Out of Sherry, one case
Non-alcoholic sherry substitute for cooking
6 options, ranked, with the exact amount
Use Apple cider vinegar + water + sugar
½ cup vinegar + ½ cup water + 1 tsp sugar
Apple cider vinegar with water and sugar is the best non-alcoholic substitute for sherry. Use ½ cup vinegar, ½ cup water, and 1 teaspoon sugar for every 1 cup of sherry needed.
- The tweak —
- Mix ingredients together. Adjust sugar to taste for desired sweetness.
- Best for —
- most cooking applications
One casethe full sherry card
Every option, one card
Ranked| # | Substitute | Instead of sherry |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apple cider vinegar + water + sugarmost cooking applications | ½ cup vinegar + ½ cup water + 1 tsp sugar |
| 2 | White wine vinegar + water + sugarwhen you want wine flavor without alcohol | ½ cup vinegar + ½ cup water + 1 tsp sugar |
| 3 | Red wine vinegar + water + sugarrich sauces | ½ cup vinegar + ½ cup water + 1 tsp sugar |
| 4 | Balsamic vinegar + waterrich sauces | 1/3 cup vinegar + 2/3 cup water |
| 5 | Grape juice + lemon juicewhen you want fruity flavor | ¾ cup grape juice + ¼ cup lemon juice |
| 6 | Rice wine vinegar + water + sugarAsian-inspired dishes | ½ cup vinegar + ½ cup water + 1 tsp sugar |
Apple cider vinegar + water + sugar
Tangy and slightly sweet, different from sherry
Best non-alcoholic alternative with acidity and sweetness
- Best for
- most cooking applications, sauces, marinades, when you need acidity, vegetarian dishes
- Texture
- Same liquid consistency
- Prep
- Mix ingredients together. Adjust sugar to taste for desired sweetness.
Most versatile non-alcoholic option.
White wine vinegar + water + sugar
Wine-like acidity with sweetness
Vinegar-based alternative with wine-like flavor
- Best for
- when you want wine flavor without alcohol, salad dressings, light sauces, delicate dishes
- Texture
- Same liquid consistency
- Prep
- Mix ingredients together. Adjust sugar to taste.
More wine-like than apple cider vinegar.
Red wine vinegar + water + sugar
Rich and tangy with sweetness
Rich vinegar alternative with depth of flavor
- Best for
- rich sauces, when you want depth of flavor, beef dishes, mushroom sauces
- Texture
- Same liquid consistency
- Prep
- Mix ingredients together. Adjust sugar to taste.
Richer flavor than white wine vinegar.
Balsamic vinegar + water
Rich and sweet, different from sherry
Rich, sweet alternative with complex flavor
- Best for
- rich sauces, when you want sweetness, Mediterranean dishes, glazes
- Texture
- Slightly thicker consistency
- Prep
- Mix balsamic vinegar with water. No additional sugar needed.
Much sweeter than sherry, adjust other ingredients.
Grape juice + lemon juice
Fruity and sweet, very different from sherry
Fruity alternative with natural sweetness
- Best for
- when you want fruity flavor, desserts, sweet sauces, when you want natural sweetness
- Texture
- Same liquid consistency
- Prep
- Mix grape juice with lemon juice. Adjust lemon juice for acidity.
Much sweeter than sherry, very fruity.
Rice wine vinegar + water + sugar
Mild and slightly sweet
Mild, slightly sweet alternative
- Best for
- Asian-inspired dishes, when you want mild acidity, delicate flavors, light sauces
- Texture
- Same liquid consistency
- Prep
- Mix ingredients together. Adjust sugar to taste.
Much milder than sherry.
How it behaves in this recipe
Non-alcoholic substitutes for sherry provide acidity and sweetness without the alcohol content. While they won't have the same complexity as sherry, they can work well in many cooking applications where sherry is used in small amounts for flavor enhancement.
Tips for substituting sherry
6 tips- Non-alcoholic substitutes won't have the same complexity as sherry, but they can provide acidity and sweetness
- Taste as you go and adjust the sweetness to match your preference
- For richer flavor, use balsamic vinegar with water
- For lighter flavor, use white wine vinegar with water and sugar
- The quality of your substitute will greatly affect the final dish
- Non-alcoholic substitutes work best in dishes where sherry is used in small amounts
Notes on sherry
- For the most versatile option, use apple cider vinegar with water and sugar
- For richer flavor, use balsamic vinegar with water
- For wine-like flavor, use white wine vinegar with water and sugar
- For fruity flavor, use grape juice with lemon juice
Questions
5 questionsWhat's the best non-alcoholic substitute for sherry?
Apple cider vinegar with water and sugar is the best non-alcoholic substitute. Use ½ cup vinegar, ½ cup water, and 1 teaspoon sugar for every 1 cup of sherry needed.
Can I use fruit juice instead of sherry?
Yes, grape juice with lemon juice can work, but it's much sweeter than sherry. You'll need to adjust other ingredients in your recipe to balance the sweetness.
Is balsamic vinegar a good non-alcoholic substitute for sherry?
Balsamic vinegar can work but it's much sweeter and richer than sherry. Mix it with water (1/3 vinegar to 2/3 water) and adjust other ingredients accordingly.
Can I use white wine vinegar instead of sherry?
Yes, white wine vinegar with water and sugar works well as a non-alcoholic substitute. It provides acidity and can be sweetened to taste.
Do non-alcoholic substitutes work in all recipes?
Non-alcoholic substitutes work best in recipes where sherry is used in small amounts for flavor. They may not work as well in recipes where sherry is a main ingredient.