Apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient made from apple juice that has been mixed with yeast and left to ferment. The yeast interacts with the natural sugar in the apple juice, forming an alcoholic liquid. As the liquid ferments, it turns into acetic acid, making apple cider vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is a common ingredient in many salad dressings, marinades, and sauces. Apple cider vinegar has a unique flavor, but many other types of vinegar and certain fruit juices make good substitutes for apple cider vinegar because they have a high acid content and similar flavor notes.
Best Apple Cider Vinegar Substitute: White Wine Vinegar
The best substitute for apple cider vinegar is white wine vinegar. White wine vinegar is made from white wine that has been left to ferment, and then strained and bottled. White wine vinegar has a similar flavor to apple cider vinegar, although white wine vinegar is not as sharp as apple cider vinegar.
You can use white wine vinegar as a 1:1 substitute for apple cider vinegar in most recipes for salad dressings and marinades.
White wine vinegar is not as fruity as apple cider vinegar. If you want that fruity flavor, add a splash of apple juice or orange juice to your recipe when using white wine vinegar in place of apple cider vinegar.
Other Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes, Alternatives, and Replacements
There are other ingredients that you can use in place of apple cider vinegar.
Vinegar Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar
Red Wine Vinegar
Red wine vinegar is made from fermented red wine. It has a similar tangy flavor to apple cider vinegar, but red wine vinegar is slightly sweeter than apple cider vinegar.
Red wine vinegar works well as a 1:1 substitute for apple cider vinegar in vinaigrette dressings, marinades, and pickle juices. You can replace apple cider vinegar with red wine vinegar in many Mediterranean dishes.
Champagne Vinegar
Champagne vinegar is made from the same grapes that are used to make champagne. A small amount of yeast is added to champagne wine, and it is left to ferment until it turns into acetic acid.
Champagne vinegar has a light, floral undertone and a similar tartness to apple cider vinegar. You can use champagne vinegar as a 1:1 substitute for apple cider vinegar in most salad dressings and sauces.
Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is a dark brown vinegar that is made from unfermented grape juice. Its slightly sweet, tart flavor is similar to apple cider vinegar.
Even though balsamic vinegar is darker in color than apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces. Use balsamic vinegar as an alternative to apple cider vinegar on a 1:1 basis.
Malt Vinegar
Malt vinegar is made from malted grains of barley that are left to soak in water until they germinate. They are then dried and brewed into ale, and the ale is left for a while before it eventually becomes malt vinegar.
Malt vinegar has a more intense tart flavor than apple cider vinegar. You can use malt vinegar as a 1:1 substitute for apple cider vinegar in dressings, pickles, sauces, and marinades, but you should add a little extra sugar or some fruit juice to balance out the sharp flavor.
Sherry Vinegar
Sherry vinegar is made from naturally fermented sherry wine. Sherry vinegar originates from Spain, from an area known as the “sherry triangle.”
Sherry vinegar is more of a gourmet ingredient than most vinegar and therefore is fairly pricey.
In most recipes, Sherry vinegar has a milder flavor than apple cider vinegar, but you can use two-parts sherry vinegar as a substitute for one-part apple cider vinegar.
White Vinegar
White vinegar is also called distilled vinegar, or spirit vinegar is made from distilled grain alcohol. White vinegar is one of the purest forms of vinegar and has a strong tart flavor.
White vinegar is commonly used in pickling and in marinades. You can use white vinegar as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in dressings and sauces, but you should dilute it with water. Use 1 ½ tablespoon of white vinegar and ½ a tablespoon of water in place of 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar comes from Vietnam and East Asia, where it is a popular ingredient in dressings and sushi. Rice vinegar is made from fermented rice that has been crushed and left until it turns into acetic acid.
Although rice vinegar is sweeter than apple cider vinegar, it can be used as a substitute for apple cider vinegar on a 1:1 basis in dressings, marinades, and sauces.
Fruit Juice Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar
Lime Juice
Limes have a tart flavor with a hint of sweetness. Lime juice is sweeter than apple cider vinegar, but you can use lime juice as a 1:1 substitute for apple cider vinegar in many dressings, marinades, and sauces. Lime juice will give your dish a fruity undertone.
Lemon Juice
Lemon juice has the same blend of fruity and acidic flavor as apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice is sourer than apple cider vinegar, but lemon juice works as a substitute for apple cider vinegar on a 1:1 basis in most recipes.
Orange Juice
Orange juice has a strong citrus flavor with acidic undertones. Some varieties of oranges are sweeter than others. If you use orange juice as an apple cider vinegar substitute, you should select a tangy, slightly sour variety of orange.
Replace one part apple cider vinegar with one part orange juice in salad dressings, sauces and marinades.
Apple Juice
Apple cider vinegar is made from apple juice, so you can use regular apple juice as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in many recipes.
Because apple juice is much sweeter than apple cider vinegar, you should cut down on the sugar in your recipe to compensate for the extra sweetness in the apple juice.
You can add a splash of white vinegar to the apple juice to reduce the sweetness and give the apple juice a more tart flavor.
Use apple juice as a 1:1 substitute for apple cider vinegar in marinades, sauces, and salad dressings.
Beer
Beer is made from fermented hops. It has a somewhat bitter flavor, with a hint of tartness. Beer works as a substitute for apple cider vinegar, but you should add a sprinkling of extra sugar to balance out the beer’s bitterness.
Use one part beer as an alternative to one part apple cider vinegar in salad dressings, sauces, and marinades.
