Vinegar lore dates back to the days of ancient Greece, when Babylonians used it as a condiment and preservative. They later began to flavor it with herbs, and Roman legionnaires made a beverage of vinegar. Cleopatra and Hippocrates both lauded its medicinal powers, and the Greeks made pickled meats and vegetables with vinegar. Even the Bible references the health benefits of vinegar.
There are many legends about the health benefits of vinegar. It was used to preserve foods and was a common household ingredient. Hippocrates is said to have first spoken of vinegar’s healing properties. The bible references vinegar frequently. It is an important part of modern cooking, so it’s no wonder that vinegar is such a familiar ingredient in many household recipes.
Aside from its medicinal benefits, vinegar is an excellent source of natural food, and it is made by fermentation of sugar. This takes place when acetic acid bacteria and yeasts begin to awaken. As the fermentation process begins, people can smell the resulting vinegar.
People have used vinegar for thousands of years as a cure for various ailments. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Babylonians used vinegar to heal their bodies. Christopher Columbus and Julius Caesar both used it as a medicinal ingredient. But there are many other uses of vinegar as well. It can be used to add balance to a variety of dishes. Vinegar can also be used to preserve food and prevent it from getting moldy.
Vinegar was used to treat scurvy during the American Civil War, and as recently as World War I, it was used to treat wounds.
Below are additional uses:
- Cooking Fish – Try soaking fish in vinegar and water before cooking it. It will be sweeter, more tender and hold its shape better. When boiling or poaching fish, a tablespoon of vinegar added to the water will keep it from crumbling so easily.
- Boiling Eggs – When boiling an egg and it’s cracked, a little vinegar in the water will keep the white from running out.
- Boost the Flavor – Use vinegar to improve your gravy, soup or sauce with a teaspoon/tablespoon of your favorite specialty vinegar. Tastes fresher and adds flavor.
- Tenderizing Meat – Use 1/2 cup vinegar to 1 cup heated bouillon to tenderize a tough piece of meat. Steak, use vinegar and oil rubbed in well. Leave for a few hours before cooking.
- Fluffy Rice – For fluffier and great tasting rice, add a teaspoon of white distilled vinegar to the boiling water before adding rice. Rice will be easier to spoon and less sticky.
- Soil Acidity – In hard water areas, add a cup of vinegar to a gallon of tap water for watering acid loving plants like rhododendrons, gardenias or azaleas. The vinegar will release iron in the soil for the plants to use.
- Plant Nutrients – Mix vinegar and water in a ratio of 1:8. Mix a separate solution of sugar and water in a mixture of 1:8. Combine the vinegar and sugar mixtures. Add to plant as long as needed.
- Fresh Flowers Longer – Add 2 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a 1-quart vase of water. Trim stems and change water every five days.
