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Don’t have white vinegar, or realize you’re all out while you’re cooking? Here are the best white vinegar substitutes to use in recipes.
White vinegar is a type of vinegar made from distilled grain alcohol. It has a strong, harsh flavor and is often used in pickling recipes and even as a cleaner. Do not confuse it with white wine vinegar, which is made from wine and has a lighter, fruity flavor.
If you’re all out of white vinegar and don’t want to run to the store, you have a few options that can tide you over.
There is no substitute for canning!
If you’re canning something and need white vinegar as part of the recipe, it’s best to just run to the store and buy some! There is no white vinegar substitute when you’re canning. You’ll need to follow the recipe exactly. If you’re not canning, proceed to the substitutes below.
Best white vinegar substitutes
1. White wine vinegar
The best substitute for white vinegar is white wine vinegar! Just promise you’ll never do it the other way around, ok? White wine vinegar has a much milder and fruitier flavor profile than white vinegar, but it works in a pinch. Use it as a 1:1 substitute in sauces like Easy Taco Sauce or my Famous Homemade Cocktail Sauce, or salads like Cucumber Salad with Vinegar.
2. Apple cider vinegar
Another white vinegar substitute is apple cider vinegar. This type of vinegar is made from fermenting apple cider, then straining and bottling it. It tastes tangy and sour, with a bold flavor. It’s not a total flavor match, but the bold flavor brings in some of the sharp flavor in white vinegar. Use it as a 1:1 substitution in sauces and salads like above.
Related recipes
Here are some recipes where you could use these white vinegar substitutions:
What about using Rice Vinegar?
I wouldn’t normally substitute as the flavor is quite different!