*All Orders 4/19-4/27 Will Ship 4/28*
Shipping Simplified: $7.95 Flat Rate, Free $69+ or Free Delivery ($39+) in Monroe County, NY
What is Malt Vinegar?
- Last Updated: February 2, 2025
Liven Up Your Next Meal with Malt Vinegar
When you’re perusing the condiments aisle of the grocery store, chances are you’ll pass an array of vinegars. Examples include rice, apple cider, red wine, and others.
You may have also encountered something called malt and asked yourself – what is malt vinegar?
When it comes to all vinegar, have you ever wondered…
What are they?
Are they all similar?
What are their differences?
At a basic level, vinegar is simply a fermented solution containing acetic acid—the acid that gives vinegar its distinctive taste—and can be made from various base ingredients (apple cider, red wine, etc.).
In this article, we’re going to focus specifically on:
-What is malt vinegar?
-What malt vinegar is made from?
-Uses for malt vinegar.
-How you are able to incorporate malt vinegar into your own cooking.
How is Malt Vinegar Made?
Malt vinegar is first made by malting barley; in this process, the barley grain is germinated—or malted—by being immersed in water.
Once the grain sprouts, the barley is dried, and the germination process stops.
The malting process is important because it causes the starch in the barley to turn to sugar, which is needed for the next step in making malt vinegar – brewing.
Once the barley has been malted, it gets brewed into an ale by fermenting it with yeast.
Throughout the fermentation process, the malt’s sugars are converted into alcohol.
After the fermentation process is complete and the ale is made, it is fermented a second time, which creates acetic acid and turns the ale into malt vinegar.
How to Use Malt Vinegar
Any vinegar is a great ingredient for adding flavor to dishes – particularly when it comes to sauces, marinades, and salad dressings.
We’re partial towards our own Flower City Flavor Company Traditional Dark Balsamic Vinegar.
But just like the ingredients they’re made from, different vinegars tend to complement different ingredients.
For example, champagne vinegar is light and subtle and pairs well with lighter proteins such as chicken and fish.
In comparison, Balsamic vinegar is on the sweeter side and can withstand ingredients like steak and grilled vegetables.
Unlike other vinegar, malt vinegar has a distinctive malt flavor and tastes slightly lemony and sweet.
You’ve probably seen it most often served with the traditional English dish of Fish & Chips (which is delicious), but malt vinegar can also be used to flavor various other dishes.
For example, malt vinegar makes a terrific pickling agent.
Its bold flavor stands up to more strongly flavored produce, such as garlic and onions.
You may be asking, “What is malt vinegar also commonly used in?
Chutneys. Chutneys are relish-like sauces made from a combination of fruit, vegetables, herbs, and spices.
As a result, the tart flavor of malt vinegar balances well with the fruit in the chutney.
From malt vinegar pickles and chutneys to chicken wings and homemade bread, we’ve included a few of our top malt vinegar recipe suggestions below.
Traditional Malt Vinegar Recipe Ideas
When you walk into a traditional English pub, English pickled onion is commonly served.
Think of it as the equivalent of being served roasted peanuts at a bar in the United States.
But unlike peanuts, these English Pickled Onions taste sweet and tangy.
In the UK, English Pickled Onions are served on sandwiches, in salads, or as a relish. Sometimes, even eaten straight out of the jar.
Try your hand (and taste buds) at English Pickled Onions with this English Pub Style Pickled Onions recipe, and create your own English Pub experience right at home.
Sticking with the onion theme, our next recipe suggestion is Caramelised Onion Chutney.
Similarly to English Pickled Onions, this Caramelised Onion Chutney has sweet and tangy flavors; more prominent, though, is the distinctive savory and sweet flavor you can only get from caramelization.
Serve this flavorful condiment with toast points or crackers.
On the other hand, if you’re in the mood for something heartier, try topping a burger with caramelized onion chutney and malt vinegar.
Unique Malt Vinegar Recipe Ideas
We’ve gone through some more traditional ways to use malt vinegar, so why not push the limits a bit?
