Yes, apple cider vinegar is perfect for pickling. It’s also a must for many slaws, salad dressings, and sauces. But why stop there when the stuff adds a welcome note of fruity acidity—and a host of health benefits—to just about any dish? Some people even like to sip it! If we were making a list of miracle ingredients, apple cider vinegar would most definitely be on it. Instead, here’s a list of our favorite apple cider vinegars.
Health-conscious cooks love this raw, organic apple cider vinegar because every bottle contains “The Mother,” that visible sediment made up of beneficial bacteria and enzymes. Another bonus: Unfiltered vinegar stays fresh and retains its nutritional value for years.
This raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar from New Zealand also contains “The Mother”—plus Manuka honey, a natural sweetener that can save you a step when whipping up salad dressings and sauces. It tastes so good, in fact, that we recommend mixing it with seltzer for a sweet-tart, non-alcoholic drink.
If you prefer your vinegar filtered, you can’t go wrong with Heinz’s apple cider-flavored option, which boasts a mild taste (for vinegar, anyway) and comes in bulk quantities (read: ideal for big pickling projects).
This concentrated apple cider vinegar beverage is flavored with citrus, herbs, honey, ginger, horseradish, and more. Intended to boost immunity, it’s also helpful the morning after a few too many cocktails. Like most shrubs (as these vinegar-citrus mixers are known), this one’s best served with seltzer over ice.