DIY: Make Your Own Herb Vinegar
If you’ve never used herbal vinegar you’ll find it has many day to day uses. Its potential medicinal benefits include better digestion, lower cholesterol and it can improve your complexion. It can also be used as a household cleaner and it makes a great marinade or addition to your soups or as a dressing to your salad. You can buy fancy and expensive bottles of herb vinegar in the grocery or specialty food store but if you grow herbs it is also not too difficult to make your own.
Virtually any herb is a candidate for making vinegar and it is best to use fresh herbs rather than dried ones. Rosemary, Basil, and Oregano are just a few herbs that make a tasty vinegar. Chamomile can be used to create a vinegar that makes a good rinse for your hair and virtually any vinegar can be used as an antiseptic.
Regardless of what herbs you choose here are the steps to making your own herb vinegar:
Materials you will need:
Herbs, a paper or cloth towel, a clean glass container with a plastic cap, room temperature vinegar
- Rinse your herbs several times in order to remove any dirt or other debris that might be attached to them. Place them on a towel and then gently pat them dry.
- Remove the stems from your herbs and you can dice them up if you want to but it is not necessary to do so.
- Choose any type of glass container; a plain glass jar or fancy wine bottle will do. Make sure the bottle is clean.
- Take the herbs and place them in the container. Pour the vinegar until the herbs are liberally coated. Press the herbs down and then add vinegar until the herbs are submerged. Cap the container with the plastic cap or saran wrap as the vinegar could corrode a metal cap.
- Place the container in a dark, warm location. A kitchen cabinet or pantry will do. Leave the bottle in place for six weeks.
- After 6 weeks you can strain out the herbs or if you prefer a fuller flavored vinegar repeat the entire process again with fresh herbs. Your vinegar is ready to use and you should continue to store it in a cool, dark location.
If you’ve had success making herb vinegar with a particular herb please post your triumph on our Facebook page!