We hope you’ll enjoy this roundup of creative recipes!
Since malt vinegar goes so well with french fries, it only makes sense that it is the star ingredient in this Salt and Vinegar Potatoes recipe.
These potatoes are smashed into patties, brushed with malt vinegar, and roasted.
As a result, they are crispy on the outside and soft and tender on the inside, with a deliciously salty bite.
You’ll typically get a choice of flavors when you order chicken wings at a restaurant.
Buffalo, barbecue, garlic parmesan, etc. Less common but equally as delicious is salt and vinegar.
For example, this recipe for Salt and Vinegar Chicken Wings uses malt vinegar as a marinade for the chicken wings and as a sauce, resulting in a bold, zesty flavor.
What is malt vinegar used in besides cooking? This is something you may be asking.
Well, it is also used in some baking recipes.
When vinegar is used in baking, it reacts with baking soda, which helps the dough rise as it bakes.
In this recipe for Malt Vinegar Rye Bread, malt vinegar helps the bread rise and provides a slight taste of malt throughout.
Are you feeling brave enough to try malt vinegar in a dessert?
These recipes for Chocolate Malted Milk Cake and Chocolate-Stout Vinegar Cake with Raspberry Coulis will pleasantly surprise you.
Malt Vinegar Uses in the Culinary World
Renowned chefs from all over the country are not asking, “What is malt vinegar?” They are using it in interesting and innovative ways.
Chef Paola Velez recently hosted a pop-up in Washington, D.C. called Doña Dona, at which she served a “Dulcey” de Leche donut with white chocolate, coconut, and malt vinegar.
Malt Vinegar FAQ
Here is a quick guide to some frequently asked questions on the nutritional and general aspects of malt vinegar that we’ve come across often.
Can malt vinegar go bad?
Generally speaking, no. Following proper food storage guidelines, such as storing it away from direct heat or sunlight and in a dark and cool area like your cupboard, there should be nothing to worry about. Like other foods, its quality will most likely deteriorate over time but not necessarily spoil. Check the bottle’s best-by date and remember that the date is a guide for when the manufacturer believes the peak quality of the product will last.
How many calories are in malt vinegar?
We haven’t found a brand with more than 0 calories per serving on its label’s nutrition facts. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean there are absolutely no calories. The FDA allows labels to state 0 calories per serving if there are no more than 5 per serving. Regardless, you have nothing to worry about if you are using malt vinegar to lose weight.
Is malt vinegar gluten-free?
Malt vinegar is NOT gluten-free. Malt is derived from the grain barley, which contains gluten.
Is malt vinegar halal?
According to Halal or Haram, malt vinegar (and other vinegar) in its final form qualifies as halal. However, before the chemical transformation, when vinegar is in its alcoholic base, it is strictly haram and can not be consumed.
Is malt vinegar keto?
Yes, malt vinegar is keto-friendly. It contains no carbs, and most, if not all, malt vinegars will have straight 0s on their nutrition facts panel.
Is malt vinegar kosher?
Heinz and London Pub both have the OU Kosher Certification on their respective bottles, so they are considered kosher. However, it can get a little tricky to understand why some seemingly inherently kosher foods can actually not be. Read the OU “What is Kosher?” article for details. Also, to keep in mind, leaven or food mixed with leaven (known as chametz) is prohibited during Passover. Malt vinegar is chametz.
Is malt vinegar vegan?
Yes, malt vinegar is considered vegan. The ingredients and brewing process do not contain animal products. Barley, the main ingredient, is a grain.
What is the pH of malt vinegar?
The pH range is 2.5 to 2.7. Typically, malt vinegar is 4%-5% acetic acid by volume. Our Bourbon Barrel Malt Vinegar is 5%. Read our Vinegar Acidity 101 blog if you would like further information.
Conclusion
So, what is malt vinegar?
In short, versatile. Unique. Delicious!
Hopefully, in conclusion, we’ve opened your eyes to the “maltitude” of ways you can use malt vinegar in your kitchen. What recipe will you be trying first?
