Distilled Vinegar

part of: Grain

Distilled vinegar — also called white vinegar or spirit vinegar — is the most neutral-flavoured vinegar available. It’s clear, colourless, and sharply acidic without the fruitiness of wine vinegar or the maltiness of brown vinegar.

In the kitchen it’s used for pickling, dressings, and anywhere a clean acidity is needed without additional flavour. It’s also widely used for cleaning, descaling, and as a household all-rounder — a dual-purpose pantry staple.

Distilled vinegar is inexpensive and available in every Australian supermarket, usually sold in large bottles given its versatility beyond cooking.

Farmed
photograph to come — from twenty years of markets, farms and kitchens

How it's made

Grain alcohol (typically from corn or wheat) is diluted and subjected to acetic acid fermentation, where bacteria convert the ethanol into acetic acid. The resulting vinegar is then distilled to remove colour, residual flavours, and impurities, producing a clear, sharp liquid at around 4–8% acidity. It is filtered and bottled without ageing.

Nutrition (per 100g)

Energy 18kcal
Protein 0g
Carbs 0g
Fat 0g
Fibre 0g Sugar 0g
Mass Distribution

1 tbsp is about 14.9 g.

What it costs the planet (per kilo)

Carbon ≈3.15kg
Freshwater ≈460.35L
Land ≈7.95m²

≈ Estimated — worked out from a category-typical value further up its supply chain. Where this comes from →

Where it comes from

In the kitchen

Used as

pickling and souring agent

Goes well with
dill garlic mustard sugar chilli
Classic dishes
  • Pickled cucumbers
  • Coleslaw
  • Chips with vinegar
  • Hollandaise sauce

Keeping one at home? Track yours in your cubud →

Where this data comes from

Nutrition data from

USDA

How it was calculated

SR Legacy

Full credits, licences, and methods: the sources page →

Where to next

made fromGrain, product goes well withdill goes well withgarlic goes well withmustard goes well withsugar goes well withchilli shares a sourceDistilled Spirits shares a sourceGrain Products & Snacks shares a sourceWhiskey Sour
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