Rice vinegar substitute: choose by the dish
Apple cider vinegar is a useful stand-in for rice vinegar. Check whether the recipe means plain or seasoned before you add sugar or salt.
Quick answer
Apple cider vinegar is a good rice vinegar substitute: use the same amount, such as 1 tablespoon [15 ml] for 1 tablespoon [15 ml]. White wine vinegar also works in equal amounts, with a pinch of sugar to soften its sharper taste. For dressings or marinades, lemon or lime juice is another option. Seasoned rice vinegar already contains sugar and salt.
Swap amounts for plain rice vinegar
| Swap | Per tablespoon [15 ml] rice vinegar | Best for | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple cider vinegar | 1 tablespoon [15 ml] | Sushi rice, dressings, stir-fries | A fruitier flavor |
| White wine or champagne vinegar | 1 tablespoon [15 ml] + a pinch of sugar | Sushi rice and dressings | A cleaner but sharper taste |
| Lemon or lime juice | 1 tablespoon [15 ml] | Dressings and marinades | Adds a citrus flavor |
| Distilled white vinegar | About 3/4 tablespoon [11 ml] + a splash of water and a pinch of sugar | Stir-fries or dressings in a pinch | Harsher; don't use the full amount undiluted |
For sushi rice, choose apple cider or white wine vinegar and add the recipe's sugar and salt. Citrus is more noticeable, so save it for dishes where you want that flavor. For quick refrigerator pickles, expect a flavor change; for preserved pickles, follow a tested recipe's vinegar instructions. If you're making a smaller batch, scale the recipe before calculating the swap amount.
Why rice vinegar tastes gentler
Rice vinegar is made from fermented rice. Japanese rice vinegar is mild and slightly sweet, with about 4-4.5% acidity. Most wine vinegars are around 6%, while US distilled white vinegar is 5%. Those differences help explain why a replacement can taste sharper even when you use the same spoonful.
Vinegar supplies acidity in a dressing, marinade or stir-fry sauce. Rice wine supplies a different flavor. Use the mirin substitute guide if the recipe calls for sweet cooking wine instead.
Plain and seasoned aren't interchangeable without changes
Plain or unseasoned rice vinegar has no added sugar or salt. Seasoned rice vinegar, often called sushi vinegar, has both. If you use seasoned vinegar in a recipe written for plain, reduce the sugar and salt elsewhere, then taste before adding more.
If the recipe asks for seasoned vinegar and you only have plain, you need sugar and salt as well. Follow the recipe's seasoning instructions rather than assuming the plain bottle will give the same result.
Names on bottles outside the US
| Country | Name to look for |
|---|---|
| UK, Australia and Canada | Rice vinegar or rice wine vinegar; check for added sugar and salt |
| Germany | Reisessig |
| France | Vinaigre de riz |
| Spain and Brazil | Vinagre de arroz |
| Italy | Aceto di riso |
| Indonesia | Cuka beras |
Rice wine vinegar means vinegar, despite the word wine. Mirin, sake and Shaoxing wine are cooking wines and won't supply the same acidity.
Avoid strongly flavored or concentrated vinegar
Balsamic vinegar is dark, sweet and strong. Malt vinegar has a pronounced malt taste. Chinese black vinegar, also called Chinkiang vinegar, is dark and malty too. These change the dish substantially, so keep them for recipes that call for their flavor.
In Indonesia, cuka dapur can contain 25% acetic acid. Never use it undiluted for rice vinegar. About 1 part of that 25% vinegar to 5 parts water gives roughly 4% acidity; check the bottle's strength first.
Questions
Can I use apple cider vinegar instead of rice vinegar?
Yes, use the same amount. Expect a fruitier flavor, especially in sushi rice or a lightly seasoned dressing.
What can replace rice vinegar in sushi rice?
Apple cider vinegar or white wine vinegar can work. Season with sugar and salt according to the recipe, and expect the flavor to differ from rice vinegar.
Is rice wine vinegar the same as rice vinegar?
Yes, those names refer to vinegar made from rice. Check whether it is plain or seasoned; rice wine itself is a different ingredient.
Can I use white vinegar instead?
Use about three-quarters of the amount, with a splash of water and a pinch of sugar, because distilled white vinegar tastes harsher. Check the strength: concentrated kitchen vinegar needs dilution first.
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