Here's What You Can Substitute For Apple Cider Vinegar
One superfood that isn't going out of style any time soon is apple cider vinegar. The reason for apple cider vinegar's enduring popularity may lie in its versatility — not only can it be used as a food ingredient, but it's also been known to play a starring role in DIY beauty and household cleaning hacks. Tenderize your kale with it, drink it, scrub your sink with it, or use it as a deodorant — seriously, what can't apple cider vinegar do?
Well, the one thing it can't do is miraculously replenish itself, nor can it (yet) communicate with Alexa and ask her to order more when you're running low. Should you (horrors!) actually run out of apple cider vinegar, here are some substitutes you can try.
White wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice all substitute nicely for apple cider vinegar in salad dressings. You can also use plain white (distilled) vinegar, but you might need to add a splash of lemon juice for flavor, since distilled vinegar doesn't have much flavor of its own apart from acidity.
White wine may be substituted for apple cider vinegar in cooking, but you'll need to double the amount of wine (2 tablespoons of wine for 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar). Lemon or lime juice, white wine vinegar, distilled vinegar, or rice vinegar may be substituted on a one-on-one basis, but with red wine vinegar, which is less tart than apple cider vinegar, you'll need to use about 1 teaspoon extra for each tablespoon used.
If you, like Kourtney Kardashian, are a fan of the numerous health benefits said to be offered by drinking apple cider vinegar, you might also like kombucha (preferred by Meghan Markle). This fermented tea drink is also super-healthy, with the added bonus of being better-tasting than a straight shot of vinegar.
When it comes to cleaning, distilled vinegar does just as well as apple cider vinegar. It doesn't have that nice appley smell, but plain white vinegar does tend to be cheaper.
On the beauty side of things, apple cider vinegar makes a great hair rinse, clarifying and adding body and shine, but lemon juice will also do these same things. Swap out your apple cider vinegar "deodorant" for a paste made of baking soda and water.
These substitutes should help you get by until your next grocery run. If you've run out of just about everything else in the kitchen, however, you might want to check out these meals you can make out of (almost) nothing.