There’s a long list of different types of vinegars you can use in your recipes. It can be hard to know which will have the best flavors to compliment your dish. Knowing how white vinegar vs white wine vinegar compare can help you decide which vinegar is best for you, not only in cooking but also in other matters, such as cleaning.
In this article we will explore how white vinegar compares to white wine vinegar not only in taste but in function. We will also discuss what you can use to substitute for both white wine vinegar and white vinegar.
Table of Contents
- White Wine Vinegar Vs White Vinegar: Similarities and Differences
- Can I Use White Wine Vinegar Instead Of White Vinegar
- What Can I Use If I Don’t Have White Wine Vinegar?
- White Vinegar Substitute
- White Vinegar vs White Wine Vinegar – Other Uses
- FAQs
- Both White Wine Vinegar And White Vinegar Have Distinctive Tastes
White Wine Vinegar Vs White Vinegar: Similarities and Differences
White wine vinegar and white vinegar are very similar vinegars but do have differences that set them apart from each other.
First is the flavor. White wine vinegar is more subtle than white vinegar in flavor, especially when used in cooking or flavoring food. White wine vinegar also contains less acidity which makes it sweeter in taste. This lack of acidity makes white wine vinegar perfect for flavoring cold foods, such as salads.
Second is the way it’s made. White vinegar is created slightly differently to white wine vinegar, as it goes through a process called fermentation. Fermentation is when the alcohol based liquid is broken down by acetic acid bacteria. This process delivers a highly acidic product, which is white vinegar.
White wine vinegar and white vinegar have their own individual taste. Both are great when used in cooking. White vinegar is a more useful vinegar to have as you can use it for multiple things, such as cleaning.

Can I Use White Wine Vinegar Instead Of White Vinegar
If you would like to replace your white vinegar with white wine vinegar when making food, you may find that white wine vinegar gives a slightly different taste.
White wine vinegar is a lot milder than white vinegar and can have a fruity flavor. If you would like to use white wine vinegar instead of white vinegar then we would recommend using equal parts to what you would have used.
For example, if you were planning on using 1 tablespoon of white vinegar, you can replace this with 1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have White Wine Vinegar?
There are plenty of other substitutes you can use if you do not have white wine vinegar. You can also use these substitutes mixed with white wine vinegar if you don’t have enough.
Here is a list of popular white wine vinegar substitutes that can be combined with white wine vinegar:
- Red wine vinegar
- Sherry vinegar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
White Wine Vinegar Substitutes
If you do not have any white wine vinegar or would like to replace white wine vinegar in a recipe, we have some great substitutes that you can use instead. These alternatives can replace white wine vinegar when cooking or flavoring food.
Here are the most popular white wine vinegar substitutes used:
- Red wine vinegar: Red wine vinegar is considered to be the best substitute for white wine vinegar. This is due to the similarity of flavors of red wine vinegar and white wine vinegar. Some say that red wine vinegar has a bolder taste than white wine vinegar. If you do decide to use red wine vinegar as a substitute, then you can use equal parts to what you would have used. For example, if you would have originally used 3 tablespoons of white wine vinegar, use 3 tablespoons of red wine vinegar as well.
- Rice vinegar: Rice vinegar also works as a good substitute. It comes from fermented rice and has a similar flavor to white wine vinegar. It is important to make sure that you do not choose to use seasoned rice vinegar as the taste can be very different.
- Sherry vinegar: Sherry vinegar is a medium-bodied and sweet vinegar which is close to tasting like white wine vinegar. Sherry vinegar does have a more distinct flavor than white wine vinegar so if you do decide to use sherry vinegar as a substitute, then you will only need a little amount.
- Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is considered to be the second best wine vinegar substitute. Apple cider vinegar has a very bold flavor but still will make a great substitute.
- Champagne vinegar: Champagne vinegar can also work as a substitute for white wine vinegar. Champagne vinegar has a mild flavor, so therefore a lot more champagne vinegar will need to be used to give the same impression on your food as white wine vinegar would.
