Specifically for recovering alcoholics, obviously. I know that vinegar is created from alcohol, but is it diluted or chemically changed enough to not compromise a person’s recovery if used in cooking, salad dressing, etc? I did try Google and a few other resources but I’m not really finding an answer. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Well, seeing as how vinegar is simply dilute acetic acid, as opposed to dilute ethyl alcohol, I can’t see a problem. Acetic acid and ethyl alcohol are not the same, despite the fact they come from similar sources (sugars).
Not all vinigar is made from alcohol. For example apple cider vinigar is produced like alchohol in that cider is allowed to ferment but using a different yeast than for hard cider.
As far as I know, as a recovering person who’s looked into this, vinegar contains virtually no ethanol, or other mood-altering chemicals. I’ve cooked with it fearlessly, substituting wine vinegar for wine in recipes. I’ve gone to Williams-Sonoma’s vinegar tasting bar and enjoyed a wide variety of samples, and I’ve never felt there was a problem. Nor have I found myself compulsively consuming vinegar.
And while I’ve heard of recovering people who have gotten into trouble with mouthwash, non-alcoholic beer (which has alcohol in it), rum cake, baked alaska, OTC cough and congestion medicines, I’ve never heard of anyone having trouble with vinegar.
Vinegar is dilute acetic acid, a molecule similar to alcohol, but without it’s intoxicating effects.
Hope that helps.
Thanks so much for the replies. Yet more proof that this place is awesome!