When you’re out of rice vinegar, there’s no need for an extra trip to the store. These Easy Rice Vinegar Substitutes use simple pantry ingredients to help you save time, save money, and keep dinner on track without sacrificing flavor.
If you’re searching for the best substitutes for rice vinegar, you’re in the right place. We’ve gathered 7 easy pantry swaps you can use when you’re out — all tested to keep your sauces, marinades, and stir-fries tasting just right.
Rice vinegar has a mild, slightly sweet flavor that’s hard to replace, but these simple substitutes will save your recipe without a last-minute store run.
What is Rice Vinegar
Rice vinegar is made by fermenting rice into alcohol and then converting it into vinegar. The result is a mild, slightly sweet vinegar that’s less acidic than white vinegar.
Because of its gentle flavor, rice vinegar adds brightness without overpowering a dish.
What is Rice Vinegar used for
- Asian stir-fries
- Sushi rice
- Sweet and sour sauces
- Salad dressings
- Marinades for chicken, fish, and vegetables
Best Substitutes for Rice Vinegar
- Best overall – White wine vinegar and pinch of sugar
- Best pantry option – Apple cider vinegar
- Best mild option – Champagne vinegar
- Best citrus replacement – Lemon or lime juice
- Best for Asian recipes – Rice wine and white vinegar
What is the Difference Between Rice Vinegar and Rice Wine Vinegar:
Rice vinegar and rice wine vinegar are often confused, but they are not the same.
Rice vinegar is acidic with a mild sweetness and is used as a flavoring ingredient.
Rice wine vinegar is made from rice wine and has a sweeter, softer flavor with very little acidity.
While similar, they are not always interchangeable without adjusting the recipe.
White Wine Vinegar
The best replacement rice vinegar is White Wine Vinegar. It is similar in flavor offering the slight sweet and acidic flavor that rice vinegar has. If you recipe is needing more of the sweetness flavor, add a pinch of sugar. Best for sauces, marinades, and dressings.
- Substitute 1:1 with White Wine Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is made from fermenting apples. It is bit more acidic than it is sweetness but gives your dish that apple flavor. But if you are needing a substitution for rice vinegar for sauces, salad dressing, or marinades then use apple cider vinegar.
Apple Cider Vinegar also offers many health benefits, it is easy to find at the store and budget friendly.
- Substitute 1:1 with Apple Cider Vinegar with Add a pinch of sugar to better match rice vinegar sweetness.
Champagne Vinegar
Another good substitute is Champagne Vinegar. We love the milder delicate flavor that it offers which is great in adding to your recipe since it won’t overpower it. It is a great substitute because of it milder and less acidity flavor.
- Substitute 1:1 with Champagne and pinch of sugar
Rice Wine
If you are looking for a substitute for a sweeter flavor, rice wine is a great substitute. For also the added the acidic flavor, you may need to add some white wine vinegar. It will depend on your recipe if you need the acidic flavor the rice vinegar offers.
- Mix equal parts rice wine and white vinegar, then use gradually.
Lemon Juice
When substitute lemon or lime juice it will change the overall flavor of your recipe. But it is a good substitute for the acidic flavor. Most of us always have a lemon, so it is substitute when you are in the middle of a recipe.
Use this substitute when making fish, chicken and salad dressings.
- Substitute slowly by adding in a ¼ of what the recipes calls for. Then add more if needed.
White Wine
There are many white wine options so choose wisely as some could take your dish to another flavor. A dry Pinot Grigio would be a good substitute. White wine offers a bit more acidity flavor profile.
If you are making light dishes such as white fish, vegetables and rice dishes then I would use white wine.
- Substitute 1:1 for White Wine for acidity recipes, squeeze a few lemon
White Vinegar
White Vinegar is a good substitute but is more acidic than rice vinegar. It isn’t as sweet as rice vinegar but is a substitute that you usually have in your pantry. The neutral profile means that you can use it as a substitute for many dishes.
- Substitute with a tablespoon of vinegar for rice vinegar
Recipes with Rice Vinegar
Try these recipes that calls for rice vinegar or with one of these substitutes.
1. Grilled Teriyaki Steak:
We love to grill steaks and the flavor of teriyaki is amazing. With just a few ingredients, you can make this delicious marinade and have an awesome steak night.
2. Black Pepper Chicken Recipe:
My family loves Chinese chow mein takeout. One of their favorite places to go is to Panda Express. This black pepper chicken is one of their favorite meals to get. I like it since it is naturally gluten-free but full of flavor.
3. Grilled Teriyaki Chicken
Grilling season is upon us but if I’m being honest, I grill year round! The flavor is amazing and it keeps my kitchen clean. This grilled teriyaki chicken is simply the best.
