Description
Make your own fresh white vinegar at home using simple fruit scraps, sugar, and water. This natural preservative and flavor booster is easy, inexpensive, and versatile for pickling, sauces, and more.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (300g) apple scraps or other fruit peels (apple cores and peels recommended)
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 4 cups (1 liter) filtered or spring water
- 2 tablespoons unpasteurized vinegar or vinegar mother
Instructions
- Prepare your fruit scraps (5 minutes): Gather about 2 cups (300g) of fresh apple peels, cores, or other fruit scraps. Avoid any moldy bits or stickers. Chop them roughly if they’re large.
- Mix sugar and water (2 minutes): In your glass jar, dissolve 1/2 cup (100g) of granulated sugar in 4 cups (1 liter) of filtered water. Stir until fully dissolved.
- Add fruit scraps and starter (1 minute): Place your fruit scraps into the jar, then add 2 tablespoons of unpasteurized vinegar or vinegar mother. This jumpstarts the fermentation.
- Cover and store (1 minute): Cover the jar with cheesecloth or a breathable cloth and secure with a rubber band. Store in a dark, room-temperature spot (65-80°F / 18-27°C) for about 3-4 weeks.
- Stir daily (1 minute): Give your mixture a gentle stir every day to keep the fruit submerged and encourage fermentation. You’ll start smelling that tangy vinegar aroma after about a week.
- Strain and ferment again (5 minutes): After 3-4 weeks, strain out the fruit solids using a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Return the liquid to the jar, cover again, and let it ferment another 3-4 weeks until it reaches the acidity you like.
- Bottle and store: Once it tastes like vinegar to you, transfer it to clean bottles with tight lids. Store in a cool, dark place. It keeps indefinitely and even improves with age.
Notes
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 weeks
- Category: Condiment
- Method: Fermentation
- Cuisine: Homemade
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 3 calories
- Sugar: 0.1g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0.1g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: Fresh White Vinegar, Homemade Vinegar, Natural Preservative, Flavor Boost