Why You Should Add Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Coleslaw, According To Our Food Editor (2024)

Like potato salad and pasta salad, coleslaw is a relatively simple side dish, but there are endless ways to make it. People tend to be very attached to their favorite coleslaw recipe—which could have anything from caraway seeds to cranberries in it.

Mayonnaise is usually the most polarizing ingredient in coleslaw. The anti-mayo crowd tends to prefer an oil-based vinaigrette dressing. These bright, vinegary slaws are often served atop or on the side of a pulled pork or barbecue chicken sandwich. (Some of these slaws are heavy on the mustard.) Others prefer their shredded cabbage coated in a sweetish mayo-based dressing.

Photo: Jennifer Causey

No matter what you like to put in your slaw, any recipe can be improved with a key ingredient: apple cider vinegar. Whether your coleslaw is with or without mayonnaise, simple or chock-full of ingredients, a splash of this vinegar adds a welcome fruity and tangy note that's more balanced and not as sharp as other types of vinegar, like white or red wine vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar, which is made from fermented apples, has all sorts of purported health benefits, like regulating blood sugar. (We just don't suggest drinking it straight from the bottle.) It's a bit trendy now, and you'll find it in all sorts of products, including beverages, salad dressings, and even hair care products. (It's supposed to improve scalp health too.) But wellness aside, it's an essential ingredient when making coleslaw.

My go-to brand is Bragg's Apple Cider. It has a sweet-sour flavor that adds a little brightness to coleslaw dressings with and without mayo. Two more pieces of coleslaw wisdom: Don't forget the freshly ground black pepper, and don't make it more than one hour in advance.

Why You Should Add Apple Cider Vinegar To Your Coleslaw, According To Our Food Editor (2024)

FAQs

What is the purpose of apple cider vinegar in cooking? ›

Apple cider vinegar is a popular flavor and texture enhancer in baking, especially when making vegan treats that can't include eggs. It can also add extra flavor to homemade candy and caramels, like in this recipe.

What does apple cider vinegar do for taste? ›

Apple cider vinegar adds a nice tang and taste to dressings and sauces.

Which is better for coleslaw, white vinegar or apple cider vinegar? ›

However, there is a best vinegar to use, and it's apple cider vinegar. The reason is threefold: taste, chemical makeup, and health benefits. Though there's no shortage of other types of vinegar, none has this ideal trifecta to best complement your cabbage and its other coleslaw vegetable ingredients.

What happens to your body when you start taking apple cider vinegar? ›

The same small study that reported ACV boosted weight loss also found that it lowered the total cholesterol levels of study subjects who took it. It also increased their "good" cholesterol and lowered levels of triglycerides (fats in the blood).

What happens when you eat apple cider vinegar everyday? ›

While drinking apple cider vinegar is associated with health benefits, regularly consuming large amounts for long periods can be dangerous and may be linked to side effects, including low blood potassium levels (20).

Does apple cider vinegar lose benefits when cooked? ›

If you boiled water with ACV in it for longer than 10 minutes, you'd likely kill the bacteria, so you definitely want to avoid that. Both dietitians suggest preserving as many live/active bacteria as possible, by pouring ACV into cool or warm water, not in your boiling water when making tea.

Do you need to rinse out apple cider vinegar? ›

"I recommend shampooing first and then saturating the hair with ACV." Once you massage the solution into the scalp, let it sit for three to five minutes before rinsing and conditioning as normal.

What does apple cider vinegar do to meat? ›

As a powerful bactericide, it helps eliminate any impurities in the meat. Throw in some sage, rosemary and chopped garlic and you'll have an excellent light marinade that won't mask the flavors of the meat, but will instead bring out the best in it to dramatic effect.

Can apple cider vinegar clean out your liver? ›

When it comes to home remedies, apple cider vinegar is a preferred choice since it has amazing detoxification properties. Apple Cider Vinegar works by helping the liver flush out the toxins that can interfere with the body's normal functioning.

Is it better to drink apple cider vinegar at night or morning? ›

Aside from potentially lowering fasting blood sugar, drinking apple cider vinegar right before bed doesn't appear to make much of a difference in terms of its health benefits. To prevent adverse effects, it's best to enjoy it diluted or in a dressing and at least 2-3 hours before lying down.

Is apple cider vinegar good for your kidneys and liver? ›

ACV may even help reduce pain and inflammation from kidney stones. It helps rid the body of toxins and excess minerals that can lead to kidney stones. According to some, ACV has a cleansing effect on the kidney and liver.

What is amish coleslaw made of? ›

CABBAGE, MAYONNAISE (SOYBEAN OIL, EGG YOLKS [EGG YOLKS, SALT], HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, WHITE DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD [WATER, DISTILLED VINEGAR, MUSTARD SEED, SALT, SPICES], WATER, SALT), FRUCTOSE, SUGAR, CARROTS, CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, GLUCONO DELTA LACTONE, PEA FIBER, ERYTHORBIC ACID (TO ...

What if I don't have apple cider vinegar for coleslaw? ›

Distilled white vinegar is a great substitute for apple cider vinegar. Lemon Juice. I don't recommend making a substitution for the lemon juice.

How do you tone down the vinegar taste in coleslaw? ›

- Add some sugar or honey to the dish. Sugar and honey can counteract the sourness of vinegar and add some sweetness to the dish. You can start with a small amount and adjust according to your taste.

What does a spoonful of apple cider vinegar do for your body? ›

Yes, it would seem that apple cider vinegar does have some benefits to your health. Studies have shown this storecupboard staple may help to aid weight loss, reduce your calorie intake and even reduce waist size, as well as lowering blood sugar and insulin levels after eating carbohydrates.

Is it better to drink apple cider vinegar in morning or night? ›

Some studies have reported that drinking fermented beverages such as ACV before bed can help reduce weight. A lot of wellness bloggers and researchers suggest that sipping ACV before breakfast on an empty stomach has a good and equal effect. ACV has been used in the field of medicine for centuries.

How much apple cider vinegar should you drink a day? ›

Standard dosages range from 1–2 teaspoons (5–10 mL) to 1–2 tablespoons (15–30 mL) per day mixed in a large glass of water. It's best to start with small doses and avoid taking large amounts. Too much vinegar can cause harmful side effects, including tooth enamel erosion and potential drug interactions.

Does apple cider vinegar burn belly fat? ›

Apple cider vinegar isn't likely to be effective for weight loss. Proponents of apple cider vinegar claim that it has numerous health benefits and that drinking a small amount or taking a supplement before meals helps curb appetite and burn fat. However, there's little scientific support for these claims.

References

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