Sherry vinegar is a tasty ingredient found in gazpacho. It can be tempting to test your culinary skills by making this soup. What happens if you don’t have sherry vinegar available? Below you’ll find the best sherry vinegar substitute list for any sherry vinegar recipe needs you have.
Sherry vinegar is made in Spain and aged in a barrel. It is created from sherry wine and provides a nutty and caramel-like taste to the dishes. Of course, it also adds acidity like any other vinegar on the market.
The nut and caramel flavors distinguish it from different kinds of vinegar. It is commonly used in soups, marinades, vinaigrettes, and a finishing drizzle for meats and vegetables.
There are three types of sherry vinegar – they are each differentiated by the amount of time they have been aged in the barrel.
The standard vinegar that is aged for six months or more is referred to simply as sherry vinegar. When it is aged for two years, it then becomes reserva. Sherry vinegar that is aged more than 10 years is known as gran reserve.
As the sherry vinegar ages, the color becomes darker, the taste becomes more robust, and the price of the vinegar increases.
Rice wine vinegar is a great substitute for sherry vinegar. It is the top alternative based on taste. It provides a sweet flavor similar to that of sherry vinegar.
Rice vinegar is made from fermenting rice by adding Mother of Vinegar. This bacteria is combined with a small amount of rice wine to create rice wine vinegar.
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Champagne vinegar is another one of the best substitutions for sherry vinegar. It also provides a similar subtle flavor with a slight sweetness that mimics sherry vinegar.
It does have more sweetness than sherry vinegar, so you will find a slight taste difference in your dishes when using this alternative.
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Apple cider vinegar is another fantastic sherry vinegar replacement. It provides the sweetness you want in dishes that normally incorporate sherry vinegar. The acidity is higher in apple cider vinegar, and it will have a different flavor as it is created out of apples.
There are two types of apple cider vinegar – filtered and unfiltered. Unfiltered apple cider vinegar is considered to have more health benefits as it includes the “mother” – a substance that consists of probiotics. Filtered apple cider vinegar has had the “mother” removed from it.
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White wine vinegar is another one of the top sherry vinegar alternatives. White wine vinegar has a similarly low level of acidity and also a subtle flavor. While it doesn’t taste the same as white wine vinegar, it’s a great substitute in a pinch.
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If all else fails, you can use sherry wine as one of your sherry vinegar substitutes. It will lack the acidity provided by the vinegar in your dishes. However, the sweetness and flavor will come through and create a similar taste in your dishes.
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Lemon juice works wonders as a replacement for any vinegar. The acidity from this citrus juice mimics the acidity that other kinds of vinegar offer.
As with sherry vinegar, lemon juice has a slight sweetness to it that translates in recipes.
You likely have lemon juice or lemons already in your house. If not, they can be found at any grocery store in your vicinity.
The flavor will vary as it is not vinegar. However, the primary taste components can be found. This juice works well in salad dressings as well as cooked dishes.
Since lemon juice provides a clean, uncomplex flavor, it meshes well with most recipes.
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You can easily use balsamic vinegar as a substitute due to its sweetness and acidic taste. The color of balsamic vinegar is different – a dark brown color, meaning the dish will look different if it has a lighter-colored sauce.
Balsamic vinegar can be used in salad dressings and cooked recipes. There is a flavor difference as balsamic typically tastes like chocolate, fruit, and molasses. This swap is easy to find at the grocery store, making it an excellent substitution.
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Red wine vinegar is another replacement that can be used instead of sherry vinegar. It has a strong, sweet, acidic flavor that is similar to sherry vinegar yet more intense. Using red wine vinegar as a swap will be noticeable in most dishes.
You can find red wine vinegar fairly easily at grocery stores. However, if you have to choose between red wine vinegar and white wine vinegar, opt for white wine vinegar as it has a more subtle flavor closer to sherry vinegar. If all you have is red wine vinegar in your house, it will work as a replacement, though expect a stronger vinegar taste.
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Black vinegar is a rarer vinegar that you can use as a replacement. Of course, with rare food ingredients comes higher price points. If you enjoy collecting and trying more unusual food items, go ahead and give this one a whirl.
This vinegar is richer than most as it is produced by fermenting rice wine for longer than usual (think balsamic vinegar).
This process creates a stronger taste than you’d experience with rice wine vinegar. Using black vinegar will provide the sought-after vinegar acidity as well as sweetness.
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No, they are created from different ingredients. Sherry vinegar is made from sherry wine, while apple cider vinegar is made from fermented apples.
No, they are similar in that they are both created from sherry wine. However, sherry vinegar is a fermented version of the wine while cooking sherry has preservatives and salt added to it, making it last longer on the shelf.
Yes, but it will take about three months for the vinegar to be ready for use. If you’re in a hurry, you can use one of the above substitutes or grab a bottle of sherry vinegar from the store. Williams Sonoma has a comprehensive guide for those who don’t mind waiting a few months for a finished product and are willing to purchase the needed equipment
Vinegar does not need to be refrigerated – even sherry vinegar. It can sit on the shelf or counter at room temperature after being opened.
Yes, you can use white vinegar instead of sherry vinegar. However, you’ll want to add some sweetener like sugar to create a similar sweet flavor to what is found in sherry vinegar. As white vinegar does not have a strong taste, it may need additional flavoring when used as a substitution.
While sherry vinegar provides an exquisite taste to many Spanish and French dishes, there are some excellent alternatives out there that can be easily added to recipes.
Next time you run out of sherry vinegar or don’t find it fits in your budget, head to the store and grab rice vinegar as the closest flavor option.
Can’t find any of the listed substitutions? Red wine vinegar will work as well though it will have a stronger flavor than sherry vinegar. It won’t be easy to taste the difference in your cooked dishes.
