinegar through fermentation.

Yeast is then added to the apple juice sugars to create alcohol in this light golden vinegar. Through the fermentation process, the alcohol from the apple juice is converted to acetic acid.

You will find the use of apple cider vinegar in a wide range of dishes, including marinades and dressings for salads, as well as baking, preserving, and cooking.

Substitutions for Apple Cider Vinegar

I’m going to start with one of my favorites, balsamic vinegar. Other excellent apple cider vinegar alternatives are given below for your consideration.

Choose an apple cider vinegar substitute depending on the taste characteristics of your dish and create a delicious alternative!

1. Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is a pantry staple that may be used in place of apple cider vinegar, particularly in salad dressings.

However, it is considerably sweeter, so use a 1:1 ratio or less. It’s also dark in color, so if you don’t mind the deeper coloring in your recipe, go ahead and add it.

2. Apple Juice

You may simply substitute apple juice for apple cider vinegar, which is sometimes neglected. When used in dishes that compliment the apple taste, this is an especially excellent alternative (of ACV).

It won’t be as acidic since it hasn’t been fermented, but it will certainly have the fruity taste that goes with it!

Use a 2:1 ratio of 2 tablespoons of apple juice to 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar.

3. Champagne Vinegar

Champagne vinegar may be difficult to obtain, but it is an excellent replacement for ACV. It has a softer taste but is properly acidic, and it can be used in soups, rice, stir-fries, and sauces much like rice wine vinegar.

This ACV substitute’s suggested replacement ratio is 2:1. 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts champagne vinegar.

4. Lime Juice

Lime juice, like the juice of the lemon, is an excellent alternative. It has a stronger taste than the juice of the lemon and still has all fruity tasting acidity needed for the recipe.

This option is ideal for marinades, to dress salads, and any recipes that need cooking.

For this one, squeeze the juice from lots of fresh limes on a 1:1 ratio!

5. Fruity Red Wine Vinegar

Red wine vinegar has a comparable fruity taste to apple cider vinegar but isn’t as powerful. It’s also red, so keep in mind that it will most likely alter the color of whatever you’re using it for.

To use red wine vinegar, add a bit extra, at a 1.25:1 ratio. To make the arithmetic simpler, for every Tbsp of apple cider vinegar called for in the recipe, use between 1 and 14 tsps of red wine vinegar.

6. Sherry Vinegar

Sherry vinegar has a distinct, strong taste that differs from apple cider vinegar while maintaining the same acidic character.

It is suggested that you initially try a little amount of sherry vinegar to determine whether you enjoy the flavor. You may apply a 2:1 replacement if you prefer it.

If you don’t like the taste but don’t have any other options, substitute sherry vinegar for apple cider vinegar in a 1 to 1 ratio.

7. Malt Vinegar

Malt vinegar is not a popular kind of vinegar, but it may be used as a substitute if you have some in your kitchen.

It is made from barley that has been fermented which means it has a yeasty taste rather than the fruity characteristics found in many kinds of vinegar.

Malt vinegar may be used in lieu of apple cider vinegar at a 1:1 ratio.

8. Rice Wine Vinegar

Rice wine vinegar isn’t as popular as some other kinds of vinegar, and I don’t know why because it’s a versatile ingredient. Use it in rice recipes, soups, salad dressing, and stir-fries.

Its taste is similar to the fruity taste of apple cider vinegar, although it is less acidic. You may still replace at a 1:1 ratio.

9. Orange Juice

It’s not unexpected to find orange juice on the list since other popular citrus fruits like lime and lemon are also on the list. This citrus fruit, like lemon and lime juice, may be used in lieu of apple cider vinegar with excellent results.

Orange juice is delicious, tart, and contains the acidity required by your recipe.

For a 1:1 replacement of apple cider vinegar, use orange juice.

10. White Vinegar

White vinegar has a neutral taste, although it is very acidic.

In a 1:1 ratio, white vinegar may be used in lieu of apple cider vinegar, however it is suggested that you add some fresh citrus juice to give some fruity taste. When you do this the match with apple cider vinegar will be closer.

11. Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is perhaps the finest apple cider vinegar substitute. Any store will have fresh lemons or pre-squeezed lemon juice.

The taste is more similar to apple cider vinegar than any other substitute, and it is certain to provide the delicious acidity that your recipe requires.

In a 1:1 ratio, replace lemon juice with apple cider vinegar.

12. White Wine Vinegar

One of the closest alternatives is white wine vinegar. This is due to the acidity profile as it is almost the same as ACV, if not identical.

It should be noted, however, that white wine vinegar lacks the fruity taste of apple cider vinegar. As a result, it is advised to add some fresh citrus juice (lemon, lime, or orange) to the mix.

Use a 1:1 ratio of white wine vinegar to apple cider vinegar.

13. Grapefruit Juice

Grapefruits have the same citrus taste as lemon and limes but is less acidic. If all you have in the house is grapefruit juice, you can use it as an apple cider vinegar alternative.

14. Beer

If you feel like trying something completely different, use beer as an apple cider vinegar replacement. It all depends on the recipe, but beer can be an excellent substitute, and you may already have some available.

The acid profile of because beer is not the same as apple cider vinegar, so use a mild-flavored beer in a 3:1 ratio.

Table 1: Substitutes for ACV

For every 1 tablespoon of ACV in your recipe use the equivalent substitute in the quantities given below

Apple Cider Vinegar. Recipe Substitutions

Here are some basic uses for ACV substitutes.

For Baking

Use either white vinegar (in a 1:1 ratio) or juice a lemon and use a little lower quantity for baking. If the recipe asks for 14 cup apple cider vinegar, use 13 cup lemon juice.

For Deglazing Pans

Deglaze a pan with sherry, port, a wine with a complementary taste profile (to match your protein), or stock or broth (an alcohol-free alternative).

For Pickling

Use malt or white vinegar or choose a vinegar that has an acetic acid of 4% or more for pickling options. Because ACV contains 5-6 percent acetic acid, it is officially classed as a weaker acid.

When replacing apple cider vinegar in pickling or canning recipes, look for a vinegar that is as similar to the acetic acid level of apple cider vinegar as possible.

For Ribs & Pulled Pork

Look no farther than lemon, lime, or orange juice when making ribs and pulled pork recipes. All three are quick and simple options that will add sweetness and acidity to your pulled pork meals.

Table 2: Vinegars and their Acetic Acid Content

Select a vinegar with a similar taste and acetic acid concentration. Acetic acid content is important when canning, preserving, and pickling foods.

Recipes Using Apple Cider Vinegar

When I’m smoking meat, I like to use apple cider vinegar. It adds a wonderfully tart taste to any traditional sweet and sour sauce recipe!!

FAQ

Can I use balsamic vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar?

Yes but balsamic vinegar has a sweeter taste than apple cider vinegar, a 1:1 ratio is suggested. You could even start with less than 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar, and add more depending on the taste.

Can I use white vinegar as a replacement for apple cider vinegar?

You can absolutely use white vinegar as a replacement ! Fresh citrus juice should be added to give the white vinegar a fruity taste. The taste and acidic character of apple cider vinegar are well complemented by this mix of white vinegar and citrus juice.

What is the function of apple cider vinegar in baking recipes?

You can use apple cider vinegar in baking, especially when making vegan cakes and bakes. When you use it for baking it gives an acidic taste and a light airy texture to cakes.

Which is the more potent, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar?

White vinegar is potent, containing 5-10% acetic acid. Apple cider vinegar contains just 4-6 percent acetic acid, making it less potent than its cousin.

These options are sure to be a hit. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!

Course Substitute

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 147 kcal

• Balsamic Vinegar
• Apple Juice
• Champagne Vinegar
• Lime Juice
• Fruity Red Wine Vinegar
• Sherry Vinegar
• Malt Vinegar
• Rice Wine Vinegar
• Orange Juice
• White Vinegar
• Lemon Juice
• White Wine Vinegar
• Grapefruit Juice
• Beer

• Try our apple cider vinegar substitutes.

Select your option.
Use in or with your favorite recipe.
Enjoy.

Calories: 147kcal

Keyword apple cider vinegar substitute

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