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While ordinary vinegar is inexpensive to buy at the supermarket, gourmet versions can be pricey. Vinegar is easy to make at home, if you have the space to store the bottles, and the time to wait for it to mature.
Read on to learn how to make vinegar, step by step.
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Introduction
Vinegar is produced by natural fermentation. There are three basic types of vinegar - distilled white vinegar, cider vinegar, and wine vinegar. Wine vinegar is simple to make at home. -
Step 1: What You Need to Make Vinegar
- Red or white wine
- Sterile wide mouth bottle, that will fit a wide mouth canning rim
- Cheesecloth and wide mouth canning rim
- Mother of vinegar (optional)
Mother of vinegar can be purchased, but you probably already have some in your kitchen! The 'mother" is the solid material that forms in the bottom of a vinegar bottle. You can strain it out of an existing vinegar without harming the taste, and use it to start your homemade vinegar.
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Step 2: How to Make Vinegar
- Combine the wine with the mother until thoroughly blended.
- Pour the mixture into the clean jar.
- Place cheesecloth on the top, and secure with the canning rim
- Place the jar in a warm dark place.
- Taste the vinegar every week to see if it's ready.
If you've used a mother, the vinegar will be ready in several weeks. If you're relying on the natural yeast spores in the air to do the job on their own, it will take longer- perhaps 3-4 months before the vinegar has fully turned.
