All out of red wine vinegar? It’s OK! Here are my favourite simple Red Wine Vinegar substitutes…
Best Red Wine Vinegar Substitutes
(in order of preference)
1. White Wine Vinegar
While there is an obvious colour difference, the flavour profiles of red and white wine vinegars are surprisingly similar.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
The flavour of apple cider vinegar is slightly more fruity than red wine vinegar. But in a finished dish it’s unlikely you’ll notice.
3. Sherry Vinegar
My favourite vinegar! The colour of sherry vinegar is more brown than red. And the flavour tends to be less harsh and acidic. So you may find you’ll need a little more sherry vinegar to match the acid of red wine vinegar.
4. Rice Wine Vinegar
Also called ‘rice vinegar’ this has a milder, less harsh acidity than red wine vinegar. It’s available in the Asian foods section of my local supermarket.
5. Champagne Vinegar
Tends to be slightly sweeter and less harsh than your usual wine vinegars. Be prepared to add more if the finished dish tastes a little flat.
6. Lemon / Lime Juice
Citrus juices rely on citric acid whereas all the wine vinegars mentioned above are acetic acid based. This means citrus juice has a completely different flavour profile.
But if you don’t have any vinegar in the house, a squeeze of lemon or lime will provide freshness and bring the other flavours of your dish to life in a similar way to vinegar. You may even enjoy the flavour differences!
More Tips for Cooking with Vinegar
- The Best Vinegar to Use in Cooking
- How to Make Wine Vinegar
- A Beginners Guide to the Art of Seasoning
More Ingredient Substitutes
- The Ultimate Guide to Vegetable Substitutes
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Kale
- Collard Greens
- Miso Paste
- Oyster Sauce
- Pesto
- Tahini
Also see see the Simple Ingredients Substitutes Index.
Have fun in the kitchen!
With love,
Jules x