Vinaigrette Calculator
Enter the oil or the total dressing in tablespoons and pick a vinegar or citrus juice to get the oil and acid, the ratio (3:1 at 6%) and final acidity. How it works
Use the Vinaigrette Calculator
About the Vinaigrette Calculator
Use 3 tablespoons of oil to 1 tablespoon of vinegar, the classic 3 to 1 vinaigrette ratio, which assumes a vinegar of about 6% acidity. This vinaigrette calculator scales the ratio by the acid's strength: 4% rice vinegar gets 2.0 : 1, or 1.5 tbsp for 3 tbsp of oil, and 7% sherry vinegar gets 3.5 : 1, or 0.9 tbsp. That keeps the finished dressing near 1.5% acidity whichever acid you pick.
Oil to acid ratio by vinegar or juice
| Acid | Acidity | Ratio (oil : acid) | Acid for 3 tbsp oil | Acid for 6 tbsp oil | Final acidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red wine vinegar | 6% | 3.0 : 1 | 1.0 tbsp | 2.0 tbsp | ~1.5% |
| White wine vinegar | 6% | 3.0 : 1 | 1.0 tbsp | 2.0 tbsp | ~1.5% |
| Balsamic vinegar | 6% | 3.0 : 1 | 1.0 tbsp | 2.0 tbsp | ~1.5% |
| Apple cider vinegar | 5% | 2.5 : 1 | 1.2 tbsp | 2.4 tbsp | ~1.4% |
| Rice vinegar | 4% | 2.0 : 1 | 1.5 tbsp | 3.0 tbsp | ~1.3% |
| Sherry vinegar | 7% | 3.5 : 1 | 0.9 tbsp | 1.7 tbsp | ~1.6% |
| Lemon juice | 5% | 2.5 : 1 | 1.2 tbsp | 2.4 tbsp | ~1.4% |
| Lime juice | 6% | 3.0 : 1 | 1.0 tbsp | 2.0 tbsp | ~1.5% |
The acidities are the tool's preset round figures, not measured values: bottles differ, and lemon and lime juice vary from fruit to fruit. Amounts are rounded to 0.1 tbsp, as the tool shows them.
How to use this tool
- Type the oil in tablespoons, or set I know the to Total amount of dressing and type the total. An empty or zero amount uses 3 tbsp of oil, or 8 tbsp of dressing, until you enter one.
- Pick the vinegar or juice. For a bottle with its acidity on the label, choose Custom and type the percentage.
- Read the acid amount, the oil to acid ratio and the final acidity of the mixed dressing.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the ratio of oil to vinegar in a vinaigrette?
- 3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar for a vinegar of about 6% acidity, such as most red wine vinegar. 3 tbsp of oil takes 1.0 tbsp of it.
- How much vinegar for 1/2 cup of oil?
- ½ cup is 8 tbsp, so a 6% vinegar takes 2.7 tbsp and a 5% apple cider vinegar 3.2 tbsp. For 1 cup of oil (16 tbsp), red wine vinegar takes 5.3 tbsp.
- Can I use lemon juice instead of vinegar?
- Yes. The tool takes lemon juice as 5% acid, so the ratio drops to 2.5 : 1 and 3 tbsp of oil takes 1.2 tbsp of juice. Lemons differ, so taste and adjust.
- Why does a stronger vinegar get a higher ratio?
- A stronger acid is sour in a smaller amount, so the tool uses less of it: ratio = 3 × acidity ÷ 6. A 7% sherry vinegar gets 3.5 : 1 and a 4% rice vinegar 2.0 : 1. This scaling is the tool's own model, not a published standard.
- How much mustard do you put in a vinaigrette?
- Fine Dining Lovers adds about ½ teaspoon of Dijon mustard to 3 tbsp of oil and 1 tbsp of vinegar; it thickens the dressing and adds flavor. The calculator leaves mustard, honey and salt out, so add them to taste.
- How do I make a set amount of vinaigrette?
- Switch I know the to Total amount of dressing. The total is split in the same ratio: oil = total × ratio ÷ (ratio + 1) and acid = total ÷ (ratio + 1). 8 tbsp (½ cup) with red wine vinegar gives 6 tbsp of oil and 2.0 tbsp of vinegar; with 4% rice vinegar it gives 5.33 tbsp of oil and 2.7 tbsp of vinegar.
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