Types and uses of vinegar
Vinegar is great for your health and tastes good too. Acidic in taste, it lends itself beautifully to many dishes ranging from salads to sushi, pasta to pickles. It comes in many varieties but if you love experimenting, you can make one at home too!
Vinegar can be made from wine, beer, fruit or rice (anything that contains sugars). It ferments with the help of bacteria and converts in to vinegar. Most vinegars bought off the shelf can be used for at least six months.
Vinegars have health benefits too. They aid digestion .They are invaluable to chefs and good cooks as they add an extra dimension to marinades, mayonnaise and salads.
Common types of vinegar and their uses
Apple cider vinegar – it is made from, you guessed it, apples. It is very popular in the United States of America, but used throughout the world as it is inexpensive. It is brown in color, gives a fruity taste and adds a zing to salads and stews.
White vinegar – This common variety is made from grains or in a laboratory using acetic acid. It can be added to curries and gravies and has a sharp taste.
Red or white wine vinegar – As wine is made from grapes, it can be easily fermented and made into vinegar. These vinegars are especially used in French cuisine.
Balsamic vinegar – This is one of the most expensive vinegars and has its roots in Italy. However, now there is a commercial equivalent of balsamic variety but it is still quite costly. It has a slightly sweet taste and a syrupy consistency. It adds depth to gravies and salads.
Rice vinegar – This variety is popular in sushi, stir fry dishes and soups. It is commonly used in Japanese and Chinese cuisine and has a milder taste than other types.
Beer or champagne vinegar – Made from its respective alcohol, it is popular in Europe. Champagne vinegar is made from expensive grapes and is quite pricey.
Cane vinegar – This type of vinegar is used in the Phillippines. It is similar to rice vinegar in taste.
Malt vinegar – Popular in Great Britain, this deep brown vinegar has a malty flavour and is similar to the drink `ale.’
Other uses of vinegar in the kitchen
Can keep potatoes from turning brown after peeling
Heated with water in a pan, it can remove odours in the kitchen.
Can help remove fruit stains from the skin
If you have run out of buttermilk, mix milk with few spoons of vinegar with milk and let it stand till it thickens.
Use it is a preservative for home-made pickles and chutneys.
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