Amazing Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar with mother is a fermented juice made from crushed apples. It is a popular ingredient in many detoxifying and cleansing recipes due to its rich content of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Some of the nutrients found in apple cider vinegar include acetic and folic acids, as well as minerals such as potassium, iron, and magnesium. Apple cider vinegar also contains polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants.

Apple cider vinegar is a classic home remedy. It has been used historically for a variety of purposes, from soothing a sore throat to supporting skin and hair health. Moreover, apple cider vinegar has been highlighted in studies for its potential benefits in weight management, blood sugar health, and heart health when combined with diet and exercise.¹

The benefits of apple cider vinegar (ACV) are well-known. Its use dates back to ancient times and it may have even been used by Hippocrates.¹ While the uses of apple cider vinegar have evolved over time, ACV remains a versatile and popular ingredient in many households.

There are numerous ways to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your daily routine. One of the most popular methods is by creating drinks with apple cider vinegar. For instance, check out this simple recipe for a detox drink using BubbForest’s Apple Cider Vinegar, or see below for the perfect drink recipe for those new to apple cider vinegar.

Before exploring ACV recipes, it’s important to discuss the optimal timing for consuming apple cider vinegar. To maximize its health benefits, it's best consumed on an empty stomach. Dilute it with a bit of water and drink it about 20 minutes before your main meal. Consuming foods alongside apple cider vinegar can diminish its potency. Additionally, apple cider vinegar can be helpful when consuming foods that typically cause digestive discomfort. Tip: mix apple cider vinegar with honey to soothe your stomach.

Here are some creative ways to add the benefits of apple cider vinegar to your life. Be sure to let us know in the comments if you have any other creative uses!

Top 15 Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

While the uses for white vinegar are vast, apple cider vinegar may be even more versatile and beneficial. Note that white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are not the same, so it is important to read labels carefully.

We often get asked, “What is apple cider vinegar good for?” The answer varies depending on how and where you want to use it. From the kitchen to the bathroom and even your medicine cabinet, apple cider vinegar has a variety of surprising applications. Let’s explore some of them.

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Salad Dressing: Opt for apple cider vinegar in homemade salad dressings instead of balsamic vinegar. (See below for a great apple cider vinegar salad dressing recipe!)
2. Apple Cider Vinegar Smoothie: Add two tablespoons to your morning smoothie for an extra energy kick, but start with small amounts due to its strong flavor.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner: Mix one part apple cider vinegar with three to four parts water and use it as a facial toner. Apply to the skin with a cotton pad, let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse. Repeat this process three times a day.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar Digestive Tonic: Combine two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with one tablespoon each of fresh ginger, water, and fresh lemon juice. Add 8 oz of sparkling water and sweeten with raw honey to taste. Pour over ice and enjoy! (Ginger is also well-known for its stomach-soothing properties. Learn more about ginger uses and benefits).
5. All-Purpose Cleaner with Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar in equal parts with water, then add a few drops of essential oil like lemon oil, to create an all-purpose cleaner.²
6. Boost Bone Broth: Enhance your homemade bone broth by adding two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar after cooking.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar Detox Bath: Add one cup of apple cider vinegar, two cups Epsom salts, and a few drops of lavender essential oil to your bathwater for a relaxing and detoxifying bath.²
8. Apple Cider Vinegar Body Scrub: Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with one cup of granulated sugar and one tablespoon of honey to create a whole-body scrub.
9. Trap Fruit Flies: Pour a thin layer of apple cider vinegar into a cup and add a drop of dish soap. Place it on the counter to trap fruit flies.³
10. Remove Cat Urine: To remove the smell of cat urine, add apple cider vinegar to your laundry when washing the affected item.
11. Banish Bad Breath: Mix 1/2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with one cup of water and gargle for 10 seconds. Spit and repeat to eliminate bad breath.⁴
12. Post-Workout Recovery: Combat lactic acid buildup by adding one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your water bottle after a workout.⁴
13. Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Treatment: Briefly rinse your hair with 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar after shampooing to achieve shiny, detangled hair.⁴
14. Whiten Teeth: Use apple cider vinegar as a gargle after brushing to help remove stains and brighten teeth.⁴
15. Apple Cider Vinegar Throat Soother: Mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and water to create a throat-soothing gargle that can be used hourly.⁴

15 More Ways to Use Apple Cider Vinegar

We received numerous suggestions from our online fans on how they enjoy using apple cider vinegar. Many start their morning with a glass of water mixed with apple cider vinegar for a quick boost. There were also many tips on using apple cider vinegar for common household and beauty needs. It's clear that our fans appreciate the wide range of health benefits offered by apple cider vinegar. Highlights of the top uses include:

