Our Favorite Vinegar Is Actually the Cheapest (2024)

This is an article about white vinegar. However, it isn’t an article about how to clean your pans. Or your shower. Or your gnarly stovetop. Or making a papier-mâché volcano erupt. No, it's about using white vinegar for what we believe to be its true calling: cooking.

Yeah, putting white vinegar in your food is a certified brilliant move. Tell the “White vinegar is only good for cleaning” people to take their red wine and apple cider vinegars and sit down. This laboratory-esque liquid is a little bit misunderstood; it comes with a borderline scary reputation. Maybe it’s the cheap price that steers people away, or the stark, sterile appearance. But while some people might deride white vinegar as tasting "harsh," we prefer to think of it as "assertive"—"confident," even.

That gripping acidic flavor comes from grain that is fermented to produce alcohol, which little micro-organisms then consume and and convert into acetic acid. All vinegars contain acetic acid—it's the stuff that makes your jaw clench and your mouth water. But while red wine vinegars and apple cider vinegars and all the other vinegars have additional flavors that play with and sometimes against that sharpness, white vinegar is pure acid—clean, bright, and clear.

And a lot of times, that's exactly what we're looking for. When a dish tastes exactly how we want it to, with all of the flavors in sync, but it still wants a biiiiiit of acid to make it pop? We could add any vinegar or citrus, sure but that would introduce not only tartness but other flavors as well. Or we could just add a splash of our trusty white vinegar and get exactly the sharpness we're after with no drama. White vinegar is the person who donates millions of dollars to a charitable cause and asks not to be named.

Our Favorite Vinegar Is Actually the Cheapest (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between cheap and expensive vinegar? ›

Breaking down the differences between cheap and barrel-aged

Cheap varieties tend to be overly tart, leaving you “vinegar-faced” and lacking the harmonious balance of sweetness and acidity that characterizes premium options.

Which vinegar is the cheapest? ›

White vinegar is the cleanest, sharpest, cheapest vinegar of the bunch.

Which vinegar is cheaper? ›

Plain white vinegar

This is likely the most affordable vinegar that you will find on the shelf at the grocery store, as it is very cheap to make. While distilled white vinegar is often used for the manufacture of commercial condiments, its strong, pungent taste usually overwhelms other ingredients while home cooking.

Why has vinegar gone up in price? ›

According to Procurement Resource, the price trend for Vinegar are expected to rise in the upcoming months. The positive change in prices will majorly be due to the improvement in demand and supply chain dynamics globally.

What is the best vinegar to use? ›

5 Essential Vinegars for Your Pantry
  • Red Wine Vinegar. This is a great all-purpose vinegar to have around. ...
  • Balsamic Vinegar. We use balsamic almost exclusively in salad dressings and marinades, but we also sometimes simmer it into a thick syrup for desserts! ...
  • Cider Vinegar. ...
  • Rice Vinegar. ...
  • White Wine Vinegar.

What is the most expensive type of vinegar? ›

Balsamic vinegar from Modena is one of the most expensive food products we can find on the market. The three main and most sought after products, after balsamic vinegars, are the DOP of Modena, the DOP of Reggio Emilia, and the IGP of Modena.

Does vinegar go bad? ›

The only real side effect from leaving vinegar to its own devices is that its acidity will gradually decrease over time, making it less potent. This is why a "best by" date can be found on the bottle, but it's still perfectly fine long past that — it isn't an "expiration date," by any means. Vinegar does not expire.

What is the healthiest vinegar? ›

Research suggests that apple cider vinegar may have beneficial health properties, including antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy. People have used it for centuries in cooking and natural medicine. It may have some health benefits.

Is there a difference between distilled vinegar and white vinegar? ›

Now, don't confuse distilled with basic white vinegar, which is stronger and has up to 25% acetic acid. That vinegar is sold exclusively for cleaning purposes and is not a good idea to ingest. However, beyond cooking, distilled white vinegar can be used for many of the same household chores.

Why can't I eat vinegar anymore? ›

An allergy to vinegar is rare, but possible. It is also possible to experience allergy-like symptoms due to an intolerance. 1 People who experience symptoms after consuming vinegar may have an intolerance to sulfites, histamine, salicylates, or acetic acid.

What is the new name for vinegar? ›

The trivial name "acetic acid" is the most commonly used and preferred IUPAC name. The systematic name "ethanoic acid", a valid IUPAC name, is constructed according to the substitutive nomenclature. The name "acetic acid" derives from the Latin word for vinegar, "acetum", which is related to the word "acid" itself.

Who is the largest producer of vinegar in the world? ›

Fleischmann's Vinegar Company is the world's largest producer of commercial vinegar, and offers the industry's most comprehensive selection of vinegar and all-natural, specialty ingredient products that serve a wide range of markets within the food and agriculture sector.

Does all vinegar work the same? ›

Every type of vinegar has an individual flavor profile and often a unique purpose outside the kitchen. The vinegar you use to clean your floors probably isn't the same one you're using to dress your salad or marinate your chicken.

Is there a difference between cleaning vinegar? ›

White vinegar typically has a concentration of 5%, meaning that it contains 5% acetic acid and 95% water (some distilled white vinegar formulas have an even lower concentration of 4%). Cleaning vinegar has a concentration of 6%, meaning it contains 6% acetic acid and 94% water.

Are there differences in white vinegar? ›

Both of these types of vinegar have "white" in their name, but their flavor is very different. Distilled white vinegar is very strong and can easily overpower foods if you use too much. White wine vinegar is milder than distilled vinegar and has more culinary uses because of its complex flavor.

What is the difference between all the vinegars? ›

According to Fine Cooking, all wine vinegars — like white wine vinegar — are milder and less acidic than white distilled or cider vinegars. White wine vinegar is also less tangy, sour, and sweet than red wine vinegar and balsamic vinegar, per MasterClass.

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