What can I substitute for rice wine vinegar?
Running low on rice wine vinegar? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About rice wine vinegar
Rice wine vinegar is a mild, slightly sweet vinegar produced from fermented rice wine, widely used in East and Southeast Asian cuisines. It has a delicate acidity and subtle sweetness that sets it apart from sharper Western vinegars, making it ideal for dressings, marinades, pickling, and dipping sauces. Its gentle flavour allows it to brighten dishes without overwhelming other ingredients.
Best substitute
apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has a similarly mild, slightly fruity acidity that closely mimics the gentle tang of rice wine vinegar. It works well in dressings, marinades, and sauces without overpowering other flavours.
Use ¾ tbsp for every 1 tbsp — the acidity is slightly sharper, so reduce quantity marginally
dressingsmarinadespicklingdipping saucesNot suitable for: delicate Asian broths
Alternative
white wine vinegar
White wine vinegar offers a clean, light acidity that is a reasonable stand-in for rice wine vinegar in most applications. It lacks the subtle sweetness, so adding a small pinch of sugar can help balance the flavour profile.
Use ¾ tbsp for every 1 tbsp, and add a pinch of sugar to replicate mild sweetness
dressingsmarinadessaucespicklingNot suitable for: strongly flavoured Asian dishes
Alternative
champagne vinegar
What is rice wine vinegar called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | rice wine vinegar |
| JP | komezu |
| United Kingdom | rice wine vinegar |
| United States | rice vinegar |
Common names for rice wine vinegar
rice vinegarJapanese rice vinegarseasoned rice vinegarwhite rice vinegar