How to Make Herb Vinegars

By Sherril Steele-Carlin

Making herbal vinegars is one of the easiest ways to enjoy the fruits of your labor in the herb garden. The final product, given in a decorative bottle, is a lovely gift for a special friend or family member. You can also use herbal vinegars in almost any recipe that calls for plain vinegar. The flavored varieties will add special zing to your favorite recipes, and you can use less vinegar in your recipes. Why? Because the vinegar is tastier and more flavorful, so, you can use less in your cooking, but the results will be even tastier than before.

Herb Vinegar

You can use any type of vinegar you prefer - white, white, or red wine, apple cider, or rice. It depends primarily on the herbs you plan to add.

Heat the vinegar almost to boiling; just don't let it boil. Pour the warm vinegar into a sterilized glass jar or bottle to which you have added fresh herb leaves or sprigs.

For each cup of vinegar, use about 3 sprigs of your favorite herbs.

Add one clove of garlic, a small shallot, or a small chili pepper for each cup of vinegar if you want even more flavor.

Make sure the herbs you use are bruised (gently crimped or rubbed) to help release their flavors and volatile oils. Shake the bottle several times during the next one to two weeks.

When the vinegar is strong enough, you can remove the herbs by straining them through a sieve or cheesecloth. You can even leave the larger sprigs of herbs in the bottle as a decoration if you prefer.

Place the strained vinegar in a decorative sterilized bottle, tie a bright ribbon around the neck, and you have a very special homemade gift.

I like to use old wine bottles that I've soaked to remove the labels, and then sterilized (see below). You can stop them with new corks purchased at just about any hobby store or supermarket.

Combining Herbs

You can also combine several of your favorite herbs in one vinegar. Do you often use basil and thyme together when you cook? Then you'll probably want to blend them in your vinegar, too. Other tasty combinations include:

  • coriander, garlic, and rice vinegar
  • chilies, garlic, oregano, and cider vinegar
  • fennel, garlic, parsley, and white wine vinegar
  • rosemary, garlic, and red wine vinegar
  • honey, cinnamon sticks, and cider vinegar
  • tarragon, shallot, and cider vinegar
  • parsley, red pepper, and white vinegar

There are literally thousands of different blends; half the fun is experimenting with your favorite flavors.

How to Quickly Sterilize Your Bottles

Sterilizing bottles and jars doesn't have to be a time consuming chore any more. If you have a dishwasher, you can sterilize all your glassware by doing a load of dishes! If you're doing wine bottles, you may want to remove your top rack, in order to fit in more bottles on the bottom rack. If you have a newer dishwasher that has a "heat" setting, set your dishwasher to wait until the water is thoroughly heated, before you begin the cycle. Many newer dishwashers will automatically hold the water until it's heated to over 120 to 140 degrees, so your dishes will be sterilized.

However, even if you don't have the "heat" or "hold" feature, it's not a problem. Set your dishwasher to dry the dishes. The heat from the dry cycle will also sterilize the bottles, making them safe to use for canning, and making your vinegars. So, set your dishwasher to hold or heat the water, if it has this feature, and then set it to automatic dry.

Take the bottles out when they are still hot from the dry cycle, and pour in your vinegars. There you have it, easy and painless sterilizing!

Enjoy the Fruits of Your Labor!

Now, your herb vinegars are all bottled in lovely and safe bottles. They line your pantry and refrigerator shelves, looking lovely and decorative, and you're ready to give them to your friends and family. I like to tie a brightly colored ribbon around the neck, and include a gift tag, telling the flavor of the vinegar, and some suggestions on how to use it. These gifts are always well received at any time of the year! The vinegar bottles look very pretty on a kitchen counter as a decorative and handy cooking tool.