Mirin 101: A Guide to Types, Uses, Substitutes, and More

Mirin is one of the most essential condiments in Japanese cooking, yet it’s often misunderstood!

In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about using mirin.

By the time you finish reading, you’ll feel confident and ready to incorporate it into your cooking 🙂

Let’s get started!

In This Post

✏️What is Mirin? How Does It Taste Like?

Mirin is a liquid condiment made by fermenting sticky rice (mochi gome), koji, and alcohol (shochu).

Mirin is similar to sake but It contains lower alcohol (14%) and has a slightly sweet flavor, but its sweetness is milder and more subtle compared to sugar.

🍳Why Use Mirin in Japanese Cooking?

Mirin is used in Japanese cooking to:

• Remove meaty or fishy odors
• Maintain the shape of ingredients
• Add umami and mild sweetness
• Give dishes a shiny finish

🤔What Types of Mirin Should I Use?

There are multiple types of mirin available on the market:

• Hon Mirin (本みりん): Made with rice, koji, and alcohol (shochu). It contains about 14% alcohol and is sold as an alcoholic product. This is the most traditional and basic type of mirin.
  • Recommendations:
    • Eden Mirin
    • Ohsawa Genuine Mirin
• Mirin-type seasoning (みりんタイプ): Contains about 10% alcohol but is also sold as a non-alcoholic product. This is often labeled as “aji mirin.”
• Mirin-style seasoning (みりん風調味料): Contains less than 1% alcohol and is sold as a non-alcoholic product.

Because mirin-style and mirin-type seasonings include additional ingredients beyond the main components of traditional mirin (rice, koji, and alcohol), they lack the sophisticated flavor of regular mirin. I recommend avoiding them if possible.

How to Choose Mirin Based on Your Diet

• Vegan: Most mirin is vegan, but some products may use non-vegan sweeteners, such as honey. Be sure to check the label.
• Gluten-Free: Most mirin is gluten-free, but mirin-type and mirin-style seasonings may contain gluten. Be sure to check the label.
• Halal & Non-Alcoholic: Mirin-style seasonings, such as Kotteri Mirin, can be a good substitute. Alternatively, you can use sugar.
• Without Corn Syrup or Sugar: Choose Hon Mirin if you prefer mirin without any sugar additives.

🔎Mirin vs. Other Ingredients: What Are the Differences?

Mirin vs. Rice Vinegar

Mirin and rice vinegar are entirely different ingredients and cannot be used interchangeably.

• Flavor Difference: Mirin is sweet, while rice vinegar is sour.
• Alcohol Content: Mirin contains alcohol, but rice vinegar does not.
• Production Process: Rice vinegar is fermented for much longer than mirin, resulting in less sweetness and no alcohol.

Mirin vs. Sake

Both mirin and sake are liquid alcoholic condiments made from rice, but they have distinct flavors and purposes:

• Mirin:
  • Adds umami and mild sweetness
  • Helps maintain the shape of ingredients
  • Adds a shiny finish to dishes
• Sake:
  • Softens ingredients during cooking
  • Help ingredients absorb flavors

Substitution Tip: 1 tablespoon mirin = 1 tablespoon sake + 1 teaspoon sugar

💡Learn more: Sake for Beginners: Types, Uses, Substitutes, and Storage Tips

Mirin vs. Shaoxing (Chinese Rice Wine)

Shaoxing is another rice-based cooking wine, but it differs from mirin in several ways:

• Alcohol Content: Shaoxing has a higher alcohol content than mirin.
• Flavor Profile: Shaoxing is less sweet and has a slightly different taste compared to mirin.

Substitution Tip: While Shaoxing can work as a substitute for mirin, a combination of sake and sugar is usually a better option for matching the flavor of mirin.

🥢What Are Substitutes for Mirin?

You can substitute mirin with these combinations:

• 1 tablespoon mirin = 1 tablespoon sake + 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon mirin = 1 tablespoon sake + ½–¾ teaspoon honey

💡Learn more: Simple Japanese Ingredient Substitutions

🗄️Does Mirin Go Bad? How Should You Store It?

Proper storage of mirin depends on the type you have and whether it’s opened or unopened.

Before Opening (All Types of Mirin)

• Store in a cool, dark place
• Shelf life:
  • Hon Mirin (true mirin): Use within 18 months
  • Mirin-style and Mirin-type Seasonings: Use within 12 months

After Opening

• Hon Mirin (true mirin)
  • Store in a cool, dark place
  • Use within 3 months
• Mirin-style seasoning
  • Store in the refrigerator
  • Use within 3 months
• Mirin-type seasoning
  • Store in a cool, dark place
  • Use within 3 months

How to Tell if Mirin is Expired

Mirin may have expired if it:

• Smells sour like vinegar:
  • Exception: Mirin-style seasonings may contain vinegar as an ingredient and naturally have a sour taste from the beginning.
• Appears white and cloudy:
  • Exception: Hon Mirin may develop gritty white clumps or sediment around the cap during winter or when stored in the fridge. This is normal and caused by sugar crystallization.

🛒Where to Buy Mirin?

You can buy mirin at your local grocery store in the Asian aisle, at Asian grocery stores, or online on websites like Amazon.

Check the What Types of Mirin Should I Use? section for my recommended products.

💡Learn more: Best Places to Buy Japanese Ingredients Online

🍳How to Use Mirin in Cooking

You can use mirin whenever you want to add umami and mild sweetness!

Here are some example recipes that use mirin:

• Teriyaki chicken: Mirin adds sweetness and a glossy finish.
• Ajitama (ramen egg), simmered kiriboshi daikon, sunomono (Japanese cucumber salad): Mirin adds umami and sweetness.

❓Frequently Asked Questions about Mirin

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I hope you found this guide helpful!

If you’re interested in diving deeper into other Japanese condiments, check out these articles:

• A Step-by-Step Guide to Japanese Cooking for Beginners
• Essential Condiments to Get Started with Japanese Cooking

Happy cooking! 🙂