10 Best Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar

Running to the grocery store to fetch a missing ingredient, in the middle of preparing food, is a no-no for me!

That is exactly how I discovered these 10 substitutes for apple cider vinegar.

It was 2 weeks ago, when I was preparing a stew, I read the list of ingredients and was sure that I had everything in the house.

But it turns out, I was out of apple cider vinegar, weeks ago, when I dashed the last few ounces as a substitute for white wine in my BBQ marinade.

Since running to the store was out of the question, I asked myself:

• What can I substitute for apple cider vinegar?
• Something that adds the right acidity and flavor.
• What could be the best apple cider vinegar substitute that is also readily available and at hands reach?

I found not one but 10 perfect substitutes for apple cider vinegar.

And now I’m here to share them with you guys!

Best Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar:

Other types of vinegar:

White vinegar:

Use 1 tbsp white vinegar to substitute 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Balsamic vinegar:

Use 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar to replace 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Rice vinegar:

Use 1 tbsp rice vinegar in place of 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Fruit Juices:

Lemon juice:

Use 1 tbsp of lemon juice to substitute 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Apple juice:

Use 1/2 tbsp apple juice + 1/2 tbsp vinegar to substitute 1 tbsp of lemon juice

Pineapple juice:

Use 1 tbsp fresh pineapple juice + 5 drops of lemon to substitute 1 tbsp of Apple cider vinegar

Orange Juice:

Use 1 tbsp of orange juice in place of 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar

Dairy Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar:

Sour milk:

Use 1 cup sour milk to replace 1 cup milk and 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar in baked goods

Use 2 tbsp sour milk to replace 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in other recipes

Buttermilk:

Use 1 cup buttermilk to replace 1 cup milk and 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar in baked goods

Use 2 tbsp buttermilk to replace 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in other recipes

Yogurt:

Use tbsp of yogurt to replace 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in any recipe

Apple cider vinegar has some great uses as well; if you have it at your home then use it for the following purposes and use a better substitute in your recipes.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar Used In:

To determine a good ACV substitute, it is necessary to first find out its purpose in the recipe.

Why is it being used in the recipe?

It is used as:

• Salad dressings and vinaigrettes.
• As meat tenderizers
• In glazes and sauces
• As a marinade
• As a pickling and preserving agent
• In baked goods as a raising agent

Psst. Just as Apple Cider Vinegar is popular in culinary dishes, it is also useful as a cleaning agent.

Other Vinegar Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar can easily be substituted with other types of vinegar, as they all have almost the same acidity; however, the taste may vary a little.

Can You Substitute White Vinegar with Apple Cider Vinegar:

White vinegar is one of the most widely used vinegar.

It is a mixture of water and acetic acid. The average percentage of acetic acid is 5%, while the rest of the 95% is distilled water.

White vinegar has a distinct taste that goes well with most dishes.

It can be used as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in salads, stews, marinades, pickles, and everything that requires a bit of acidity and sour punch.

Is White Vinegar The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

White vinegar, although it lacks the fruity undertone that apple cider vinegar has, it can be easily used in place of apple cider vinegar in all dishes.

When compared in terms of looks, apple cider vinegar has a light brown color, while white vinegar is clear.

The difference in color does not make any difference in the overall look of the dish.

Health benefits of white vinegar:

• Research done on animals shows, white vinegar can help lower cholesterol levels.
• White vinegar also aids in weight loss by suppressing the appetite, which results in a low intake of calories. (1)
• Studies have proven that white vinegar can also help lower the blood sugar levels, making it a healthy alternative for diabetics. (2)

While white vinegar has great benefits, having too much of it can cause indigestion, acidity, and even corrosion of teeth. (3)

Can You Substitute Balsamic Vinegar with Apple Cider Vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar, more commonly known as balsamic, originates from Italy, where it is widely used in salads and pasta and even dashed over pizzas.

It is made up of grape must, which makes it a good apple cider vinegar substitute as both have fruity undertones. 

Is Balsamic Vinegar The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

While balsamic vinegar is intensely dark and has a complex flavor profile, apple cider vinegar is light and acidic.

Despite the difference, balsamic vinegar makes an amazing apple cider vinegar substitute in marinades, sauces, and salads.

Also, it is easily available at any local store, and there is a high chance that you might already have it.

 

Health Benefits Of Balsamic Vinegar:

• Balsamic vinegar is rich in antioxidants that help fight the free radicals in the body and keep it safe against disease.
• Balsamic vinegar helps improve heart health and blood circulations. (4)
• With better blood circulation and microbial properties, balsamic vinegar has also proven to be a skin-healing agent. It gets rid of dark spots and aids in an even-toned skin.

Can You Substitute Rice Vinegar with Apple Cider Vinegar:

Rice vinegar is an East Asian delicacy that is made by fermenting rice.

It is used in a variety of cuisines, especially Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese and even Chinese. Rice vinegar is used vastly in fried items, in sauces, salads, and also used as a condiment with sushi and a flavor enhancer in stir-fried rice.

Is Rice Vinegar The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

Rice vinegar has a mild but tangy flavor that has a rich sweetness.

