Vinegar: All About Types & Benefits

Vinegar isn’t just one thing; it’s a colorful cast of characters! From pale gold to deep ruby, there’s a vinegar to suit every taste.

The name itself, “vin aigre,” is French for “sour wine,” giving a hint to its origins. Believe it or not, this tangy liquid starts life as something sweet: wine, cider, beer, or even sugar. A touch of bacteria works its magic, transforming these into acetic acid, the key ingredient that gives vinegar its signature pucker.

9 Types of Vinegar

1. Distilled white vinegar: It is sometimes also called white vinegar and is made up of 5-10% acetic acid and 90% water. It is used for hard-boiling eggs and for making mashed potatoes.
2. White wine vinegar: It is made from fermented white wine. It tastes milder than distilled white vinegar and apple cider vinegar. It is often used in salad dressings, sauces, and even marinades.
3. Balsamic vinegar: It is the most loved vinegar. The longer it is aged, the darker its color. It is made from the juice of freshly crushed whole grapes.
4. Champagne vinegar: It is made out of fermented champagne. Of all the vinegar it has the lightest flavour which is both tart and sweet.
5. Red wine vinegar: It is made up of fermented red wine that has turned sour. It is good to be used as salad dressing, sauces, slow-cooked recipes, marinades, reductions and pickling.
6. Rice vinegar: It is made from fermented rice. It has a sweet, delicate flavor and is less acidic as compared to most of the vinegar. It is mostly used in Asian recipes like stir-fried veggies, salads, noodles, and vegetables.
7. Apple cider vinegar: It is made from fermented apple juice and has gained popularity in recent years. It can be mixed with olive oil to create a salad dressing. It is good for improving digestion and gut health.
8. Sherry vinegar: It is made by aging sherry wine for at least two years. It can be used as a substitute for balsamic vinegar and in various salads.
9. Malt vinegar: It is made by fermenting barley. It is the most widely used ingredient in traditional fish and chips. Many people use this for beans on toast and in making pickles.

5 Benefits of Vinegar

1. Vinegar contains polyphenols, which are a type of plant chemicals that have an antioxidant effect. This protects cells from oxidative stress.
2. Apple cider vinegar acts as a prebiotic as it has certain beneficial bacteria.
3. Vinegar can help in treating issue of GERD.
4. Vinegar lowers gut ph to a much lower level which makes it impossible for the bacteria to survive.
5. As vinegars are very low in calories and nutrients, so these are ideal to be used in giving flavour to foods, especially when you are consuming bland diets.

Conclusion

Vinegar is of many types and different colors. Vinegar means vin aigre or “sour wine”. It is made by adding bacteria to any type of alcohol – wine, hard cider, beer- or sugars, which are fermented and converted into acetic acid.