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10 Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

By Siobhan Adcock
|
July 19, 2021
Photo Credit: Nadine Greef

White vinegar is great for its cleaning superpowers and we love balsamic vinegar for the intense flavor it lends to salads and veggie dishes. But budget-friendly apple cider vinegar is the ultimate multitasker. It’s terrific in vinaigrettes for starters and you can also use it for cleaning (if you didn’t know, now you do!), but there are so many other uses for this versatile vinegar. 

Need proof? Here are 10 ways to put your bottle of ACV to good use.

1. Take a spoonful for your health.

Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into a cup of tea or water before or after a meal to help regulate blood sugar, promote a healthy gut, and support immune function — and that’s just for starters. You can use regular ACV and add a bit of honey to cut the sourness or try this apple cider vinegar tonic from Shire City Herbals. It combines apple cider vinegar with ginger, horseradish, onion, black pepper and garlic, plus habañero peppers, turmeric, lemons, oranges, and raw honey. It’s 100% organic and 100% delicious.

apple cider vinaigrette

Photo Credit: Love & Lemons

2. Make a vinaigrette.

Mix up a delicious, detoxifying salad dressing by whisking 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar, 3/4 cup olive oil, a tablespoon each of Dijon mustard and honey, and salt and pepper to taste. Whisk in some minced garlic or shallot for extra tang and pour it over everything.

Get a Recipe: Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing from Love & Lemons

3. Use it as a toner.

Use a cotton ball to wipe skin with the vinegar! Its antibacterial properties help fight acne flare-ups.

4. Disinfect those surfaces.

Mix one part apple cider vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle, and you’ve got a powerful, all-natural disinfectant that’s safe to use on any non-porous surface.

apple cider vinegar donuts

Photo Credit: Choosing Chia

5. Add height to baked goods.

The combination of baking soda and apple cider vinegar creates a chemical reaction that lends extra fluffiness to cakes, cookies and quick breads. This is great for vegan recipes that omit eggs!

6. Pickle some veggies.

For a quick and easy pickle, combine 1 cup vinegar with 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon coarse salt, plus garlic and dill to taste. Then use the brine to pickle sliced cucumbers or any favorite cut veggies (pickled cauliflower florets or sliced carrots are delicious) in a jar in the fridge.

sunscreens

Photo Credit: Lucas Ottone

7. Get sunburn relief.

Apply directly to sunburn for cool relief. Or pour a cup into a lukewarm bath with a drop of your favorite essential oil for all-over skin soothing.

8. Trap some fruit flies.

Pour a half-cup into a bowl and top with a drop of dish soap. Fruit flies are attracted by the smell, but can’t escape the sticky layer of soap that floats on the surface. Ew! But yay!

9. Get shinier hair.

A weekly rinse with 2 tablespoons helps fight product buildup and leaves hair soft and shiny.

Read More: What to Eat (and What to Avoid) for Healthy, Shiny Hair

10. Fertilize your plants.

Add ACV to your watering can for a healthy boost for plants that love acids such as azaleas, rhododendrons, junipers, gardenias and heather.

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