Raise Acidity in Vinegar
Raise Acidity in Vinegar
Continue the vinegar fermentation by adding alcohol.
By adding alcohol to a fermenting vinegar the final acidity of the fully fermented vinegar will be increased. The final acidity results from the sum of the ACTUAL acidity and the alcohol content of the fermenting vinegar, if no alcohol losses occur due to evaporation (by the use of an air pump) or excessive formation of a mother-of-vinegar (surface processes with nutrient-rich fermentation media).
The alcohol content of the added alcohol must be greater than the desired final acidity after fermentation, therefore suitable alcoholic beverages are (not sulphurated) wine, high-grade mash, fruit brandy, tasteless high proof alcohol, etc. The maximum reachable acidity under conventional conditions is about 11 to 12 %.
Calculation example
5.00 liters of fermenting vinegar with 3.50 % acid and 0.70 %vol alcohol
mixed with
1.92 liters of alcohol with 12.50 %vol
produce
6.92 liters of mixture with 2.53 % acid and 3.97 %vol alcohol.
corresponds to 6.50 % acid in the completely fermented vinegar.
Losses from alcohol evaporation or formation of a mother of vinegar during fermentation were not taken into account.
© 2024 www.making-vinegar.com