Rice wine and rice vinegar are popular ingredients in Asian cooking. But one question you might ask yourself often: what’s the difference between rice wine and rice vinegar?
Let’s explore the difference between rice wine and rice vinegar, along with their uses, whether they can be used interchangeably, and alternatives.
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.
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What Is Rice Wine Used For?
There are plenty of uses for rice wine, and we are breaking them all down for you here.
You will be able to get a lot of flavor out of rice wine, considering how light and mild the flavors are. You will see rice wine listed as an ingredient for sauces and marinades, like teriyaki sauce. It is generally added to bring about balance and cut through heavier flavors.
When simmered, the sweet notes will fill the room in a pleasant way that you’ll be looking for reasons to cook with it more often.
It can also make the perfect base for stir fry sauces. It will cut through the more decadent flavors but in a way that enhances instead of downplays them. Shaoxing, or Chinese rice wine, is the most popular for this use and adds an extra depth of flavor that would be missing otherwise.
Sake is the most common rice wine variety that is consumed as a beverage. The alcohol content is low and subtle. You would typically drink it from small sake glasses that hold about one ounce of rice wine at a time. The flavors are sweet yet mild, with a bite on the finish.
Did you know that it’s actually pretty healthy to drink rice wine? The drink is full of amino acids that provide your body with the building blocks it needs. There are even a few acids that are known to help fight free radicals!
Rice wine is a good ingredient in marinade recipes, especially for fattier meats. Why? The sugars and alcohol in the wine are perfect for cutting through the heavier and tougher parts of meat. This will make the rib-eye, for example, more tender and lock in flavor and moisture while cooking.
Does vinegar contain alcohol?
FAQ
Does rice wine vinegar contain alcohol?
Is rice wine vinegar non alcoholic?
Is there any alcohol in rice wine?
Does wine vinegar have alcohol in it?
Is rice vinegar an alcoholic beverage?
Adding to the confusion, rice vinegar is sometimes referred to as “rice wine vinegar.” Just like red and white wine vinegar, it’s not an alcoholic beverage despite having “wine” in its name, and it’s also not rice wine.
Can rice vinegar be used instead of white wine vinegar?
Rice vinegar can replace wine vinegar, however its flavor is very different. Rice vinegar is obtained from the fermentation of cereals and its flavor is rather sweet and slightly acidic.
What is the difference between rice vinegar and rice wine?
Both rice vinegar and rice wine go through fermentation. However, the procedures are altogether different. When making rice vinegar, the sugars in rice undergo a few fermentation processes. First, the rice starches are fermented into alcohol. Then, to remove the alcohol content, the next process makes use of vinegar mother, an acetic acid bacteria.
Is rice wine an alcoholic beverage?
Just like red and white wine vinegar, it’s not an alcoholic beverage despite having “wine” in its name, and it’s also not rice wine. Huangjiu (Chinese rice wine), mirin (Japanese cooking wine), and sake (Japanese drinking wine) are the most popular rice wine varieties.