Vinegar adds a punch of flavor and aroma to dishes like nothing else. It must be noted that not all kinds of vinegar are the same. There are various types of vinegar, each with its distinctive taste and purposes. One of them is rice vinegar.
While it may not be as popular as some other kinds of vinegar, you may still need it to follow a recipe and make your favorite dishes. So, without further ado – let’s take a look at what it tastes like and what you can use instead of rice vinegar.
Rice vinegar has a slightly sweet taste. So, you want to add a bit of a Zing to a recipe, rice vinegar is your best bet.
It is also used abundantly in Asian cooking, especially when it comes to making delectable pickles, fresh slaws, and basic vinaigrettes. While rice vinegar has a sweet distinct flavor, the good news is that there are various rice vinegar substitutes that you can use when you are in a pinch.
Best Rice Vinegar Substitute
All out of rice vinegar? Well, there’s no need to worry. Try these amazing rice vinegar substitutes to make your favorite dishes today!
1. White Wine Vinegar
White wine vinegar is an excellent choice as a rice vinegar substitute. Made through fermentation of the white wine, this type of vinegar has a slightly acidic taste. However, it is very mild, which is why it makes a great addition to salad dressings. You can easily use it in place of rice vinegar.
However, keep in mind that it is not as sweet as rice vinegar. An easy solution is to add a bit of sugar to the recipe to balance the flavor. For a slight hint of sweetness, try adding 1 gram of sugar for every 1T of white wine vinegar. Substitute white wine vinegar for rice vinegar in a 1:1 ratio for best results.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar makes a very good substitute for rice vinegar. Since it is made from apple cider, it has a slight hint of apple flavor. However, the flavor is not too strong and would not be a problem. The only time you need to be careful while substituting apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar is when you are making pickles. The apple flavor can get really pronounced during pickling.
Apart from that, you are good to use apple cider vinegar as a rice vinegar substitute in just about any recipe. Substitute an equal amount. To make up for the sweetness, add 1/4t of sugar for every 1T of rice vinegar.
3. Champagne Vinegar
With mild and delicate flavors, champagne vinegar can be substituted for rice vinegar. It is an excellent choice of rice vinegar substitute for preparing seafood, sauces, and salad dresses.
The mild taste of champagne vinegar ensures that it doesn’t overpower the dish while also providing the boost of flavors that you need. Substitute champagne vinegar for rice vinegar in a 1:1 ratio.
4. Lemon Juice
In case you are all out of vinegar, use lemon juice as a rice vinegar substitute. However, keep in mind that it may alter the taste of a dish. This is because unlike rice vinegar, lemon juice is very citrus.
Nevertheless, it can mimic the acidity of rice vinegar, which makes it a viable option when you are out of rice vinegar. For best results, add twice the amount of lemon juice for rice vinegar.
Tips and Tricks
Now that you know about the various rice vinegar substitutes, scroll down to take a look at some helpful tips and tricks about using substitutes for rice vinegar.
- Many people substitute white vinegar for rice vinegar because they look the same. This is a big mistake. If you are substituting one kind of vinegar for another, make sure you don’t rely on the colors of vinegar. Instead, try to identify the flavor profile of the vinegar and use the one that closest to it.
- Lemon juice is a viable rice vinegar substitute. However, you can use lime juice as well. Just follow the same directions as provided for lemon juice and you are good to go!
Rice vinegar is used in a wide variety of dishes so it is best to keep it in your pantry. However, when you are out of rice vinegar, simply use one of the above-mentioned substitutes. You may have to make a few adjustments but the end result will still be perfect!