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14 Surprising Ways to Use Vinegar in Your Cooking and Kitchen
Vinegar is a really useful ingredient to have in the kitchen – it does way more than just add tartness to recipes or clean the counters. Let's take a look!
Vinegar has been used for cooking since ancient times. The word 'vinegar' is French for "vin aigre" which means sour wine.
Vinegar is made by fermenting diluted alcohol with bacteria and yeast, turning it into an acidic liquid. It is mainly used as a condiment and preservative in food and drink, but it also has some other uses, such as in the production of soaps, soft drinks, and detergents.
Let's spend a few minutes showcasing this fantastic ingredient with some great ways to use vinegar in your cooking and kitchen!
Types of Vinegar
Vinegar is a fermented liquid made from the natural sugars in fruits, vegetables, and grains. Vinegar comes in many varieties:
Wine vinegar is made from wine. It has a long fermentation process and it is one of the oldest types of vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar is made from apples, water, and yeast. This type of vinegar has a tangy flavour that You can use in salad dressings or other recipes that call for an acidic ingredient.
Malt vinegar is made with fermented malt barley water. It has a distinctive flavour that is less fruity and sweet than other vinegar. I love adding Malt Vinegar to cooked chips!
Balsamic vinegar is made from grape must. It is aged in wooden barrels for a minimum of 12 years. This type of vinegar has a rich, thick, and sweet flavour.
Rice vinegar is made from rice wine and water. It has a milder flavour than balsamic or apple cider vinegar and can be used in sauces or as a condiment in sushi dishes.
14 Fun Cooking Tips with Vinegar
The first thing that most likely comes to mind in uses for vinegar is its use in salad dressings. But you can use vinegar in many different dishes, and it can also be used as an ingredient in sauces and marinades.
Vinegar is a natural preservative, and it has been used for centuries to make food taste better. Vinegar also helps reduce the risk of food poisoning because it kills bacteria. Vinegar also has a lot of health benefits, which is another bonus!
You can use vinegar in many ways, but these 14 tips are some of the most popular ways to use vinegar in cooking:
- Add vinegar to sauces for more flavour.
- Use cider vinegar instead of apple juice when making sweetened applesauce.
- Use balsamic or white wine vinegar with lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic for salad dressing.
- Make an easy marinade by combining 1/4 cup soy sauce 1/4 cup of vinegar.
- Pour some balsamic vinegar into some olive oil and dip in your favourite bread.
- Mix a 1/4 cup of white vinegar with boiling water, stir it to make a whirlpool and then break an egg into the centre. Cook it for 3-4 minutes for the perfect poached egg.
- Use rice vinegar to make some simple sushi rolls.
- Vinegar can be used to make a more flavorful version of the classic ranch dressing replacing the mayonnaise with a little bit of sour cream and a tablespoon or two of vinegar.
- Add some vinegar to your homemade pickles for an extra tangy flavour!
- Add some apple cider vinegar to your marinade for a tangy, sweet and savoury flavour that will make your meat pop!
- Use it as a substitute for salt when frying eggs, this will give them a nice golden colour and some extra flavour too!
- Add some balsamic vinegar to your favourite tomato-based pasta sauce for an extra flavour boost.
- Adding vinegar to boiling water can help reduce the risk of having a boil-over.
- Add vinegar to the dishwasher to help with removing hard water stains.
How to Store Vinegar Properly to Preserve its Taste
The taste of vinegar can change if it is not stored correctly. Vinegar should be stored in a dark, cool place to preserve its freshness and avoid exposure to light and heat, which can cause it to spoil.
Vinegar should be stored in an airtight container so that the vinegar does not evaporate and lose its flavour over time. Avoid storing vinegar on top of your stove because it will get too hot there.
What's your favourite vinegar to use in cooking?
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