Apple cider might not be as popular as apple juice or apple cider vinegar, but it’s got its charms. And it has its uses for several recipes. There might be times when you want a substitute for apple cider for your recipe.
Of course, a decent substitute should offer a similar experience in terms of flavor, texture, and similar properties. It should be easily available, or at least as easily available as apple cider.
The best substitute for apple cider in a recipe would be unsweetened apple juice. Unsweetened pear juice or pear cider are also decent choices.
Globally, there is a difference in what apple cider is. For many countries, apple cider has undergone some fermentation and contains a small amount of alcohol.
In the USA, apple cider is not fermented. It is unfiltered apple juice and thus contains apple fiber and pulp.
With that said, let’s get into details of apple cider substitutes, what makes a good substitute, and more!
Top Substitutes For Apple Cider You Can Consider
1. Apple Juice
In many countries, including the USA, apple juice and apple cider are practically the same thing. The difference is that apple cider contains pulp and sediment, while apple juice undergoes filtration to be clear.
However, this small difference does create noticeable changes in taste and texture. Apple juice is sweeter, clear, and has a plain texture.
And the sweetness is the most important part here when considering substitution. Even unsweetened apple juice will be noticeably sweeter than apple cider. This means, you’ll have to consider the sweetness when working on the substitution.
While apple juice will do admirably well as a substitute for apple cider in sweet dishes, using it in savory recipes might not be the best idea. Avoid using apple juice as a cider substitute in recipes like glazed ham or pork chops.
Using Apple Juice But Managing Sweetness
If you can’t find unsweetened apple juice, you will have to rely on other methods to get the sweetness to an acceptable level.
The first idea is to add some vinegar. You can choose red wine vinegar, rice wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or even apple cider vinegar. The idea is to add just a splash to the juice to hide the sweetness.
Do not add too much vinegar as the acidity risks affecting the flavors of your recipe.
Another method is to use unsweetened applesauce. If your recipe demands a cup of apple cider and you’re replacing it with juice, you can follow this method.
Reduce the amount of apple juice to ¾ cup. Add unsweetened applesauce to fill the rest of the cup. This combination can be a decent substitute and perhaps more agreeable than bringing vinegars into the mix.
2. Hard Apple Cider
Hard cider is very close to apple cider (in some countries, they mean the same thing). However, in the USA, there is a difference between hard apple cider and apple cider.
The hard cider is apple cider that has undergone fermentation and thus contains some amount of alcohol. Usually, the alcohol percentage is low, but it is present nonetheless.
Hard cider has a strong flavor and some acidic touch.
Keep in mind, that while conventional hard cider can be used for recipes to substitute apple cider, carbonated hard cider cannot be used for the same purpose. Carbonated hard apple cider has a very different acidity, which can have a big impact on the recipe.
3. Pear Cider Or Juice
Though less popular than apples, pears have a close relationship with apples. Though they have a grainier texture, pears can be very similar to apples especially in the form of juice. Pear juice or pear cider (unfiltered) can make great substitutes for apple cider.
Expect some change in taste, but in most cases, pear cider works great as an apple cider substitute. This substitution works well for marinades and glazes, but can also be effective for salad dressings, baked goods, and even drinks!
The conventional substitution ratio for pear juice and apple cider is 1:1.
4. Other Fruit Juices Or Ciders
Some other fruit juices may also be considered as possible substitutions for apple cider.
These include lemon juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice. Generally, the ratio stays largely equal (one part apple cider for one part of the juice of your choice).
However, these alternatives may not always be the right pick as they will cause significant change to the taste. Besides, lemon and orange juice are decidedly more acidic than apple cider and leave a stronger flavor in the dish.
If you choose these substitutes, be prepared for a substantial change in taste as well.
5. Avoid Vinegar Choices For Apple Cider Substitution
Okay, this is something of a not-substitute thing that usually wouldn’t find a place on a list like this. However, I felt it necessary to add this one, considering there are a lot of people advocating the use of one vinegar or the other as an apple cider substitute.
Vinegars are much more acidic and very different in flavor and texture when compared to apple cider. Yes, that includes more exquisite vinegars like champagne vinegar. Even apple cider vinegar won’t work in place of apple cider.
I suspect people suggest vinegars when they confuse apple cider with apple cider vinegar. These are not remotely the same things.
But there might be little use for these vinegars. If you’re using fruit juices (like apple juice or pear juice) to substitute for apple cider, you could be worried about the extra sweetness in the recipe.
Reduce the juice amount a little bit and replace it with a vinegar like rice wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or white wine vinegar. Use just a splash, not a significant amount. The vinegar can reduce the sweetness of such substitutions.
Understanding What Apple Cider Is And What It Means Around The World
Apple Cider can be a bit confusing since different parts of the world have a different idea of what that means. This is not a regulated term, so a lot of people have different ideas on what it means. Even in the same country, different regions might have a different idea on what apple cider is.
However, the largest difference is how the USA looks at cider, and how the UK and much of the world define cider.
So, let’s try to clear the confusion a bit
Apple Cider – What It Means In The USA
There is no fixed or legislated definition of apple cider. However, generally speaking, apple cider in the USA is apple juice that has not been filtered. Some regions may also identify apple cider with the addition of other ingredients like cinnamon.
Many people also say that apple cider is fresh and unpasteurized. However, if you’re a buyer picking apple cider from a store, the smart money is always on the pasteurized item. Unpasteurized apple cider may have E.coli bacteria, which can cause sickness.
In fact, the FDA requires unpasteurized apple cider to carry a warning label that says it may contain harmful bacteria and can cause serious illness.
So, broadly speaking, apple cider in the USA is unfiltered apple juice, which may or may not have additional ingredients like cinnamon. If you’re buying from a store, prefer purchasing pasteurized juice.
The Hard Cider And What It Means In The USA
Hard cider is apple cider where some fermentation has been allowed. As such, it contains a small amount of alcohol. Generally, the alcohol by volume (ABV) can be anywhere between 4.5-7%. In some cases, it can be much lower.
Technically, the ABV can depend on the apple cultivar and method of fermentation, since the alcohol is processed from the sugar in the cider (or juice).
Apple Juice, Apple Cider, And Hard Cider In The UK And Other Parts Of The World
For the UK, and most of the world, apple juice represents any juice derived from apples. This could be filtered or unfiltered apple juice, or otherwise processed in different ways.
Apple Cider, however, in these parts of the world is what the USA calls hard cider. Apple Cider in the UK represents apple juice that has undergone some fermentation. As such, it will contain alcohol.
Things are much simpler in this part of the world. Apple juice is apple juice, whether unfiltered or filtered, with or without some flavoring additives like cinnamon.
On the other hand, if it has been fermented, it is apple cider.
Choosing The Best Substitute For Apple Cider
When you want a substitute for apple cider in your recipe, your best bet is working with unsweetened apple juice. If unsweetened apple juice is unavailable and you have to use regular juice, consider adding unsweetened applesauce to this juice as a way to reduce the sweetness. Adding a dash of red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar might be useful in some scenarios.
Other notable alternatives include several juices listed, especially pear cider and pear juice. It’s best to avoid vinegars as full substitutes for apple cider, except for a small amount to mask sweetness when using fruit juices as substitutes for apple cider.