*How I use Apple Cider Vinegar
If ever there was a list of most versatile products to have in your pantry Apple Cider Vinegar needs to be on it.
It can be used for so many things to include baking, cleaning, salad dressings and of course drunk in water.
Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar also contains "mother," strands of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky appearance but this is also where the benefits lie. I have used Frontier Foods Apple Cider Vinegar for over a year at this stage. The brown bottle protects it from light and is easily recycled and the vinegar itself, although very tart, is wonderful. The bottle is also huge so it lasts me about six weeks.
I drink about a tablespoon in a pint of water though a metal straw to protect my teeth in the evening time and find it really helps with sugar cravings and digestion. It’s also so versatile and I thought I would outline a few of the things it can do below.
Medicinal use:
Vinegar can help kill pathogens, including bacteria (source) It has traditionally been used for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, lice, warts and ear infections. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used vinegar for wound cleaning over two thousand years ago.Vinegar has been shown to have numerous benefits for blood sugar and insulin levels: Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bedtime can reduce fasting blood sugar in the morning by 4%. (source)
Salad Dressings:
For a really simple salad dressing you need a hint of sour and adding a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a tablespoon of olive oil, adding seasoning, salt, pepper and half a teaspoon of mustard make a great all round option. The vinegar also helps preserve avocado so drizzle this onto it if you’re making a salad in advance.
Vegan Baking:
In vegan baking Apple Cider Vinegar can be used for it's leavening and flavor enhancing properties. Adding a 1 ½ teaspoons of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of soy milk and letting it sit for about 10 minutes allows the soy milk to curdle. This can enhance dairy-like flavors. I use this in baking cakes a lot and the result is brilliant.
Cleaning:
A really simple surface cleaner is to dilute 50/50 water and apple cider vinegar mixture. It cleans surfaces and windows really well. I make up a spray bottle of this and leave it on my counter all the time as I have cats who always want to jump up on it. A quick spray of this and a wipe down leaves it completely clean.
You can also add is to baking powder and apparently it’s a great drain cleaner although I haven’t used it. For baked on casserole dishes or chopping boards I pour about a tablespoon of Frontier Foods Apple Cider Vinegar onto the surface and add a teaspoon of baking soda. It creates a foam also also the soda brings a really deep cleaning grit to help deep-clean. For my Fridge I use a 1:1 solution of apple cider vinegar and water to clean it from top to bottom, especially the door seals, which can be prone to mildew.
*Thank you to Frontier Foods for collaborating with me on this post.
Frontier Foods Apple Cider Vinegar is available in Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Super Valu Stores nationwide.
Photography - Sean Macnamee
