If you are someone that does not do labor intensive recipes very well, this is the recipe for you. What I mean is, if you can measure, cover and forget about something for a couple months, you will rock at making your own vinegar. It really is simple it is to do.
After researching several methods, this method is the easiest and the most cost efficient. The recipe below uses Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
How To Make Raw DIY Apple Cider Vinegar at Home:
Recipe has only two ingredients:
- Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar
- Apple Cider or non-pasteurized Apple Juice
Add 1 part Bragg Raw Apple Cider Vinegar to 3 parts Apple Cider to a glass jar. You can find this easily in stores right now for the upcoming holidays. I am not “branded” by Bragg, but is raw and has the “mother/start” that you need. This recipe will not work with distilled/pasteurized vinegar.
Cover jar with a piece of breathable cloth and secure it with a rubber band.
Place in a warm and dark place. The time it takes to ferment varies based on conditions. It could take 3 weeks or 3 months. You will know it is ready because it will smell sharp like vinegar and you see a thick mucus-like film on top or floating within.
Temperatures for fastest fermentation is 80-90° F consistently.
When its done, keep the “mother” or SCOBY in the jar with about 1/3 the liquid. Strain the rest through a coffee filter before using (optional).
I got lucky because I got a start from my sister-in-law that lives on a beautiful vacation destination property with an incredible apple orchard in Arizona.
If you get really into this, The Chicken Chick wrote an in depth post on how to make this three different ways and has some useful links at the end.
Have you tried to make your own apple cider vinegar before? How did it go?