10 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar in the Kitchen

If you’ve ever been to a health and wellness blog, or a natural living blog, or a site with cleaning tips, or a recipe blog, you’ve likely heard of apple cider vinegar. This versatile substance can be used for so many things…everyone is talking about it!

And today? I’m going to talk about it, too.

Vinegar comes in all sorts of forms, from plain vinegar to apple cider vinegar to tarragon vinegar…with plenty in between.

But first, a quick lesson in the difference between apple cider vinegar and unfiltered apple cider vinegar (because there is a difference!). 

Apple cider vinegar has a mellow flavor, and is clear (it looks like apple juice). It has 5% acidity, which makes it a suitable vinegar for pickling and canning. It’s also great for cooking and cleaning.

Unfiltered apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, is vinegar in its purest form. It contains the “mother” of the vinegar, which is a natural compound created when the vinegar is made (it looks like little apple bits floating around). This vinegar is great for cooking and other health-related uses.

You can use vinegar for SO many things (hair conditioner! deodorant! face cleanser!), it would be impossible to list them all here. But, I am going to share a few of my favorite uses for Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar below.

1. Cleaning. Mix 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar and 1 cup water (or, be like me and just pour random amounts into your squirt bottle – it still works) and use to clean counters, sinks, toilets, appliances, and even most types of floors!
2. Washing fruits and veggies. Mix equal parts vinegar and a 3% hydrogen peroxide to make a cleaning rinse.
3. Wash windows! Use it full strength, and wipe away streaks after the windows have dried.
4. Drink it! Add a couple of tablespoons to your drink for more energy, better digestion, and even a metabolism boost (I just added some to my water after I read that…I’ll let you know how it goes). You can use either (filtered or unfiltered), but the unfiltered would be perfect for this.
5. Canning. 
6. Get rid of ants! Mix equal parts vinegar and water and spray around the door jambs, windowsills, and any foundation cracks (or in my case, around the trashcan – this is where they seem to show up).
7. Keep your car windows frost-free in the winter (not kitchen-related, but AWESOME). Mix three parts apple cider vinegar to one part water and coat the windows at night. It will keep frost from forming!
8. Remove hard water spots. I soak the drip tray from my refrigerator’s water dispenser in vinegar to remove the build-up from our hard water.
9. Make BBQ sauce. 
10. Make salad dressing. I have a recipe for you below!

You can find Apple Cider Vinegar at your local supermarket, or you can pick some up on Amazon (affiliate link) here. Another great bonus to vinegar? It has a shelf life (even after it’s been opened) of five YEARS.

Apple cider vinegar is a kitchen staple with uses that extend way beyond the kitchen!

What are your favorite uses for vinegar? 
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