Stewing with Apple Cider Vinegar
I'm working on making a long cooked version of a stew which uses apple cider vinegar as part of the flavor.
I was wondering what happens to the flavor of the vinegar when it's cooked for a long time. I have technical constraints and it needs to cook for about 24 hours, and I was wondering if it would lose the flavor.
Also I was wondering if adding vinegar is pointless, seeing as long cooked stews tend to get very brown, it'll end up being a very alkaline environment, and maybe that would cancel out the acidity.
Best Answer
An acid in a stew serves much the same purpose it would in a marinade. It aids in the tenderizing (typical 'stew meat' is cut from inferior cuts of the beef and can be tough) and balances the flavors. (As such I would disagree with @lspare about adding it "at the end", it needs time to do it's work)
Browning is a separate issue. Browning is the result of the Maillard reaction and should occur when stew meat is seared prior to being incorporated into the stew. In a stew the 'cooking temperature' is never above 212°F (100°C) and this will not 'brown' the meat.
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Can you put apple cider vinegar in stew?
Stir in the cider vinegar and tomato paste, then return the meat and leek mixture to the pot. Lower the heat to medium low, and cook the stew at a gentle simmer for, partially covered, 2 hours, until the meat starts to become tender. Add more cider if the stew starts to look dry \u2013 you want some good sauciness.Is apple cider vinegar good for cooking meat?
Another way to use apple cider vinegar when cooking is to make a marinade. In fact, apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in many steak marinades. This is because it gives meat a nice sweet-and-sour flavor. Combine it with wine, garlic, soy sauce, onion, and cayenne pepper to give your steak a delicious flavor.What does vinegar do in stews?
The addition of the vinegar adds subtle acidity that balances well with the soy sauce and the honey giving this otherwise super hearty beef stew a nice lightness to it. Feel free to add sweet potato noodles(glass noodles) or egg noodles to this dish, serve it alongside rice, or as-is.Can you cook with apple cider vinegar?
Apple cider vinegar is an incredibly versatile ingredient that you can use in almost every aspect of cooking. You can use it to pickle various vegetables. You can also mix it with olive oil to create vinaigrette or a marinade.PUT APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ON YOUR FEET AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!
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Answer 2
Add the vinegar in at the end of the cooking time if, after tasting, you think it needs the brightness. Long cooking times mellow flavors (as you have pointed out), and acidic/bright ingredients like vinegar are usually added toward the end so they don't get lost.
The only exception I can think of to this is when making bone broth, but the vinegar in that is not as much for acidity as for freeing up the collagen in the bones for the added nutrition.
Answer 3
Add vinegar when putting the meat in the pot after browning (Maillard reaction). Add spices at this time. Tough stew meat will take a couple of hours to get tender, and the vinegar helps this happen as well as add special flavor. Then add the onions, carrots, celery, Brussels sprouts etc and cook until the vegetables are the way you like them.
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