Vinegar Vinegar is used in the preparation of pickled fruits and vegetables and salad dressings among other uses. We will attempt a limited explanation of some of the methods used to produce vinegar. Vinegar is an incomplete oxidation of acetic acid produced by a type of fermentation. The oxidation or secondary fermentation is caused by the influence of various kinds of vinegar bacteria. There are various types of vinegar depending on the raw materials used in the manufacture.
Wine vinegar is obtained from souring of grape wine.
Cider vinegar is obtained from the fermentation of fruit juices. Malt vinegar is made from starchy materials. Distilled vinegar is very often a malt vinegar. In distilled vinegar the alcohol is distilled off the fermented product before it is fermented by the vinegar bacteria. Sugar vinegar is obtained from various sugars such as glucose, different types of molasses.