Do I need Malt Vinegar for pickling onions?
I intend to make several kilograms of pickled onions. Last time I made them, I just dumped in basically what ever vinegar i had to hand. A combination of white malt, brown malt, unmalted, and rice vinegar; plus a tablespoon of cloves.
Turned out just fine (for the onions. Not great for pickled vegetables).
I thought (since my pickled vegitables didn't work), I would look up and see if I had forgotten the recipe. I see in all the recipes I've looked up that it calls for Malt vinegar, or Pickling vinegar.
I'ld really like to use the very plains of vinegars (ie cheapest), The kind that comes in 2L bottles and is marketted for cleaning mirrors (But is food grade).
- Will anything go wrong with this?
- Should I add anything to replace the lost flavour? (eg more spices)
- Can I got 50:50 malted/plain?
Best Answer
As a serious lover of pickled onions, I have sampled many. You don't need malt for onions, and for some people using malt is a no no.
I confess to loving the eye watering tartness of onions picked in malt, but if that is a problem you can add white sugar which can cut the sharpness of the taste.
So I use malt for onions, and white for other pickles, the White vinegar I use is distilled vinegar something like this
The op mentions cheap cleaning / food grade vinegar.
If you use this you must not add water as it will affect the ph balance of the picking mix and the food might not pickle and spoil. And are you really sure it's food grade - check closely
You could try a blend of 50/50 malt and white.
Here is a basic recipe for malt picked onions
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1826697/pickled-onions
But you can use almost any vinegar i.e.
http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/pickled-shallots-in-sherry-vinegar.html
Also a general guide to pickling
http://www.pickyourown.org/makingpickles.htm
Top tips
Malt vinegar for onions
White distilled for others
Add sugar if mix is too strong
Experiment with vinegars - try pickling with Apple cider vinegar.
My favourite recipe is baby red onions pickled in a blend of balsamic and white vinegars.
Enjoy
Pictures about "Do I need Malt Vinegar for pickling onions?"
Can you use regular vinegar for pickling?
There is no difference between white vinegar and pickling vinegar. These two terms can be used interchangeably. However, pickling vinegar is a much broader term that encompasses any vinegar used for pickling, whereas distilled white vinegar only refers to one type of vinegar.Is malt vinegar good for pickling onions?
If it's British pub-style pickled onions you're after, malt vinegar is an absolute, non-negotiable must. And make sure it's quality, real malt vinegar. It gives the brine its characteristic brown color and the onions' famous sweet, tangy, caramelized flavor.Can I use distilled vinegar for pickling onions?
Prepare the pickling solution. Use any combination of vinegars you have on hand. I used apple cider vinegar and distilled white vinegar this go around but often turn to rice wine vinegar, too.What vinegar can I use instead of pickling vinegar?
The normal alternative is 5% apple cider vinegar. White distilled vinegar gives a clarity to pickled items, and is cheap, but some people feel its taste is harsh; Apple cider vinegar can colour pickled items brown,, and is more expensive, but some people prefer its flavour.Why I always have Pickled Onions in my fridge.
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