The main difference between rice vinegar and wine vinegar lies in raw materials and production. Rice vinegar is mainly brewed from grains such as millet and sorghum, and has a moderate sweet and sour taste; while rice wine vinegar is made from grains such as rice and koji, which are brewed with rice wine and then made into vinegar. It has a lower acidity and a milder taste and is often used in Asian-style cooking.
What is Rice Wine Vinegar
Rice wine vinegar is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. Its slightly sweet flavor profile adds a pleasant taste to Asian dishes, making it a popular choice in marinades, dressings, and dipping sauces. The fermentation process of rice wine vinegar involves converting the sugars in rice into alcohol through the action of yeast and then into acetic acid by bacteria.
What is Rice Vinegar
As opposed to rice wine vinegar, rice vinegar is made from fermented rice wine that has been further fermented into vinegar. The double fermentation process gives rice vinegar a milder and less acidic taste.
Its flavor makes it perfect for pickling vegetables, making sushi rice, or seasoning dishes without overpowering the other ingredients.
Important Differences Between Rice Wine Vinegar and Rice Vinegar
Here are some of the important differences between rice wine vinegar and rice vinegar.
1. Rice wine vinegar is typically less acidic and slightly sweeter than rice vinegar due to the fermentation process.
2. Rice vinegar has a milder taste because of the double fermentation it undergoes, which makes it an ingredient for various recipes. Rice wine vinegar, on the other hand, tends to be sharper and more tangy, cutting through rich or fatty flavors.
3. In terms of color, rice wine vinegar is typically clear, while rice vinegar can have a clear to slightly yellow or brownish color depending on how it’s processed.
When to use Rice Vinegar vs Rice Wine Vinegar in Cooking
If you’re looking to add a subtle sweetness to your dish, rice wine vinegar is the way to go. On the other hand, rice vinegar’s milder taste makes it a great choice for pickling vegetables or seasoning.
Here are practical examples of dishes or applications for each type of vinegar:
Rice wine vinegar is perfect for creating a marinade for grilled chicken. Its slightly sweet and tangy flavor will give the meat a delicious taste that will have your guests coming back for seconds.
On the other hand, rice vinegar shines when used in making delicate sushi rice. The milder taste of rice vinegar complements the vinegared rice, which improves the overall flavor without overshadowing the freshness of the fish.
Tips substituting one for the other
If you want to substitute rice vinegar for rice wine vinegar in a recipe, keep in mind that rice vinegar is milder, so you may need to adjust the amount you use to achieve the desired level of acidity and sweetness.
If you are substituting rice wine vinegar for rice vinegar, be aware that rice wine vinegar is slightly sweeter and more suitable for a stir-fry sauce due to its sharper flavor profile. The rice wine vinegar’s sweetness can easily balance the savory and spicy components.
