About Vinegar
Touted as a cure-all for everything from coffee stains to hiccups, vinegar is an indispensable product in our world. Commercially manufactured in mass quantities through fermentation, vinegar is inexpensive to produce and, as a result, it is an affordable substance used in both food and non-food products. Vinegar comes from the French word, "vin aigre," meaning "sour wine."
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History
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The original discovery of vinegar is unknown but it is suspected that a cask of wine may have gone bad, resulting in a highly acidic new liquid. Traces of vinegar, found in ancient flasks in Egyptian tombs, suggests that its value was at least partially recognized thousands of years ago. By the Middle Ages, vinegar was intentionally produced and used in medicinal remedies. Today in commercial production, vinegar is known as E260, an acidic regulator substance.
Types
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Virtually any liquid that produces alcohol through fermentation is a catalyst for making vinegar. A common ingredient in salad dressings, specialty vinegars, made from rice, malt, grapes, raspberries and numerous other fermenting food products, impart different flavors and aromas, creating diverse flavors for the gourmet vinegar connoisseur. The addition of herbs and fruits create a variety of vinegar blends for consumption. Non-food grade vinegar is a common ingredient in cleaning solutions, both commercial and homemade.
Food Preparation
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The high acid level in vinegar makes it a perfect ingredient for preserving fruit and vegetable products. Pickles, relishes and chutney's use vinegar during the canning process to prevent food spoilage. Other food items benefit from vinegar as well. Meat or poultry, soaked in a vinegar marinade, become more tender and a teaspoon of vinegar in the water used to boil potatoes keeps them bright white for mashing. A few drops of vinegar in boiled candy syrup or stirred into frosting, keeps the sugar from granulating.
Cleaning
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Vinegar is a natural cleaning product. After picking or slicing strawberries, rub a few drops of vinegar on your hands to remove the red stains. Pour 2 cups of hot water in a plastic bowl and add 1/4 cup of white vinegar. Use this liquid on a sponge to clean away coffee stains from cups and carafes. Simmer an inch of water in the bottom of a stained saucepan and add a little vinegar. Allow the solution to come to room temperature before rinsing. Add equal parts of vinegar and water to a spray bottle to make a bacteria-killing spray for kitchen, bathroom and nursery.
Miscellaneous
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Apple cider vinegar added to water suppresses one's appetite and white vinegar, poured full strength between sidewalk cracks prevents unwanted weed growth. Diluted vinegar soothes sunburn and relieves the itching from contact dermatitis and insect bites. The same water/vinegar spray used for cleaning, can be an effective bug repellent when sprayed on skin.
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