Everyone knows or is familiar with the traditional wine vinegar that has been used in multiple cuisines for ages, but what is Balsamic Vinegar?
Balsamic Vinegar has a deep-rooted history and is well known for being a product of Modena, Italy. Its rich and healthy flavors made it irresistible, allowing it to be popularly used for many food recipes.
It is a darker, sweeter, and much thicker version of the traditional red wine vinegar. However, there are many different types of Balsamic Vinegar.
What is Balsamic Vinegar Made Of?
It is made with grape juice that is boiled to make a concentrate. Fermentation is done afterward and then matured for a minimum of 18 months and even up to 12 years inside a barrel of progressively decreasing size, allowing it to impart multiple flavors.
Balsamic Vinegar is not just your ordinary Vinegar. The grapes that are being fermented came from the juice of white Trebbiano grapes, which is a white grape type that has progressed and taken root all over Italy. Juice from Lambrusco grapes or other varieties may be mixed in, too.
Is Balsamic Vinegar Good for You?
Balsamic Vinegar has been popularly used in various healthy dishes such as salad dressings, marinades, sauce, and many more. But is it really good for you?
Let's find out the proven health benefits of Balsamic Vinegar and why you should consider adding them to your meals.
Reduces Blood Sugar Levels
Good for the Skin
Has Antibacterial Properties
Keeps Digestive System Healthy
Weight Loss Properties
Helps Reduce Hypertension
Excellent for Blood Circulation
How Long Does Balsamic Vinegar Last?
When it comes to storing and shelf life of Balsamic Vinegar, like most ingredients, it is best to keep them out from heat and light as it could promote bacteria built up.
An ideal way is storing them inside your refrigerator where its cooler and darker, especially if you're going to be using them for salad dressings and like them chilled.
Storing them inside an enclosed cabinet shelf could also be something you could do as long as you make sure that it is properly sealed to avoid contamination.
You could expect a properly stored Balsamic Vinegar to last and have a shelf life of about 3-5 years.
What Does Balsamic Vinegar Taste Like?
Balsamic Vinegar is thicker than the traditional Vinegar we are used to. It's solid fruity with a tart taste, similar to Black Vinegar or Pomegranate Molasses. The rich flavors of Balsamic Vinegar range from sweet and tangy, which varies depending on how long it has been fermented.
If you've been interested in trying out these Balsamic Vinegar but don't have much of an idea on how and where you'll be using them, we have compiled a few recommendations on how to best use the Balsamic Vinegar and incorporate them into your daily meals.
Salad Dressings
Braised Meat
Fresh Cocktails
Marinade Sauce
Risotto
Great for Deserts
Finishing Sauce for Proteins
Best Balsamic Vinegar Flavors
Balsamic Vinegar has been explored in multiple flavors to bring out the benefits while enjoying them through diverse ingredients.
We've selected a few recommendations for you to start and try out.
Are you more into classic raw kinds of Vinegar? This one's definitely a must-try for you! This version of aging and boiling down Cabernet and Zinfandel Grapes in small barrels produce our Unique and Classic Balsamic Vinegar.
Looking for an intense pop sensation that is perfect for salad dressings and seafood? You won't regret it once you try our 20-year-old barrel-aged Champagne Balsamic Vinegar. It was sourced straight from Napa Valley and was acquired when we moved from Mare Island in 2008.
Want to experience a real deal of honey-flavored balsamic vinegar without any fluff and added sugars? We are certainly excited for you to try this out for you to experience an authentic blast of honey flavors plus the rich goodness of Balsamic Vinegar!
Ever heard of the quote "aged like fine wine"? Well, this is exactly how we describe our Apricot flavored Balsamic Vinegar. The deep flavors of apricot ooze into an irresistible combination with our Balsamic Vinegar. Try them out and see what we're talking about!
Why is it called perfect? Because it is! Our Pomegranate flavored Balsamic Vinegar is perfect for all occasions especially for salad dressing, lamb chops, marinade, turkey, ham glaze you name it! This Perfectly Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar will be the star of your holidays for sure.
Where to Buy Balsamic Vinegar
If you are excited to try our wonderful recommendations, you'll be pleased to know that there's more! Offering more exciting rich Balsamic Vinegar Flavors you can't simply ignore, visit us at Big Paw Olive Oil Company and explore them for yourself!
What is balsamic vinegar?
While traditional balsamic vinegar (Italian: aceto balsamico) dates back to 1046, with rich ties to the regions of Modena and Reggio in Italy, this thin to syrupy condiment remains a gourmet culinary staple in countries all around the world, many of which produce mixtures of intense and concentrated varieties of their own. Made wholly or partially from grapes, balsamic vinegar is slightly sweet and possesses a distinct dark coloring and delicious intensity with the power to enhance salad dressings, marinades, and sauces. That being said, each grape’s origin and the years it has spent aging will contribute to the overall quality of the finished product.
There are two main types:
Traditional balsamic vinegar is made using only one ingredient, the sweet juice of freshly pressed grapes. Once extracted, it’s boiled to a concentrate, fermented and acidified, then left to age for 12+ years. Highly crafted, traditional balsamic vinegar will be made in small batches and can range in price.
Modern commercial balsamic vinegar is usually the grocery store special, which combines concentrated grapes with wine vinegar to speed up the acidification process, produce a higher volume of products and sell more bottles. This type of balsamic vinegar is typically aged anywhere from two to three months in large oak barrels.
How is balsamic vinegar used?
Balsamic vinegar comes in a wide assortment of rich varieties that can be used as flavor enhancers to cooked dishes. So, whether you wish to balance the richness of poultry, fish, or another type of meat or welcome some acidity to your veggies, we invite you to reduce your balsamic vinegar to a glaze, stir it in with other ingredients within a dish, toss it atop a finished delicious meal, or let the sugars caramelize while baking in the oven.
Does balsamic vinegar go bad?
Like any condiment that preserves well, balsamic vinegar will last if it’s stored properly. If the balsamic vinegar bottle is sealed and kept in a cool, dry environment, it’s able to maintain its high-quality taste for about three years. That being said, it’s still safe to consume products that come out of much older bottles, however, they may not have the best taste because quality flavors deteriorate over time.
Why it is healthy to use balsamic vinegar as a salad dressing
While you can easily purchase a premade balsamic vinegar to use as your go-to salad dressing, you can also get creative by making your own from scratch. Balsamic vinegar contains beneficial antioxidants, little to no fat, and very few calories, making it a delicious, healthier salad dressing substitute that many chefs and food enthusiasts adore!
Balsamic vinegar and its benefits
Why is balsamic vinegar good for you? Well, perhaps it’s because this secret ingredient contains an ever-growing list of health benefits, some of which are listed below:
