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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 substitute
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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.

Here are some recipes where you could use these white vinegar substitutions:

About the authors

Alex & Sonja

Hi there! We’re Alex & Sonja Overhiser, authors of two cookbooks, busy parents, and a real life couple who cooks together. We founded the A Couple Cooks website in 2010 to share simple, seasonal recipes and the joy of cooking. We now offer thousands of original recipes, cooking tips, and meal planning ideas—all written and photographed by the two of us (and tested on our kids!).

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2 Comments

  1. judy says:

    What about using Rice Vinegar?

    1. Alex Overhiser says:

      I wouldn’t normally substitute as the flavor is quite different!