On November 1st National Vinegar Day not only makes things taste great, but it also makes things sparkle, too. Vinegar is produced either by a fast or a slow fermentation process. Slow methods are generally used with traditional vinegar and the fermentation proceeds slowly over the course of months or up to a year.This household staple freshens a salad and brightens windows. While vinegar is common, it’s also one of the most useful household items made. Whether cooking or cleaning, be sure to add vinegar to your shopping list.

There are many varieties of vinegar:

• Apple cider – Made primarily from apple juice, yeast turns the juice to vinegar.
• Balsamic – This darker and intensely acidic vinegar is made from grapes. It makes an excellent salad dressing and can also be cooked down into a syrup.
• Beer or Malt – The vinegar comes in a variety of flavors all determined by the beer or malt used to make it. This type of vinegar brings complex flavors to your cooking. Whether making a sauce or a marinade, you won’t go wrong.
• Cane – Made from sugar cane syrup, this vinegar is mellow with a mild sweetness. Use it in vinaigrettes or sauces.
• Distilled – This powerhouse vinegar made from grain alcohol both cleans and makes great pickles. It is the most versatile of the vinegars. However, it must be pointed out that other vinegars make great pickles, too.
• Rice – This sweeter vinegar makes great sauces that pair well with fried foods, Asian cuisine and cooked vegetables.
• Red wine – Made from red wine, this vinegar makes an excellent marinade for red meats. Use it to deglaze a pan before making a sauce. It also complements vegetables.
• Coconut – Made from the sap produced by the flowers of coconut trees, this vinegar adds sweetness to soups and salad dressings. It’s most often found in Asian and Indian cuisine but is subtle enough to be used in many other recipes.

But those aren’t all. You can also explore flavored vinegars, honey, palm, raisin, and kombucha vinegars, too!

Vinegar is:

• Most commonly used in food preparation such as pickling processes, vinaigrettes and other salad dressings
• An essential ingredient in mustard, ketchup, barbecue sauce and mayonnaise
• A popular condiment for fish and chips
• Flavoring for potato chips
• Used as a dip for crab meat
• A substitute for fresh lemon juice
• Ingredient in a sauce when roasting lamb
• Used in sushi rice
• Commonly put into mint sauce
• Ingredient in making some beverages
• Used for medical remedies and treatments
• Ideal for cleaning
• Essential in home canning
• Used in gardening and pest control

Some forms of vinegar are believed to have health benefits.

To learn more about vinegar, see:  http://www.versatilevinegar.org/vinegarlore.html

Explore More…

Make sure to check out these days to add a little spice to your life! National Garlic Day, National Onion Day, Spice Blend Day, Herbs and Spices Day, Mustard Day, Horseradish Month, National Vinegar Day, Spicey Guacamole Day, Totally Chipotle Day, National Cinnamon Day, Cinnamon Bun Day, Apple Pie Day, Apple Betty Day, Spicy Hermit Cookies, Mulled Wine Day, National Hot Mulled Cider Day, Apple Cider Day, and National Cinnamon Raisin Bread Day.

HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalVinegarDay

Vinegar offers us so many ways to celebrate! If you’re not sure where to start, simple try making a batch of refrigerator pickles. You can also explore making your own vinegar from your favorite base ingredient. There are numerous recipes out there for this ancient practice. Share your favorite recipes for sauces or dressings, too. Where will you start? Let us know using #NationalVinegarDay to post on social media.