Does Vinegar Really Go Bad?

Does vinegar really go bad? You may have wondered whether it goes bad or not. We’ll talk all about it today, so let’s get started.

Most people know that vinegar is not only used as a condiment but also helps with weight loss, cooking, baking, and even used as a cleaning agent.

When you head to the store and pick up a bottle of vinegar, whether you’re going for the more expensive balsamic vinegar or a gallon of distilled white vinegar, you’ll notice there’s an expiration date on the container. Does vinegar go bad?

You then take it home and it may get pushed to the back of the pantry and it’s forgotten for a number of years. One day you happen to notice it in the darkest corner of your pantry and you pull it out and realize that it’s long out-of-date.

The only logical solution is to throw it away, right? But is it really bad? We’ll fill you in on what you need to know about vinegar and its properties, as to whether it really goes bad or not. 

Does Vinegar Really Go Bad? 

In all honesty, vinegar should never go bad, even long after the expiration date that the label may recommend. It can last for years, if not forever, if left unopened.

The only thing that you may forfeit on expired vinegar, is the quality. While it’s safe to consume, the taste and the consistency might not be up to your level of satisfaction. 

Now, if the vinegar has been tampered with, or not stored properly, there may be a chance that it has gone bad.

How to Store Vinegar

You should store your vinegar in a cool, dark place to help it retain quality. It’s up to you, but many people even put bottles of it in the refrigerator.

Once you’ve opened the bottle of vinegar, make sure that you tightly seal the cap after every time you use it. That way it doesn’t make contact with the air and be exposed to contaminants and bacteria. 

It’s also best to store your vinegar in a glass container and never in containers that consist of metal. Doing so can create chemical reactions with the vinegar and make food made with vinegar as an ingredient not safe to eat.  

Types of Vinegar and Their Uses

Distilled White

One of the handiest vinegar types out there is distilled white vinegar which is sometimes labeled white vinegar. It has a strong flavor and you can use it to cook several ways.

You can use it when cooking hard boil eggs since it helps soften the shell. You can use it when making ketchup, and even for making delicious mashed potatoes. It’s most commonly used for its cleaning abilities.

If you add white vinegar with baking soda, you’ll create a foaming paste that can remove stains from carpet, along with grease and food that’s been caked onto cooking pans. You can even use it while doing laundry to soften up your clothing.   

Apple Cider

There’s a long list of health benefits that go with apple cider vinegar. Everyone should have a bottle of this tucked away in the pantry. It’s a fermented apple juice that can create a mouth-watering salad vinaigrette. You can also use it on potato products, shrimp, and meat.

It’s also been proven to help with weight loss and improving overall gut health. Some people use it to help fight diabetes and lower their cholesterol. Lastly, some consumers use it to add more volume to their hair or help remove product buildup from it.  Apple Cider V Benefits

Balsamic  

Balsamic vinegar is another popular one out there that originates from Italy. One of the main ingredients in it is grape must, a juice that comes from freshly squashed grapes.

It works great on a number of foods and is used as a salad dressing or a tasty marinade on your favorite meat. The longer it sits, the color becomes darker, the consistency thicker, while the flavor becomes sweeter.   

Rice

Rice vinegar is a vinegar that has been fermented from rice wine. It has a sweet flavor and has less acidity to it than most vinegar. There are also several different types and colors when it comes to rice vinegar.

You can find it in clear, red, brown, and even black shades. Many people enjoy using rice vinegar in many Asian dishes, including stir-fry, noodles, vegetables, and salads.  

Red Wine  

Red wine vinegar is a wine that has been fermented, creating a sour flavor to it. People add it to salads, meat, and even use it in several slow-cooker recipes. 

Champagne

Champagne vinegar is vinegar that consists of champagne that has been fermented over time. It has a light, sweet flavor, and goes great in salads or as a marinade on most meats. 

White Wine

Just like red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar has been fermented from white wine. The flavor is much lighter than white and apple cider vinegar, and can be created into a salad dressing, marinade, and also for making specialty sauces. 

Malt  

People love putting malt vinegar on fish and using it to make pickles. It’s commonly given an expiration date of up to 2 years, but will last much longer if sealed properly. 

Cleaning

Cleaning vinegar is strictly for cleaning and should never be ingested. It has an acidity of over 6%, while most other types are around 5%. It works great for cleaning and scrubbing surfaces and also for helping spray weeds in your garden. 

Final Word

This is not an exhaustive list of all the vinegar types and their properties. It does contain information about the main vinegar types and what they are used for. Hopefully, this article helped you discover that vinegar lasts for a long time and may be used many years after the expiration date has passed. What vinegars do you use most often, and how do you use them in your home?  

Bragg’s Raw Unfiltered Apple Cider V