How to Fix Too Much Vinegar in Chili

Remove overpowering vinegar taste from chili

An easy way to ruin chili is by adding too much vinegar, a flavor that will overpower other ingredients. Even if you're making a spicy chili, vinegar will stand out if you've added too much, an inconvenience if you've already spent a couple hours cooking. Thankfully there are easy ways to remedy the situation. Many cooks add other ingredients to balance the flavor, including extra tomatoes and brown sugar.

Things You'll Need

• Canned tomatoes
• Large stirring spoon
• Brown sugar
• Measuring cup
• Sour cream

Instructions

1. Add a can of tomatoes if your chili tastes too strongly of vinegar. Mix tomatoes in with large stirring spoon and simmer chili for 15 minutes.

2. Add brown sugar to chili. Pour brown sugar into a measuring cup and fill to 1/8 cup. Mix brown sugar in with large stirring spoon and simmer chili for 15 minutes.

3. Taste to ensure that the chili has a good flavor. Repeat Steps 1 and/or 2 if the chili still has too much vinegar. Remove chili from stove and cool before serving.

Tips & Warnings

• Add a dollop of sour cream when serving chili if it is too spicy or contains too much vinegar.

References

• Ellen's Edibles: Crock Pot Brown Sugar Chili
• Rense: Detailed Listing of Acid / Alkaline Forming Foods
• CalOrey: Vinegar Q & A

Resources

• "The Seattle Times"; Food & Wine | How to Tone Down Over Spiced Soups; Kathleen Purvis; January 2010