Similar to rice vinegar, Apple cider vinegar also has the same flavor profile; the only difference is that it is cloudier, and its sweetness distinctly comes from apples.

However, these are mild differences that do not make much of a difference when using rice vinegar as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in most dishes.

Health benefits of Rice vinegar:

• Rice vinegar has vast antiseptic traits, which helps in the healing of wounds.
• It helps strengthen immunity and fight fatigue.
• It is a heart-healthy substitute.
• Rice vinegar works as a natural toner for the skin and keeps the skin looking fresh and tightened.

Fruit Juice Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar:

Did you know there are a variety of fruit juices that work amazing when substituted in place of ACV?

Since apple cider vinegar is itself made up of fruit, substituting with other fruit juices is a good idea.

Can You Substitute Lemon Juice With Apple Cider Vinegar?

Yes, lemon juice can be substituted for apple cider vinegar in almost any kind of recipe.

Whether you are baking, making a stew, or even a marinade.

Lemon juice is used as a substitution in dishes that need more acidity and an overall balance of flavor.

Is Lemon Juice The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

Both lemon juice and apple cider vinegar vary ever so slightly in taste.

While both of them are fruit-based, the main difference between the two is that the lemon juice lacks the sweetness that apple cider vinegar adds to dishes.

But apart from that, Lemon juice has the same amount of acidity levels and a similar fruity undertone, which makes it a perfect substitute under most situations.

And the best part is it is almost always readily available.

While we suggest using fresh lemon juice, in case there is none available bottled or preserved lemon juice also works as good.

Health Benefits Of Lemon Juice:

• Lemon juice is chock full of Vitamin C, which is known for its tremendous antioxidant properties that help keep the heart healthy, reduce oxidative stress, and regularize blood pressure. (5)
• Lemon juice is known for easing digestion and preventing constipation. Polyphenols in lemon are also known for aiding weight loss and helping level insulin resistance, which is the main cause of type 2 diabetes. (6)
• The citric acid in lemon prevents the buildup of kidney stones and breaks up any that have already formed. (7)

Can You Substitute Apple Juice for Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple juice and apple cider vinegar look exactly the same in looks.

However, they vary vastly in taste. But a few tweaks, and you can use both interchangeably.

Since apple juice has little to no acidity when using in place of apple cider vinegar, add 2 tbsp of lemon juice or regular vinegar.

If you are making a salad dressing or a marinade, the sweetness of the apple juice is a plus, but in case you are making a soup or a stew, it might not be the best choice.

If used in a sweet dish such as baked goods, the extra sweetness might overpower the taste, so minus some sweetness from the recipe and apple juice in place of apple cider vinegar for the right balance!

Is Apple Juice The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple juice is the filtered extract of apples; it tastes exactly like apples, with no other after taste.

However, apple cider vinegar is made after putting apple juice under fermentation, which produces acetic acid, which gives it the acidic taste.

Basically, apple juice lacks acidity and is sweeter than apple cider vinegar.

But in case you are out of ACV, you can use apple juice with a few tweaks, and nobody will know the difference!

Psst. Use fresh apple juice, which is unsweetened.

Health Benefits of Apple Juice:

Well, they indeed say An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away!

• Apple juice is a vitamin-rich juice. It has all the essential vitamins, including Vitamin A, C, E, and K.
• They are rich in pectin acid and malic acid, which help fight away carcinogens and toxins.
• Apple juice protects against a variety of diseases, one such is fatty liver.

Can You Substitute Pineapple Juice With Apple Cider Vinegar?

A tin of fresh pineapples, blended with 2 tbsp. of lemon juice or white vinegar, can make a perfect substitute for apple cider vinegar.

As pineapple has the right kind of acidity, but it is a little sweeter than Apple Cider vinegar.

But that’s nothing a tbsp. of lemon juice can’t balance.

Given its acidic and tenderizing properties, pineapple is a hit when used in marinades.

Likewise, it is as good of an option when used for baking or other sweet purposes.

Is Pineapple Juice The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

While both may be derived from fruits, they are not entirely the same.

Even then, they can be used interchangeably, after a few tweaks.

While they may not look the same in color or texture, pineapple juice has the kind of acidity that matches amazingly well with Apple cider vinegar.

Pineapple juice is far chunkier and thick in consistency than apple cider vinegar.

If consistency doesn’t matter, you can replace apple cider vinegar with pineapple juice as is, but if consistency does matter, make sure to sieve the pineapple juice once or even twice to get the desired consistency.

Health Benefits of Pineapple Juice:

• The enzymes bromelain, present in Pineapples, aid better digestion. This makes it a superfood, which can help people with digestion disabilities, such as lack of digestive enzymes and the like, to digest food easily. (8)
• The number of antioxidants present in the Pineapple help fights oxidative stress, making it less likely for our body to get affected by any chronic illness. (9)
• Pineapple is an immunity booster, which has been used for centuries as preventive medication against diseases. (10)

Can You Substitute Orange Juice With Apple Cider Vinegar:

Yes, orange juice can be used in place of apple cider vinegar in recipes where the flavor of orange doesn’t contradict with other flavors.