White Vinegar Substitute
If you do not have any white vinegar in the cupboard then we have some great substitutes that you can use instead. These alternatives to white vinegar are great for cooking or using to flavor food.
Here are the most popular white vinegar substitutes used:
- Apple cider vinegar: Apple cider vinegar is one of the healthiest vinegar choices you could choose to replace your white vinegar with. If you buy an apple cider vinegar which contains “the mother”, you could be consuming a lot of goodness that can help heal your body. “The mother” that is in apple cider vinegar is fermented bacteria that is actually very good bacteria for the gut. This bacteria can have huge health benefits. Apple cider vinegar can help the body by aiding in weight loss, managing blood sugar levels and balancing cholesterol.
- Malt vinegar: Malt vinegar is actually a darker vinegar compared to white vinegar. But it still makes a great substitute. Malt vinegar is sweeter, slightly milder and less acidic when compared to white vinegar. Malt vinegar also has a nutty flavor, unlike white vinegar.
- White balsamic vinegar: White balsamic vinegar is very similar in taste when compared to white vinegar. The main difference between white balsamic vinegar and white vinegar is the level of acidity. White balsamic vinegar can differ in its levels of acidity depending which brand you buy but on average the acidity levels are 5.2% to 7.0%.

White Vinegar vs White Wine Vinegar – Other Uses
White Vinegar Vs White Wine Vinegar Cleaning
If you are going to use either white vinegar or white wine vinegar to clean we would recommend that you use white vinegar. White vinegar is the better option to clean compared to white wine vinegar, as white vinegar has fantastic acidic levels which work well to remove tough stains.
White vinegar is the better vinegar option for cleaning as it does not contain any coloring agent as well. Therefore it can not stain any surfaces or furniture. If you do decide to clean with a dark color of vinegar, the dark shade can stain your surfaces if they are light.
White wine vinegar is also a very good ingredient to use to clean. But it has to be mixed with other ingredients to make it usable. Once you have made your white wine vinegar mixture it can be a great cleaning tool to remove stains.
Here is how to make your white wine vinegar mixture to remove tough stains:
You will need:
- 2 teaspoons of white sugar
- 3 tablespoons of white vinegar
- 3 tablespoons of water
How to make a white wine vinegar cleaning mixture:
Step 1:
Combine the water, white wine vinegar and white sugar together in a small mixing bowl.
Step 2:
Once the ingredients have been combined and stirred, check to see if the white sugar has dissolved.
Step 3:
Once the mixture is ready, add the mixture to a spray bottle.
Step 4:
Spray the stained area with the mixture and leave for 5 minutes.
Step 5:
Blot the stain using a cloth and the stain should be removed.
White Vinegar Vs White Wine Vinegar For Pickling
If you are planning on pickling a type of food, you can actually use both white vinegar and white wine vinegar to do this.
There is not a difference between white vinegar and pickling vinegar, making white vinegar the perfect choice to use when pickling. As white wine vinegar is similar to white vinegar, white wine vinegar will still work well.
It is easy to use any type of vinegar to pickle food. You can use white vinegar and white wine vinegar on their own to pickle food. You can also use white vinegar and white wine vinegar together as a combination to pickle food.
The vinegars to avoid when picking are balsamic vinegar and malt vinegar as they are concentrated vinegars.
FAQs
Is White Wine Vinegar The Same As White Wine?
White wine vinegar is not the same as drinking white wine. White wine vinegar is actually made directly from white wine. White wine vinegar is a mixture of white cooking wine, salt and herbs.
Both White Wine Vinegar And White Vinegar Have Distinctive Tastes
It is very hard to pick out of white wine vinegar and white vinegar which is the better vinegar. Both white wine vinegar and white vinegar have their own unique flavors and are both great in cooked recipes. Both white wine vinegar and white vinegar can also be used on cold dishes to flavor, such as salads. If we were to recommend a vinegar we would say that white vinegar is the better options as it has a slightly stronger taste and can be used effectively to do other things such as clean.
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