Balsamic vinegar can be a great staple to have in your kitchen pantry to liven up a range of dishes. Before you buy an expensive balsamic vinegar, learn a little about the various kinds available and use them.
Instructions
1. Recognize the two types available. Traditional is made in Modena, Italy, and follows a strict process. Commercial or nontraditional types are a blend of artisan-made balsamic or boiled grapes with wine vinegar added.
2. Look for certification on the bottle by the Italian Association of Tasters for Balsamic Vinegar of Modena (AIB) that was created in 2002. This certification consists of a four-leaf ranking.
3. Taste a few vinegars before you spend a lot of money, especially if you're unsure of your taste. Many specialty stores will offer samples of high-end balsamic vinegars.
4. Decide how much you want to spend. Traditional and nontraditional have a huge difference in pricing, with prices for traditional as high as $80 an ounce. You can also buy traditional types in specialty stores or online.
5. Buy your balsamic vinegar based on how you'll use it. Commercial types that are 3 to 5 years old are great for salad dressing, marinades or steamed vegetables. Vinegars between 6 to 12 years are great with pasta or risotto. The traditional types that are over 12 years old are good for roasted meats, fish, sauces, ice cream, fruit or cheeses.
Tags: specialty stores, traditional types, types that, years great
