This stuff appeared in my vinegar is it still good to use?

3 comments

1. Common and Harmless Changes in Vinegar

   Cloudiness – Once opened and exposed to air, harmless “vinegar bacteria” may start to grow. This bacteria causes the vinegar to cloud. Cloudiness does not affect the quality of the vinegar or its flavor. Straining cloudy vinegar through a coffee filter may clear it.

   Or

   Mother – Most vinegars are pasteurized unless stated otherwise. When pasteurization is incomplete or the vinegar is re-inoculated with vinegar bacteria from the air after opening, a slimy, amorphous blob or substance will form and float near the bottom. This is a vinegar mother and is just bacteria that feeds on alcoholic liquids. If one develops, it simply means that there were some sugars or alcohol that weren’t completely fermented in the vinegar process. Mother can be strained out using a coffee filter. Some look on a mother as something beneficial to health or to restart their own batch of vinegar.

2. The mother! It’s good to have

3. Chuck it now. Never take chances. When in doubt, throw it out!