
You can use it to make dishes like three-cup chicken, red-cooked pork belly, as a condiment, in drunken chicken, in stir-fries, for braising, and also in stocks. However, it can also be added to dishes to elevate their flavor, especially with homemade marinades. Rice wine is most associated with Asian cuisine, where it’s widely enjoyed in the form of alcohol. The undertones of Chinese rice wine are nutty in flavor. The sweet acidity comes through in the aroma. The sweetness and spiciness blend well together and give dishes it is added to, a tang that would be missed if it is missing.Įven though it has high alcohol levels, it doesn’t smell like alcohol. Rice wine has a sharp vinegar-like taste. The alcohol level usually ranges between 18 and 25%. There are different varieties of rice wine, depending on how the wine is made, the length of time it is aged, and any additional ingredients. It has a sweetness that it adds to marinades and whatever dish it is included in. This is primarily because of the presence of yeast. The sugar in the rice starch is turned into alcohol. The main difference is that it is made from fermented glutinous rice. Rice wine, just like vinegar, is made from fermented rice. You can also use rice vinegar for homemade barbecue sauces, as well as sushi or as a marinade. You can also use it for stir-fries, homemade tamari, DIY soy sauce, or garlic purée. It is also a lot for pickling.Īs long as a recipe calls for light vinegar, you can use rice vinegar. As such, it works well on salads because it is mild and yet has a zing taste. Rice vinegar can be used in various recipes that require a savory sweet taste and aroma. However, when you use seasoned vinegar, be prepared to deal with the fact that it will not be as versatile. You can also get seasoned vinegar, which will have a little extra oomph. When compared to balsamic vinegar, it is not as distinct. Rice vinegar is sweet even in the way that it smells. The sweetness is not only for the taste but also for the aroma. If you know what apple cider vinegar tastes like, you are not too far off. It has a tanginess and zing to add an extra kick to recipes such as pickles. It is much sweeter and milder, making it great for many recipes. Taste and AromasĮven though it is vinegar, it is not as tart or as sharp as white distilled vinegar. It is often used in recipes to be toned down so that its flavor is in the dish, but the tartness is cooked into the dish. Like the ordinary household vinegar that you know, it is strong and cannot be taken independently. Rice vinegar is made from the dregs of fermented rice. The difference lies in which part is used. The confusion between rice vinegar and wine is that both are made from fermented rice. The two differ in flavor and alcohol content, so it is not wise to swap the two out for each other. These differences mean that you can’t use the two ingredients interchangeably.

This is something worth considering when you are on a low-calorie diet. When it is unsweetened, rice vinegar has no calories. This is especially true of sweetened rice vinegar.

Rice vinegar, on the other hand, will have about 30 calories in 15ml. Rice wine has about 201 calories in 147 ml.

Rice vinegar has an acidic taste, more than rice wine which is milder in flavor.

Rice wine is an alcoholic drink that can also be used for cooking, while rice vinegar is strictly for cooking and is typically used for sushi and marinades.If you need an acidic ingredient for your recipe instead, then pick up some rice vinegar at any grocery store near you! The Main Differences So which one do you use? The answer to this question depends on what you’re cooking with it! Rice wine has a sweeter taste than rice vinegar, so if you want to add flavor to your dish without adding too much sugar, go for rice wine. Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice, while rice vinegar is made from the fermentation of grain-based drinks like beer, cider, or sake. Rice wine and rice vinegar are two different types of alcohol used for cooking.