16. Apple Cider Vinegar as a Dairy-Free Buttermilk Substitute: Use apple cider vinegar to create a quick buttermilk substitute by adding one tablespoon to one cup of milk and allowing the mixture to thicken. Alternatively, sour rice milk using the same ratio to make a homemade buttermilk substitute. Use it in recipes like cornbread or biscuits. – Amy O.H.
17. Apple Cider Vinegar Liver Detox Tonic: Combine it with pure, sparkling water (about 8 oz) to make a DIY liver tonic. “It’s very refreshing and good for the liver,” says Louise F.
18. Apple Cider Vinegar Metabolism Boost: Enhance fat burn during workouts by adding one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your water bottle.⁴
19. Remove Hair Product Buildup: Apply apple cider vinegar (about one to three tablespoons) to your scalp in the shower to clean and remove buildup. – Alysha C.
20. Healthy Apple Cider Vinegar Marinade: Use it to marinate steaks for about 30 minutes before grilling to enhance flavor. – Rick B.
21. Apple Cider Vinegar Health Tonic: Mix it with distilled water, raw honey, and cayenne pepper to create a general health tonic. – Robin B.
22. Jazz Up Tomato Juice: Add some zing by putting a shot (about one tablespoon) of apple cider vinegar in your morning tomato juice. “This makes my homemade tomato juice really tangy every morning! YUM,” says Kay B.
23. Cucumber Salad: Create a zippy cucumber salad with apple cider vinegar, chopped onions, and mayo. – Audra P. (We suggest using two cups sliced cucumbers, two tablespoons chopped onions, ½ cup mayo, and one tablespoon apple cider vinegar, plus salt and pepper.)
24. DIY Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo: Create your own shampoo by adding one tablespoon to a cup of chamomile tea. – Jamie L.
25. Smoothie-Booster: Add a shot to your green superfood smoothie for a nutritious recovery drink. “I use it in my smoothies,” says Jo Ann G.
26. Fluffy Rice: Achieve fluffier rice by adding a splash (about one teaspoon) of apple cider vinegar to the cooking water. “I LOVE this stuff!! I put a capful into my raw rice before cooking and it’s nice and fluffy. No vinegar taste!!” – Jody W.
27. Apple Cider Vinegar Fruit & Veggie Scrub: Use it to clean fruits and vegetables before eating. – Mandy E.
28. Detangle Children’s Hair: Gently detangle children’s long locks by adding a splash during the final rinse.
29. Remove Rust/Mineral Stains: Place a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar over rust or mineral stains and let it sit overnight to help remove the stains.
30. Regular Vinegar Replacement: Replace regular vinegar with apple cider vinegar in all your recipes! – Patricia F.

The Best Apple Cider Vinegar to Buy

People often ask, “What’s the best apple cider vinegar?” Whether for weight loss support, hair and skin care, or adding to smoothies and detox drinks, the best apple cider vinegar is one that suits your specific needs.

However, some people wonder if apple cider vinegar could be harmful. Due to its acidic nature, even those who can tolerate drinking it straight should consider diluting it to avoid stomach discomfort.

We recommend purchasing an organic apple cider vinegar that is raw, unprocessed, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and contains the mother. Here are our top two recommended apple cider vinegar products.

1. BubbForest Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother
2. Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother

These products meet our quality criteria as outlined above. Below is a quick comparison chart for these two apple cider vinegar products.

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What is the Mother in Apple Cider Vinegar?

The apple cider vinegar mother is a natural complex of friendly bacteria, proteins, enzymes, and fiber. Apple cider vinegar with mother has a cloudy appearance, but this indicates that it is full of beneficial elements. Filtered, refined versions of apple cider vinegar that lack the mother do not offer as many benefits.

Our 5 Favorite ACV Uses

Watch this short video that showcases five of our favorite ACV recipe uses:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar Facial Toner
2. Apple Cider Vinegar All-Purpose Cleaner
3. Apple Cider Vinegar & Honey Vinaigrette
4. Apple Cider Vinegar Throat Soother
5. Apple Cider Vinegar Mocktail

Apple Cider Vinegar Uses Infographic

Apple Cider Vinegar Recipes

Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar and BubbForest’s Apple Cider Vinegar with Mother offer a wide range of health benefits. While they are acidic products without sweeteners, making them challenging for some to consume directly, there are recipes that either mask the flavor or complement it, creating more palatable drinks. However, preferences vary, so finding the best-tasting apple cider vinegar recipe may require some experimentation.

Some prefer to mix apple cider vinegar with other acidic juices like orange juice, while others take a shot of apple cider vinegar followed by something else to mask the taste, such as bread. It often takes trial and error to discover what works best for your palate, but here's an apple cider vinegar drink recipe to get you started.

Apple Cider Vinegar Mocktail Recipe/Detox Drink Recipe

2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in 8 oz of water.

2 teaspoons organic honey