What’s the Difference Between Rice Wine and Rice Vinegar? (2024)

FAQs

Can I use rice vinegar instead of rice wine? ›

While both are made from rice, rice wine and rice vinegar are very different products and should not be used interchangeably. Pale dry sherry or dry white wine make good substitutes for rice wine, while apple cider vinegar makes a nice replacement for rice vinegar.

In short, rice wine is a sweet alcoholic drink and is used in cooking. Rice vinegar is a sour-tasting vinegar used in dishes such as sushi, fried rice, sauces, and salad dressings. Although both are derived from rice, users should not exchange their positions.

Rice wine is used in a variety of Asian cuisines, especially Chinese, where Shaoxing wine is very popular. Rice wine is prized for its ability to add sweetness to marinades and a depth of flavor to sauces that is hard to mimic using other ingredients.

Rice wine vinegar has a mild, slightly sweet flavor with a tangy acidity. It is commonly used in dressings, marinades, and sauces, adding a subtle tang and brightness to dishes. It is also a key component in sushi rice seasoning, providing a delicate and slightly sweet taste.

Yes, adding vinegar to rice can help prevent the grains from sticking together. This is a common technique used in Japanese cuisine, particularly when making sushi rice. The vinegar not only adds flavor but also helps to break down the starches on the surface of the rice grains, making them less sticky.

Rice wine is a traditional Chinese alcoholic beverage (14–20% v/v, of alcohol content) made from sticky rice, wheat, and some medicinal plants or herbs, and fermented by Chinese koji (Aspergillus oryzae).

Though there's no expiration, there is a sort of "sweet spot" for vinegar storage, and it varies by the type. For wine vinegars, balsamic, and rice vinegar it's about 2-3 years, whereas apple cider vinegar is 5 years; and distilled white is, well, whenever the apocalypse is.

But "rice vinegar" and "rice wine vinegar" are actually the same thing; neither of these labeled vinegars contain alcohol by the time they're bottled for consumption. That's how the two products differ in constitution, but more important to most of us is how they taste and how to use each one.

Mirin is not vinegar!

Often spoken of in the same terms as rice vinegar but it is rice wine. A Japanese kind of alcohol with a sweet flavour. It is made by combining steamed glutinous rice, cultured rice (called koji) with a distilled rice liquor (or sake) that has a low alcohol content.

When does rice wine expire? Rice wine typically has a shelf life of up to one year if unopened and stored properly. Once opened, it should be consumed within one to two months, but it can last up to six months if refrigerated. The printed date on the package is a reliable guide, as the flavor can change over time.

Does rice wine taste like vinegar? ›

Both are rice-based products, and rice vinegar is made from sake. Other than that, however, they're pretty different. As far as flavor goes, vinegar is more bitter than sake (rice wine) and has a touch of sweetness. Rice wine, on the other hand, also has a bit of sweetness, but has that umami and alcohol taste.

Rice vinegar is most commonly used for sushi, marinades, sauces, and salad dressings. Add a pinch of sugar to other types of vinegar like apple cider vinegar, sherry vinegar, or white wine vinegar to easily replace rice vinegar. Despite their common names, you should not use rice vinegar for rice wine, or vice versa.

Season With Soy Sauce, Rice Vinegar, and Sesame Oil

While not every recipe calls for this fried rice trifecta, many of our favorites do. Why? Soy sauce is the salt element, rice vinegar gives the dish a touch of brightness, and sesame oil lends an utterly delicious, toasty note.

All it takes to make rice vinegar is to ferment the rice in water to produce alcohol. This rice alcohol is then fermented again into acetic acid. This results in a sour liquid that is commonly added to a number of dishes, including sushi. Like most types of vinegar, rice vinegar is very acidic.

If you're in a pinch, substituting apple cider vinegar for rice vinegar is a tasty alternative. Sugar – Just basic granulated sugar. Salt –sea salt, kosher salt, or table salt will all work fine.