The difference between apple cider and apple cider vinegar

Apple cider has been a delicious drink since the beginning of time, and apple cider vinegar is often claimed to be a cure for everything from acid reflux to warts. They sound and smell very similar and are made with the same base ingredients, but they are not nearly the same.

So what is the difference between apple cider and apple cider vinegar?

The main difference is the fact that apple cider vinegar has been fermented into alcohol and then turned into acetic acid, whereas cider is more like apple juice.

But there is more to the story than that simple answer. In this article, we’ll look at the difference and similarities between a variety of apple products and answer all your questions about all things apple cider or apple cider vinegar.

What is apple cider?

Fresh-squeezed apple cider is sometimes also called sweet cider, cider, or mock cider, depending on where you live. It is made by collecting the juice from whole and crushed apples, minimally filtering it and then pasteurizing it for safe consumption. 

Each cider maker will use their own blend of apples for pressing and may also add preservatives to keep their cider fresher, longer.

If you find a cider classified as “varietal”, it means that the drink is made with a single characteristic apple variety, rather than a blend of apples.

However, if you come across a drink labeled apple cider mix, it usually means that it was made using another fruit entirely, such as cranberries or raspberries.

Difference Between Apple Cider and Apple Juice

Apple juice is also made by mashing, chewing, or pulverizing apples to extract the juice from the fruit’s pulp and skin.

In the case of cider, much of the pulp and even the skin remains in the juice, giving it a deep caramel color and adding a lot of heaviness to the final product . Apple juice is very finely filtered to create a liquid as fine and smooth as water.

If you make a recipe that calls for apple cider and you don’t have any, unsweetened apple juice will work just fine. Similarly, if your recipe calls for apple juice and you only have sweet apple cider, that will work as well.

Apple cider with or without alcohol

When fresh apple cider is allowed to ferment, it becomes an alcoholic beverage. In Europe and some other countries, the mention of cider always implies an alcoholic beverage, unless specifically stated otherwise.

In the US the opposite is usually true, as most cider is of the sweet variety, unless it is specifically stated as “hard” or alcoholic.

What is apple cider vinegar?

All vinegar is a fermented combination of water and acetic acid, but acetic acid can be obtained from a variety of plants, such as potatoes, rice, grains, or fruit.

Apple cider vinegar, or ACV, is made by fermenting apples in natural sugar alcohol and then adding bacteria to convert the alcohol into acetic acid.

Difference Between Vinegar and Apple Cider Vinegar

The most significant difference between white vinegar and apple cider vinegar is the fact that white vinegar is typically made by fermenting grain alcohol, while ACV is made by fermenting apple cider.

White vinegar is a completely clear liquid, while ACV is brown in color.  They also have noticeably different flavors, with the apple version not surprisingly having a more fruity finish.

Both are useful and healthy for a number of culinary and edible purposes, and are equally beneficial as disinfectants.  Both products are often used topically for sanitary purposes, but for household cleaning white vinegar is more popular, mainly because of its much lower price and less strong odor.

Cider vinegar is, in many cases, the same as apple cider vinegar, but it can also be different. Some manufacturers make cider vinegar from different fruits or fruit mixes and label it simply as cider vinegar instead of giving details.

In most cases, cider vinegar will have ACV as the base with another fruit flavoring added.

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses

Apple cider vinegar has become so popular in the last decade that it is now used for just about everything, similar to coconut oil. There are even memes and jokes that advise: “When in doubt, try ACV.” But honestly, it can be used very effectively in a wide variety of situations.

Here are some of our favorite, not-so-obvious uses for ACV:

