White Vinegar vs Balsamic Vinegar: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Balsamic vinegar has 0.5 g of protein, while white vinegar has none. Balsamic vinegar contains 88 calories, significantly higher than white vinegar's 18 calories.

White vinegar and balsamic vinegar are both popular culinary ingredients, yet they have distinct nutritional profiles. This comparison highlights their differences in calories, protein, carbohydrates, and sugars.

What Is the Difference Between White Vinegar and Balsamic Vinegar?

White vinegar is a clear, acidic liquid made from fermented grain alcohol or acetic acid diluted with water. It is commonly used in cooking, pickling, and as a cleaning agent. Balsamic vinegar is a dark, sweet vinegar made from freshly crushed grape juice and aged in wooden barrels. It is often used in salad dressings and marinades.

White Vinegar vs Balsamic Vinegar: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of white vinegar and balsamic vinegar.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	White vinegar	Balsamic vinegar
Calories	18 kcal	88 kcal
Protein	0 g	0.5 g
Carbs	0.0 g	17.0 g
Sugar	0.0 g	14.9 g
Fat	0 g	0 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	2 mg	23 mg

Which Is Better, White Vinegar or Balsamic Vinegar?

For weight loss: White vinegar is lower in calories, with 18 calories compared to balsamic vinegar's 88 calories.

For muscle and protein: Balsamic vinegar has more protein, containing 0.5 g compared to white vinegar's 0 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Balsamic vinegar has 17.0 g of carbohydrates and 14.9 g of sugar, while white vinegar has 0.0 g in both categories.

How to Track White vinegar and Balsamic vinegar Accurately

It's easy to misjudge portion sizes and nutritional content when using vinegar in cooking or dressing. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized dietary recommendations. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which vinegar has more protein?

Balsamic vinegar has 0.5 g of protein, while white vinegar has 0 g.

Which vinegar has fewer calories?

White vinegar has 18 calories, while balsamic vinegar has 88 calories.

How much sugar is in balsamic vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar contains 14.9 g of sugar per 100 g.

What are the carbohydrate contents of white vinegar?

White vinegar has 0.0 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.

What is the sodium content in balsamic vinegar?

Balsamic vinegar contains 23 mg of sodium per 100 g.

How much fat is in white vinegar?

White vinegar contains 0 g of fat per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• White vinegar has 18 calories per 100 g.
• Balsamic vinegar has 88 calories per 100 g.
• White vinegar contains 0 g of protein.
• Balsamic vinegar contains 0.5 g of protein.
• White vinegar has 0.0 g of carbohydrates.
• Balsamic vinegar has 17.0 g of carbohydrates.