What kind of Vinegar?

[Zandy595]

When a recipe calls for vinegar, what kind do you use?

My step-dad and I just had this discussion on the phone. He gave me a recipe that called for vinegar and I used the wrong kind. I guess my idea of "regular" vinegar is different than his. I just want to see what everyone else thinks.

 

[crz4mm2]

Regular vinegar is white vinegar. Apple Cider vinegar, is just that.

 

[TxDsnyGrl74]

What kind of recipe is it?

 

[Lynn CC]

What is the recipe, this way I'll have some idea of what I'd use

 

[Imzadi]

What's the recipe for?

If you are making an Italian salad dressing recipe, you will get a very different result if you use balsamic vinegar than another kind. If you are making a Chinese or Japanese recipe, I would think rice wine vinegar would be fine.

But, generally when I see a recipe that calls for an undefined vinegar, I think of plain white, distilled vinegar.

 

[Zandy595]

The recipe is for German Potato Salad.

When I just see the word vinegar I always think of white or distilled vinegar. He says "regular" vinegar is cider vinegar. My mom agreed with him. I thought maybe it was an older generation thing.

 

[piratesmate]

I don't keep 18 kinds of vinegar around & use wine vinegar for pretty much everything. I will get rice vinegar when I'm in the mood for Chinese type things and we always have balsamic, but I don't use it in recipes unless it is specified as such...just on hoagies & salads. Yum!

I don't like white vinegar at all - it's too acidic or sharp or something! We do have it in the closet, but it's used solely for cleaning the coffee pot.

 

[Aunt Michelle]

The recipe is for German Potato Salad.

When I just see the word vinegar I always think of white or distilled vinegar. He says "regular" vinegar is cider vinegar. My mom agreed with him. I thought maybe it was an older generation thing.

I would have used white/distilled vinegar too. That's what is in our family potato salad recipe. I only use cider or balsamic if the recipe says specifically that. And of course, I put malt vinegar on my fries and chips!

 

[Imzadi]

Hmmm... I think it depends on if the vinegar is used for it's acidity as opposed to also adding some flavor.

Like if I was making homemade ketchup, I would use white vinegar because I don't want the extra flavor. With potato salad, I could use either one.

 

[DawnCt1]

"Regular vinegar to me is cider vinegar. White, distilled vinegar is what I use to clean some things with.

 

[Imzadi]

I don't like white vinegar at all - it's too acidic or sharp or something! We do have it in the closet, but it's used solely for cleaning the coffee pot.

I just bought two bottles of white vinegar - to be used soley in the laundry for deodorizing!

 

[liamsaunt]

It depends on the recipe. My fallback is white wine vinegar. I use red wine vinegar if it seems more appropriate. I also have a huge container of cider vinegar because I love grilled Cornell chicken. Balsamic is good for salad dressing and to finish off certain veggies. I also have rice vinegar for when I cook Asian, and malt vinegar for "chips."

White, distilled vinegar, I never use, except when making quick pickled cucumbers.

 

[Buckalew11]

"Regular vinegar to me is cider vinegar. White, distilled vinegar is what I use to clean some things with.

 

[TxDsnyGrl74]

I would have used white/distilled vinegar too. That's what is in our family potato salad recipe. I only use cider or balsamic if the recipe says specifically that. And of course, I put malt vinegar on my fries and chips!

Ditto. My family recipe calls for white vinegar; I think you used the correct type of vinegar for the recipe.

 

[tink_n_pooh]

If it just says vinegar I would think white vinegar

I don't discriminate, I love all vinegar

 

[arminnie]

I buy white vinegar 2 gallons at a time from Sam's as I use it for cleaning. I don't think I ever use it for food anymore.

But I do expect someone to say "cider" vingegar or "balsamic" vinegar if that's what they mean. There are just too many different kinds of vinegar to guess at what someone means.

 

[Meriweather]

Unless stated differently in a recipe vinegar is white distilled

 

[Zandy595]

I wish I would have thought to do a poll. It looks like a few people consider cider to be regular vinegar, but more think it's white/distilled.

 

[disykat]

Another vote for regular being white. While I might switch it up to cider, balsamic, rice, etc. depending on the recipe, I would assume they wanted me to use plain old white vinegar.

 

[yasmina]

In our family, "regular" vinegar means cider vinegar.

If a different kind is to be used (distilled, balsamic, rice), it should be specified.