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How Do I Choose the Best Cider Vinegar?

Kristeen Moore
Kristeen Moore

Cider vinegar is made from pulverized and fermented apples, and it is traditionally used for adding flavor to marinades, pickles, and stews. Quality vinegar can simply be found in supermarkets, but you might consider buying it in bulk in order to save money. When choosing liquid vinegar, it is important that you purchase one that has the correct amount of acidity depending on how often you plan on using the product. Lighter cider vinegars are the most appropriate kinds if you are using the product as a cleaning tool, while organic apple cider vinegar is considered to be the best choice if you want to utilize it as part of a diet cleanser.

Vinegars are traditional cooking tools used to enhance the flavors of foods and to change the consistency of them. Apple cider vinegar is a sweet version that particularly goes well with other fruits as well as vegetables. This kind of liquid is primarily used to make marinades, sauces, and pickled vegetables. It is important to keep in mind that this type of vinegar is dark, so it can alter the color of lighter foods. Apple cider vinegar is widely available in most supermarkets and food chains, but you can also buy it in bulk from an online store at a cheaper rate if you plan on using it regularly.

Apple cider vinegar.
Apple cider vinegar.

Most types of vinegar have long shelf lives, but there are still some steps that you should take in order to ensure that the particular product does not spoil. A product that indicates a vinegar with five-percent acidity or higher can be kept sealed at room temperature for three to five years. Reduced acidity warrants the product to be refrigerated, or else the efficacy and taste of the cider can warp. Cider vinegar that contains a lower acid content is an ideal choice if you plan on using it often, but you might also purchase a smaller-sized bottle if you do not use it on a consistent basis.

Apple cider vinegar is made from the freshly pressed juice or cider of sweet apples.
Apple cider vinegar is made from the freshly pressed juice or cider of sweet apples.

Like other vinegars, cider versions are also used as cleaning tools in some households. Vinegar is a natural cleanser, but it has gained popularity in western cultures as many consumers are growing skeptical of the safety of conventional chemical disinfectants. Virtually any type of vinegar works for cleaning, including one that is made from apple cider. When choosing a cider vinegar for such purposes, you should opt for a lighter version in order to minimize the risk of staining surfaces.

Although cider vinegar is primarily used in cooking, some alternative health plans also use the product as a diet supplement. Some diets focus on the use of apple vinegar combined with water to make a toxin-removing tonic that you drink. In order to ensure the best nutritional value from the apples, opt for an organic version of cider vinegar that is also unrefined. It is thought by some proponents that organic products are healthier and safer than those that are derived from chemically-harvested food ingredients.

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    • Apple cider vinegar.
      By: Roman Ivaschenko
      Apple cider vinegar.
    • Apple cider vinegar is made from the freshly pressed juice or cider of sweet apples.
      By: volff
      Apple cider vinegar is made from the freshly pressed juice or cider of sweet apples.