How to Make Infused Vinegar

There are various recipes that call for an infused vinegar, and at the price they are sold for in stores it is just plain silly to do anything but make your own. There are minimal ingredients needed, a lot of possibilities, and in some cases, these mixtures can even be used topically.

The Basics

First, you need to decide what kind of infusion you want to make. Whether you are wanting to make a simple drizzle to put over stuff or something specific for a recipe, the ingredients will vary—including the type of vinegar.

Types of vinegar:

• White balsamic vinegar — a sweeter taste, good for vinaigrettes
• White wine vinegar — you can also use this in vinaigrettes, but you’ll want to add a little honey first. It’s better with most herbs.
• Red wine vinegar — rich in flavor, pairs well with thyme, parsley, and bay leaves
• Apple cider vinegar — can be used topically

Once you decide on which type of vinegar you will be using, there are quite a few different ingredients you can add! I typically make herbal vinegars, but there are a lot of recipes that focus more on fruits.

If you’re going to be using a fruit heavy mix for your vinegar infusion, you’ll want to make it equal parts fruit and vinegar. Don’t be afraid to add herbs to these mixtures as well to compliment the fruit flavor! If you are going to be using just vinegar and herbs, I tend to stick pretty close to a 2:1 ratio.

Finishing Your Infusion

Obviously, you are able to change up the potency of the taste by adding more/less herbs and fruits. You’ll want to make sure everything you are adding to the infusion is clean. Then, add the solids first and feel free to press the herbs into the bottom of the jar. After that, just store it in a dry, dark place at room temperature for anywhere between 1-4 weeks depending on the potency you are wanting to achieve.

Once the flavor is as strong as you like, transfer the vinegar infusion to a clean container for storage. These infusions can be great for salad dressings, chicken glazes, extra flavors for soups, or just drizzled over some veggies. The infusions will be able to add flavor to your meals without much salt or fat!

What are your favorite infusion recipes? Share with me in the comments below!