• As a toner for the face. Find yourself a small dark glass bottle and fill it 1/3 full with ACV and the rest with distilled water. Use as a facial toner every morning and night and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your skin appears brighter and less irritated. It can help clear up minor skin conditions and allows important nutrients to penetrate your skin where they are needed most. If you have very sensitive skin, dilute the vinegar further and test a small portion before covering your entire face, just to be sure.
• Like deodorant . ACV has a very distinctive odor on its own, but it also removes odors from other sources, such as sweat. White vinegar also removes odors and doesn’t add its own sour, fruity aroma, so you might as well try that. Be sure to dilute the vinegar with water before applying it to your skin to avoid any accidental irritation or stinging.
• To soothe a sore throat. If you have an irritating cough that leaves your throat raw, try swallowing a tablespoon of ACV. But mix it with water to dilute it first. It may sting a bit going down, but the antibacterial properties will kill any nasty bacteria living in your throat that are causing you discomfort. You can gargle and spit or swallow, but let it bubble down your throat for a few seconds either way for best results.
• As a dental product. ACV is highly antibacterial, so it can be used as a mouthwash, to clean your dentures or sterilize your toothbrush, and is even believed to remove stains from your teeth for a brighter, whiter smile.
• In fruit fly season. You may have heard the adage “you’ll catch more flies with sugar than vinegar.” When it comes to ACV, the opposite is true. Fruit flies are attracted to the fermented aroma of ACV, so if you fill a small bowl with the vinegar, cover it with plastic wrap, and then poke a few tiny holes in the top, it will attract and trap all the flies. of the fruit of your house in a jiffy.

What is healthier? Apple Cider Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar

Both apple cider and apple cider vinegar have health benefits, but for very different reasons, so it’s hard to accurately compare and contrast the two products to say one is better or healthier than the other.

Instead, we’ll just examine their individual merits in hopes of convincing you that they’re both great additions to your daily life. 

benefits of apple juice

If you’ve been drinking apple juice your whole life thinking it was healthy for you, it might be time to switch to sweet apple cider juice. Apple cider will have all the nutritional benefits of apple juice and more.

Apple cider is made using the pulp and also part of the skin of the fruit, which leaves you with more fiber and even more vitamins and minerals.

Commercial apple juice is also often much more processed, adding a lot of sugars and preservatives or, at the very least, putting it through various procedures to make it more stable or long-lasting, robbing it of much of its nutritional value.

Apple cider undergoes fewer processes, and while it doesn’t last as long, it retains far more nutrients. 

Apples are very healthy for the heart and great for the metabolism. These benefits carry over to both apple cider and apple cider vinegar, but when you have the apple as a drink, the cider version is much more flavorful.

benefits of apple cider vinegar

Because ACV has such a strong flavor and is not usually consumed in large amounts, it is more often used topically and has many benefits in this regard.

It is very antibacterial , as already mentioned, and has been used throughout history to treat everything from lice, ticks, and fleas, to nail or foot fungus, and warts. It can be used to clean any wound, and even to treat ear, throat and mouth infections.

ACV is also naturally acidic, so it can help restore the pH balance of both your skin and internal organs . If used topically, it can help improve skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis.

It can be irritating if used in too high a concentration, so always make sure to dilute it with water or a skin-friendly oil and consult your doctor or dermatologist before using it for any serious skin condition.

If you’re not sure how to use apple cider vinegar for your consumption, I highly recommend Thomas Delauer’s recipes on YouTube! He not only tells you how to make each drink (he makes 2), but he also explains the science behind apple cider vinegar.

Related questions

Is cider vinegar halal?

Halal is an Arabic word meaning “permissible.” In Muslim culture, as well as many others, anything with alcohol in it is strictly prohibited, so a hard apple cider would not be halal.

However, during the process of transforming apple cider into apple cider vinegar, the alcohol is essentially eaten by bacteria, leaving the vinegar non-alcoholic and, according to most authorities, halal.

However, there may be some strict religious officials who disagree, so if you are concerned, it is best to confirm with the authority you trust the most.

Is cider vinegar good for weight loss?

There is a lot of research to suggest that apple cider vinegar is good for weight loss, yes.

The acetic acid in vinegar has been shown to improve your metabolism, lowering insulin and balancing blood sugar.  This helps your body burn fat more efficiently and better regulate fat storage.

It can also send signals to your brain that turn off hunger signals, which curbs your appetite.

Taken together, it is a good combination for healthy weight management.

Is White Vinegar Good For You?

White vinegar is often used as a key ingredient in many natural household cleaning products, but is it good for you? Yes, indeed, white vinegar has been shown to have a number of health benefits.

In ancient and traditional medical practices, its antimicrobial properties have been very useful in the treatment of wounds and infections, and when taken internally, it has been shown to help control blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and even aid weight loss. weight.

It is often used to make pickles, as a condiment or salad dressing, to make mustard, as an ingredient in marinades or cooking sauces, in various pastry recipes, and even in the cheese-making process.