For centuries, vinegar has been one of the most versatile items in the kitchen cupboard.
Traced back as far as 5000 B.C.E, vinegar (from the French “vin aigre,” meaning sour wine) is a combination of acetic acid and water made by a two-step fermentation process.
Natural, low in calories, and multi-functional, vinegar boasts the role of an essential cooking ingredient, household cleaner, and effective beauty and wellness product, all in one!
Safari Vinegar is a proudly South African producer of a wide variety of top quality vinegars, including apple cider vinegar, balsamic vinegar, white spirit vinegar and more. They source the freshest and juiciest grapes from the world-renowned Cape Winelands, and the finest locally grown apples from the Western Cape’s Elgin area to bring you a trusted product that’s been a South African favourite for over 30 years.
Recently Safari Vinegar, alongside Mbali Nhlapho, owner of Sisters at Work (a Gauteng-based home cleaning business), helped a select group of guests discover nature’s best kept secret at a Safari Vinegar event in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Together with Mbali, Safari Vinegar recognises the incredible versatility of vinegar, and have compiled a list of vinegar hacks that will not only make your life easier, but also improve your cooking and home cleaning. Why not try these tips at home?
Cooking hacks
- Instantly revive wilted leafy greens by tossing them in cold water and a little bit of Safari White Spirit Vinegar.
- Add delicious flavour and tenderise your meat by soaking it in a homemade vinegar marinade overnight. Add herbs and spices to your choice of Safari vinegar (we recommend Safari Brown Grape Vinegar), and simply let the meat soak in the mixture before cooking.
- Disinfect your fruit and veggies, dissolve wax and remove pesticide residue by washing them in a Safari White Spirit Vinegar solution. Remember to rinse them with warm water afterwards.
Cleaning hacks
- Remove stubborn grease from your microwave by mixing half a cup of Safari White Spirit Vinegar with the juice of half a lemon and warming the solution for 4 – 5 minutes. Then simply wipe the inside with a cloth – no scrubbing necessary!
- Worried about germs on your kitchen sponge? Soak your sponge in half a cup of Safari White Spirit Vinegar to kill bacteria and remove build-up.
- Bad smell coming from your dishwasher? Before your next wash cycle, add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to the inside of the machine and place a cup filled halfway with Safari White Spirit Vinegar in the machine. Not only will it kill any unpleasant odours, but it will also help restore the sparkle and shine to your cutlery and glasses.
Beauty and wellness hacks
- For whiter teeth and fresher breath, brush with a solution of equal parts Safari Apple Cider Vinegar and water once a week, or use the solution as a mouthwash. Not only does it help restore your teeth’s natural shade of white, but it also eliminates the bacteria responsible for bad breath.
- Sunburnt? Soak a soft cloth in Safari Apple Cider Vinegar and apply directly to the burnt area to soothe stinging and minimise peeling.
- Help soothe a sore throat by mixing a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of Safari Apple Cider Vinegar and a teaspoon of salt. Gargle as often as required.
It’s easy to see why vinegar is renowned for being one of the most versatile and useful products in the home.
