Vinegar: Condiment or Cleanser?

Distilled vinegar. Photo: SXC
Vinegar is a healthy multitasker. A day doesn't go by that I don't use vinegar is some form in my home.

The fermented, acidic liquid is made from everything from apples and rice, to wine and beer. It's inexpensive, effective and readily available. According to The Vinegar Institute, vinegar can be made from any material containing sugar.

In the Bathroom...
I enjoy using plain, distilled white vinegar as a sanitizer since it destroys germs and grease. I make a homemade multipurpose cleanser that works well on counter tops, toilets, windows and even flooring. Although there's a pungent odor, it goes away as soon as the cleanser dries. Here's the recipe.

In the Kitchen...
Vinegar is also a wonderful condiment in the kitchen. I often whisk red wine vinegar with extra virgin olive oil and dried Italian herbs to make a tasty vinaigrette dressing. Recently I splurged on a good bottle of balsamic vinegar made from red grapes. This zesty, sweet vinegar is delicious enough to use as a salad dressing on its own or to season roasted vegetables, such as asparagus or carrots.

So, do you use vinegar in your healthy, whole foods lifestyle?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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20 comments:

  1. I might be weird, but I love the smell of white, distilled vinegar! Maybe it just brings back happy childhood memories of coloring Easter eggs the old-fashioned way! :)

    My favorite vinegar for salads is a balsamic with a bit of lemon zest in it...mixed with garlic-infused olive oil, it's amazing and so light!
    Jess/Blogging on the Brink

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    1. What a fun memory! And, I'll have to try adding lemon zest and garlic-infused oil to the balsamic vinegar. That sounds wonderful!! ~Angela

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  2. I love sliced cucumbers in vinegar. I pack them up in the morning and then eat them for lunch. Delish.

    And I make a great onion balsamic roast.

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    1. Oh, I love the cucumber idea. Kind of like pickles, but not quite! ~Angela

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  3. That's all I clean with in this house. I love the smell now, it says fresh to me. IN the food department, I like balsamic vinegar on beets and the plain stuff on hard boiled eggs. Is that weird? Its something I got my dad-who is the man who introduced me to sugar sandwiches*shudder.

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    1. Me too! A few years ago my New Year's resolution was to only use natural cleaning products. I have been using vinegar ever since! I haven't tried vinegar on hard boiled eggs, but I do like pickle relish in my egg salad, so i might like the similar tangy taste! ~Angela

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  4. I actually do have a bottle of vinegar cleaner, but I only mixed it with water. I like your recipe much better! I do not cook with it, however. Once in while I use apple cider vinegar, but that is it.

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    1. You'll have to try it! It works soooo well! ~Angela

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  5. My son has a beautiful tan linen/cotton blend suit-jacket and someone splashed tomato sauce droplets on it. The cleaner tried and tried and it wouldn't come out.

    I took a bit of citrus based organic laundry cleaner and rubbed it with an ice cube. Then I dabbed white vinegar on each spot with a q-tip and the next morning the tomato stains were gone.

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    1. Awesome! I'll have to remember those tricks!! ~Angela

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  6. I use white vinegar to clean mugs with coffee stains. Apple cider vinegar mixed with juice gives your body a cleanse.

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    1. I've heard about the cleanses with vinegar. I need to find a good recipe for one of those drinks! Thanks for the idea! ~Angela

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  7. Vinegar is awesome! I love it for eating and cleaning. :)

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  8. One part apple cider vinegar to four parts water is like a miracle cure for any sort of stomach flu or food poisoning. If vomit is eminent, it gets that stuff out of you faster. Otherwise, it helps you stop vomiting quickly. It also works like stomach acid, to help you get rid of heart burn. I love the stuff.

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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    1. So, if I understand correctly, you can drink that to help make you sick OR to calm your stomach? It works for both cases? Hmmm.... Very interesting! ~Angela

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    2. Well, it's to calm your stomach in the long run, but kills the bacteria in your gut. If it's imminent, it just gets the junk out faster.

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  9. So many great uses for vinegar. I use it in cleaning and also in cooking, especially apple cider vinegar on salads. I didn't know about the use Kristen mentioned for that.

    Thanks for such an informative blog. I appreciate all the helpful hints and gave you a shout-out on my own blog today.

    Good luck with x, y, and z.

    Barbara
    Honoring W Blogs in this A to Z
    The Daille-y News

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    1. Hi Barbara, Thanks for stopping by! Vinegar is such a wonderful product! And, thanks for the shout out! Off to check it out now. ~Angela

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