What Distinguishes Distilled Vinegar from White Vinegar?
If you’re like most people, you probably have a bottle of vinegar in your pantry. But what kind of vinegar do you have? If it’s white vinegar, you might be wondering what the difference is between that and distilled vinegar.
Distilled vinegar is made by fermenting alcohol with bacteria and then distilling it. The end result is clear, sharp-tasting vinegar that can be used for cleaning, cooking, or making pickles. White vinegar, on the other hand, is made by fermenting grains and water. It has a milder flavor and is commonly used in salad dressings and pickling.
Uses for Distilled and White Vinegar
White vinegar has the highest acidity of any vinegar, with a pH of 2.4. It is produced by fermenting alcohol and then adding bacteria to convert it to acetic acid. Distilled vinegar is made by distilling ethanol (alcohol) to remove the water, leaving only the acetic acid. The resulting vinegar is less acidic, with a pH of around 5.0.
Distilled vinegar is more commonly used in cooking because it has a milder flavor than white vinegar. It can be used in marinades, salad dressings, and sauces. White vinegar is more commonly used for cleaning because it is more effective at dissolving dirt and grime. It can also be used as a natural fabric softener and to remove stains from clothing.
The Health Benefits of Distilled and White Vinegar
There are numerous health benefits associated with distilled and white vinegar. Here are a few of the most notable:
1. Vinegar can help regulate blood sugar levels.
2. Vinegar is a natural antimicrobial that can help fight infection.
3. Vinegar can aid in weight loss by increasing feelings of fullness and decreasing calorie intake.
4. Vinegar may improve heart health by lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Is distilled vinegar the same as white vinegar? In short, no. White vinegar is made by fermenting sugar cane extract or combining acetic acid with water. Distilled vinegar, on the other hand, can be made from any type of vinegar, with more ethanol separated from the base mixture. However, both types can be used for cleaning, cooking, medical, and laboratory tasks.
