Pantry Essentials – Which Vinegars Are Essential to Keep on Hand?

Rice vinegar is less acidic than other vinegars; as such, you need to adjust your oil-to-vinegar ratio or it'll might seem overly oily.

Rather than the 3:1 oil-to-vinegar ratio, or rice wine vinegar I'll go with a 1:1 mix. If it's a seasoned rice wine, I'll sometimes leave the oil out entirely, but I seem to like sour flavors more than other people.

You can use most any vinegar or even acid from citrus fruits for salad dressings, although I don't know that I'd use white vinegar.

First choice: go out and buy any other rice vinegar - it doesn't have to be that exact brand. Almost any grocery store will have the Marukan brand, for example. Rice vinegar has a somewhat unique, mild taste that there is no exact substitute for. In a pinch, I'd maybe use 80% white vinegar 20% sherry.