You’ll be surprised to know that many sauces, glazes, and marinades are made using this citrus-y fruit.

Oranges have the right amount of tart and acidic flavor; however, they are a little too sweet as compared to Apple cider vinegar.

So it is advised to reduce any extra sugars or sweetness from the dish when using orange juice as a substitute for apple cider vinegar.

Is Orange Juice The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

While both are derived from fruits, they are very different from each other in terms of looks and even taste.

Orange has a noticeable citrusy note, which apple cider vinegar doesn’t.

However, despite the differences, orange juice has the right acidic and tarty flavor that can complement most dishes, making it a suitable apple cider vinegar substitute.

Health Benefits of Orange Juice:

• Oranges are rich in antioxidants, which help fight the free radicals in our body and prevent chronic diseases. (11)
• Orange juice contains flavonoids that help keep the heart healthy and safe from diseases like high blood pressure, cholesterol, and the likes. (12) (13)
• Orange juice’s alkaline properties have proven to aid in the prevention of kidney stones. People who frequently have the complaint of kidney stones can prevent them from happening altogether, with the use of Orange juice (14)

Dairy Substitutes for Apple Cider Vinegar:

One use of Apple cider vinegar is in baking. It aids the process of rising. But when you are out of Apple cider vinegar, there are a few substitutes that work amazingly well.

Can You Substitute Sour Milk With Apple Cider Vinegar?

Yes, Apple cider vinegar can be substituted with sour milk, when it comes to baked goods.

Whether you are making a cake or wholesome bread, sour milk works exactly like apple cider vinegar, without affecting the overall taste and texture of the dish.

However, sour milk is thicker in consistency as compared to Apple cider vinegar, for which a diluting agent such as water or eggs might be needed.

Is Sour Milk The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

Sour milk and Apple cider vinegar are two entirely different things.

But when it comes to using one or the other in baking, there is no better substitute than sour milk for apple cider vinegar and vice versa.

Apple cider vinegar works as a raising agent, in its absence, sour milk works the same, and helps fluff the baked goods.

Health Benefits Of Sour Milk:

• Sour milk is easy to digest and can be consumed by those who suffer from lactose intolerance.
• Peptides present in Sour milk is also known to treat ailments such as dementia and memory loss. (15)
• Research also suggests that the bacterial growth present in sour milk can also work towards reducing hypertension in humans. (16)

Here is how you can make sour milk at home:

Can You Substitute Buttermilk with Apple Cider Vinegar?

Buttermilk can be used as a substitute for apple cider vinegar in a dish where you are already using milk.

In this case, the milk called for in the recipe will be replaced with equal amounts of buttermilk. 1 cup of buttermilk can work as an alternative for 2 tbsp. of apple cider vinegar.

Is Buttermilk The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

Buttermilk is not the same as apple cider vinegar, but when used for baking, they both have the same work.

Apple cider vinegar adds some acidic taste and helps in the rising process of baked goods.

Buttermilk also adds the right acidity and helps the goods rise, without browning too quickly.

Health Benefits of Buttermilk:

• Buttermilk is the easiest to digest dairy products, as the protein present in it is already broken down. (17)
• Buttermilk is rich in bone-strengthening vitamins and minerals including, Calcium, Vitamin D and vitamin K. (18)

Here is how you can make buttermilk at home in 3 different ways

Can You Substitute Yogurt with Apple Cider Vinegar:

When it comes to baking, yogurt can be used in place of apple cider vinegar to make sure the goods don’t change in terms of flavor or texture significantly.

While a slight difference may be possible, but nothing that would ruin the dish completely.

Yogurt is also popularly known for its use in meat marinades and dips.

It has both the acidic flavor and the tenderizing property!

Is Yogurt The Same As Apple Cider Vinegar?

Apple cider vinegar and yogurt are different, to say the least, yet when used in marinades for baking, they can be used interchangeably.

Both have the same tart flavor, followed by some sweet notes.

The proportions of using yogurt in baking or any marinade as a substitute for apple cider vinegar is very easy.

Substitute equal amounts of apple cider vinegar with equal amounts of yogurt.

Health Benefits of Yogurt:

• Yogurt is an immunity-boosting food that strengthens the immune system against viruses and bacterias. (19)
• It is a nutrient-dense food that helps prevent osteoporosis and bone deficiencies. (20)
• Yogurt is enriched with probiotics that are known for fighting obesity and type 2 diabetes. (21)(22)

Here is how you can make yogurt at home:

Conclusion:

If you have run out of apple cider vinegar, any other vinegar, including balsamic vinegar, white vinegar, or rice vinegar, works perfectly well.

If you have no other kind of vinegar available, the second-best option is lemon juice and if you can’t find lemons lying around either, you have a variety of other fruit juices to choose from, which include – grapefruit juice, lime juice, or even orange juice.

Not only this, there are some dairy options that can also be used according to the dish you are making, such as yogurt, which can be used in making dips, marinades, and in baking. Likewise, there are other options, such as buttermilk and sour milk.