Shaoxing wine vs cooking wine vs dry sherry
Shaoxing is a type of rice wine. "Cooking wine" is a broad label. Dry sherry is a useful swap, but it still contains alcohol.
At a glance
Swipe the table sideways on a small screen.
| Compare | Shaoxing wine | Cooking wine | Dry sherry |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it means | Chinese rice wine with a rounded flavour. | Wine sold for cooking; the type and added salt vary. | A fortified grape wine, not a rice wine. |
| How to choose | Check whether salt is added. | Read the full name and ingredients. It may be Shaoxing, but do not assume it is. | Choose dry, not sweet sherry, when the recipe recommends this swap. |
| Alcohol | Yes. | Usually yes; "cooking" does not mean alcohol-free. | Yes. |
Which one to buy
For a recipe that asks for Shaoxing, buy Shaoxing. If it is unavailable and alcohol is acceptable, dry sherry is a common substitute. Salted cooking wines can change the seasoning, so check the label before adding more salt.
If you avoid alcohol
Use the creator's alcohol-free option where one is provided. Some sauces work with stock instead, but the flavour will be different. Do not replace wine with the same amount of vinegar: vinegar is sour, wine is not.
For children
We do not mark recipes with alcohol as kid-friendly. Cooking does not reliably remove all alcohol. Mirin, sake and dry sherry are not alcohol-free alternatives.
Related pantry pages
Sources
Summarised in our own words. Product labels can change; check the jar or bottle you buy.
Get the weekly plan by email
One short email each week with the new meal plan and shopping list. Nothing else.
Get the weekly plan