Five Types of Vinegar and Their Uses

Vinegar enhances the flavor of recipes and has long been used as a food preservative in the kitchen. Vinegar is also used as a condiment or seasoning in recipes and a preservative in drinks. The history of vinegar dates back to 5000 years ago when Greeks and Romans exploited its multiple uses and benefits and since then it is used as the most popular food preservative in the world. Use of vinegar is not only limited to cooking and kitchen but it has several medical benefits from relieving indigestion to purifying and revitalizing our body. Vinegar is just like having a magician in the kitchen. Interestingly, vinegar is also a kitchen remedy against bacteria and fungi and relieves headache. Vinegar comes in a variety of colors: From clear white vinegar to red wine vinegar and from brownish-yellow apple cider vinegar to chocolate malt vinegar. All types of vinegar enhance the flavor of dishes but it becomes really important to understand that which type of vinegar should be used for which recipe and taste. For recipes requiring moderate flavor, it is recommend to use apple cider vinegar while balsamic vinegar of Modena is recommended for giving extreme sweet and sour flavor to dishes, so below are five types of vinegar and their uses for your consideration:

White Distilled Vinegar

This vinegar is mostly used in the kitchen and also in the pharmaceutical industry. White distilled vinegar is produced with acetic fermentation of dilute, distilled alcohol. In kitchen, white vinegar combines very well with mackerel, bream, and even partridge.

Fruit Vinegar

This type of vinegar is made from mixed fruit by alcoholic fermentation. Fruit vinegar is made with apples, oranges, pineapples, blackberries, blueberries, and bananas but apple cider vinegar is the most commonly used vinegar which is made by alcoholic fermentation with apple juice just because it is perfect as a seasoning in all types of salads and sauces.

Wine Vinegar

This is a product made by alcoholic fermentation and acidification of grape juice. It is widely used in Italy and France. It is also called as red wine vinegar, sherry vinegar, white wine vinegar, or balasmic vinegar of Modena.

Rice Vinegar

This type of vinegar is widely used in Asian countries where there is abundance of rice crops. Flavor of rice vinegar is mild and slightly sweet and its color varies depending on when combined with grains such as millet or wheat.

Herb Flavored Vinegar

This type of vinegar comes with addition of various herbs. The best-known herb flavored vinegar is the one, which includes dill or tarragon (aromatic herbs from Eurasia). Flavored vinegar can also consist of thyme, basil, and rosemary herbs. It can also be combined with sugar or honey.

Vinegar can be prepared at home, but it is necessary to use sterilized jars and utensils to prevent bacterial contamination. After bottling homemade vinegar, you can cover and use it for many months. You can also use any commercial vinegar as a home remedy, so above were five types of vinegar and their uses. In my upcoming hub, I will shed some light on the multiple health and medical benefits of vinegar and also talk about other types of vinegar.