The main difference between white vinegar and malt vinegar is that white vinegar is more acidic and sour than malt vinegar.
Vinegar is a very common ingredient in all households. White vinegar is the most commonly used vinegar in most homes. It’s a clear liquid with a sour taste, useful in both cooking and cleaning. Malt vinegar, on the other hand, is not as popular as white vinegar.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is White Vinegar
– Definition, Features
2. What is Malt Vinegar
– Definition, Features
3. Difference Between White Vinegar and Malt Vinegar
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Malt Vinegar, White Vinegar
What is White Vinegar
White vinegar is the most commonly used vinegar out of all vinegar varieties. It’s a clear liquid and a clean, crisp and strong taste and comprises around 90-95% of water and 5-10% of acetic acid. We also call it distilled vinegar or white distilled vinegar. This product is easily available at every supermarket and is quite inexpensive. You can use it for a long time if you keep it sealed and dry. Traditionally, foods such as sugar beets, molasses, and potatoes were also used in the white vinegar fermentation process. However, most modern white distilled vinegar is made from the fermentation of grain alcohol.
White vinegar has many uses; you can use it for cooking, cleaning, gardening as well as some medicinal applications. You can use white vinegar to make pickles, salads, sauces and marinades, etc. In some recipes, you can also substitute it with apple cider vinegar or white vine (only if white vinegar is not available). In addition to culinary uses, people also use white vinegar for cleaning. It is very popular for its use in cleaning. It’s ideal for cleaning countertops, toilets, showers, floors, dishes, windows, etc. In gardening, it helps to kill weeds and keep fresh cut flowers longer. Some types of white vinegar contain up to 20% acetic acid, but they are suitable for cleaning or agricultural purposes, not for cooking purposes.
What is Malt Vinegar
Malt vinegar is a type of vinegar produced from malted grains of barley. Malt vinegar is dark and flavour. Since it’s made from the same grains used for beer making, it has a similar flavour profile as malted ale. The colour of malt vinegar usually ranges from dark brown to light brown.
Malt vinegar is a popular item in British and Canadian cuisine. When you combine this vinegar with other food, it can enhance their flavour. Malt vinegar makes a good topping for fish and chips. It’s also good with French fries or pickling mixtures. But malt vinegar may not be ideal for sauces and salad dressings since the malt flavour tends to be strong.
Difference Between White Vinegar and Malt Vinegar
Definition
White vinegar is a clear vinegar with a strong and crisp taste, while malt vinegar is a dark and flavourful vinegar produced from malted grains of barley.
Colour
While white vinegar is a clear liquid, the colour of malt vinegar usually ranges from dark brown to light brown.
Acetic Acid
Moreover, white vinegar contains around 5-10% of acetic acid while malt vinegar has a low acetic acid content, around 4%. Therefore, white vinegar is more acidic than malt vinegar.
Popularity
Malt vinegar is not as popular as white vinegar.
Conclusion
The main difference between white vinegar and malt vinegar is that white vinegar is more acidic and sour than malt vinegar. Moreover, white vinegar contains around 5-10% of acetic acid while malt vinegar has a low acetic acid content, around 4%.
Reference:
1. Hill, Ansley. “White Vinegar: Ingredients, Uses and Benefits.” Healthline, Healthline Media.
2. “What Is Malt Vinegar? Learn How Malt Vinegar Is Used in Cooking With 4 Recipe Ideas” MasterClass.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Distilled White Vinegar” By Artizone (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) via Flickr
2. “MaltVinegar-SP” By paulshannon – 07-05-18 (CC BY-SA 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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