Derived from the French word ‘vin aigre,’ (sour wine) the solution holds various uses and has been a beneficial item for thousands of years, used in cooking, as a preservative, medicine, and even wellness drink. Today, Vinegar is just as popular.
What Is Vinegar?
Vinegar is made up of either complex carbohydrates (barley, potatoes, rice) or simple sugars (apples, honey, grapes) and is fermented into an alcoholic product (using acetic acids). This acidic bacterium uses the alcohol and oxygen within the vinegar solution to create the memorable sour flavouring that vinegar holds. The process of fermentation can take weeks or even months to create high-quality natural vinegar (some can take up to 25 years). However, with industrialised methods, vinegar can be made and sold in bigger batches and in half the time (take note on any preservatives or additives that come alongside this). Have a look for vinegars in supermarkets, you can even take to buying vinegar online.
Different Types of Vinegar
Red
Red vinegar refers to Red-Wine Vinegar and traditional Chinese Rice Vinegar. Red wine vinegar is made predominantly from fermented wine. It holds a tolerable fruity flavour, and can be used in marinades and vinaigrettes. Chinese rice vinegar is made from Chinese red rice yeast and is used in lots of seafood and salad dishes. It has a tart flavouring and tends to have a less acidic affect compared to other vinegars.
Both vinegars leave a pink/red colouring on the food, and both come with some potential health benefits. Some of these include- improved digestion, blood pressure, blood clots, inflammation, blood sugar control, and a boost to the immune system.
White
White vinegar, or ‘distilled’ or ‘spirit’ vinegar, is a type of fermented vinegar that is made from ethanol. Fermentation of grain alcohol creates acetic acid, which is the main bacterium found in our day-to-day vinegars. After its souring, water is added to this mixture to create a 95 (water) to 5 (acetic acid) ratio.
Unlike red vinegar, white vinegar is not usually used in cooking. Instead, it is used for all things cleaning: showers, taps, toilets, glass, counters, drains, and washing machines. You can use this vinegar alone in cleaning, or pair it with bicarbonate soda. The chemical reaction between vinegar and bicarbonate soda creates a fizzy mixture which is an easier blend of chemicals to clean with compared to thin vinegar liquid.
Balsamic Vinegar
Originating, and predominantly made in Italy, Balsamic vinegar is a brown concentrated vinegar made with unfermented grapes (skin, seeds, stems). The vinegar has a strong tart taste to it, and is a great flavour to add to bland dishes. Though it is known to be added to savoury dishes, when reduced, it turns into a sticky thick liquid which can be added to desserts such as ice cream.
Apple Cider
Apple Cider Vinegar is simply made from crushed fermented apples, sugar and yeast. Though sometimes it is used in salad dressings and vinaigrettes, it has also been used as a medicinal product throughout history. Over the last ten years it has become popular within the world of wellness, used to help with weight loss, heartburn, balancing cholesterol levels and can be used as a probiotic for good gut health. Linking to this, an interesting fact about apple cider vinegar is it is one of the only types that is completely unpasteurised.
Cooking With Vinegar
In the kitchen, vinegar can be a versatile ingredient. It can transform many meals by taking different affects to a wide range of dishes. Cooking vinegar can be used in sauces, desserts, marinades, vinaigrettes, and even cocktails. The unusual flavour can enhance sweetness and saltiness, and block out heat and fatty flavours. In baking, the acetic acid enhances texture, and can help rise baked goods.
In order of pickling foods, we use distilled white vinegar, wine vinegar, cider vinegar, or malt vinegar for preservation. It all depends on your pickle tasting preference. They all range in PH acidity, hence why they all come with different flavours.
