Vinegars

Question 1

What is vinegar?

Answer 1

Sour wine or a sour liquid obtained by acetic fermentation of dilute alcoholic liquids and used as a condiment or preservative

Question 2

How is vinegar made?

Answer 2

First, alcoholic fermentation occurs when yeasts change natural sugars to alcohol under controlled conditions. Then, a group of bacteria (Acetobacter) converts the alcohol portion to acid. This is the acid fermentation that forms vinegar.

Question 3

What is vinegar made from?

Answer 3

Any fruit, or material containing sugar.

Question 4

Apple Cider Vinegar

Answer 4

Made from two-fold fermentation of apple juice.

Question 5

Wine/Grape Vinegar

Answer 5

Made from the two-fold fermentation of grape juice

Question 6

Malt Vinegar

Answer 6

Made by the two-fold fermentation of barley malt or other cereals where starch has been converted to maltose

Question 7

Sugar Vinegar

Answer 7

Made from two-fold fermentation of solutions of sugar syrup or molasses

Question 8

Spirit/Distilled Vinegar

Answer 8

Made by the acetic fermentation of dilute distilled alcohol

Question 9

Rice Vinegar

Answer 9

Made by two-fold fermentation of sugars from rice or a concentrate of rice without distillation

Question 10

Balsamic Vinegar

Answer 10

Made from grape juice, some juice is subjected to alcoholic and acetic fermentation and some to concentration or heating

Question 11

How long does vinegar last?

Answer 11

Almost indefinitely. Does not need to be refrigerated.

Question 12

How strong is retail vinegar?

Answer 12

Strength is measure by percentage of acetic acid present in the product. All sold in the US should be at least 4% acidic and not more than 7%.