How to Make Good Apple Cider Vinegar?

If you’ve never heard of apple cider vinegar, don’t worry— it’s likely you’ve never had it. But this summer, add it to your list of must-haves. Apples are the most widely consumed source of this potent natural acid, and the fermented juice from these gorgeous fruits is one of the healthiest ways to enjoy it.

Apple cider vinegar has a slightly sweet taste and is especially high in acetic acid, which helps balance out the vinegary taste of the apple. It’s also known as Whitewashed or Apple Wine vinegar, because of the natural white coloring that it gives to everything from wine to pickles and marinades.

So what are you waiting for? Get making your own Apple Cider Vinegar at home, and reap its benefits — now.

What is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Cider vinegar is made by fermenting apple cider into vinegar with lactic acid bacteria. The end result is an acid with a sweet taste that’s especially high in acetic acid. The bacteria produces a small amount of energy when it combines with carbon dioxide, creating acetic acid, which is why you can find it in certain foods like pickles, marinades, and even some herbal remedies.

Why Make Your Own Apple Cider Vinegar?

Because it’s actually more expensive to make apple cider vinegar at home than buy it in a bottle! Especially if you’re not a huge fan of spending money on a nutritional supplement, that is.

The reason you should make your own Apple Cider Vinegar is that it’s more potent. You get more for your dollar when you use a higher percentage of acid in your vinegar. Plus, you control the nutrients in your vinegar, unlike when you purchase it, which usually contains preservatives and additives.

The reason that you don’t want to overdo it on the vinegar is that too much of it can be too much. If you’re making a batch of vinegar for an entire month, you don’t want to overdo it. It needs to be just right to flavor your food.

How to Make Good Apple Cider Vinegar

The best way to store Apple Cider Vinegar: is in a mason jar. This is the easiest way to keep your vinegar fresh, and you can use it for a long time. If you make a lot of vinegar, it can get a little expensive to keep in the refrigerator. One tip for keeping your vinegar fresh: pour it into mason jars and add a little bit of water. That way, the air circulation keeps your vinegar from getting too dry. You can also add a little bit of apple cider vinegar to your favorite recipe for added health benefits.

Tips for making perfect Apple Cider Vinegar

If possible, try to find organic apples. They tend to be more nutritious, have fewer juice calories, and are less likely to go rancid. Make sure that your apples are fully developed and not too ripe. If you’re not sure what stage your apples are in, core them and put them in a bowl. You want to core them because the pips should be soft and the pith, which is the part inside the apple that you eat, is inside the pips.

Another tip for making sure your apples are ripe enough to make good cider vinegar: cut them in half and bake them for about 30 minutes. This baking process will help the apples release their juices and make them easier to eat.

Conclusion

If you’ve never heard of apple cider vinegar, don’t worry — it’s likely you’ve never had it. But this summer, add it to your list of must-haves. Apples are the most widely consumed source of this potent natural acid, and the fermented juice from these gorgeous fruits is one of the healthiest ways to enjoy it.