Salt and Vinegar Seasoning

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If you love salt and vinegar chips, you’ve probably wondered how to make that seasoning. Find out what I learned about this love it or hate it flavor.

Making your own salt and vinegar seasoning, entirely from scratch, can be done, but I found the two methods I tried to be time-consuming and without consistent results. Instead, I took a shortcut, which worked like a charm.

Spice jar of salt and vinegar seasoning, popcorn and measuring spoons around.

Can You Make Homemade Salt And Vinegar Seasoning?

Well… I initially tried two popular methods for making the salt and vinegar seasoning from scratch: the air drying method and the boiling method. Both require evaporation, which can take hours. Here’s how they each worked out for me.

Air Dry Method

First, I tried Martha Stewart’s air drying method using cornstarch, vinegar, and salt. The BBC also published a similar recipe. The ingredients are mixed and left to air dry on a baking sheet for 24 hours. However being in humid Florida in the middle of summer, the mixture was still damp well into the 48 hour mark. 

This was a fail, not only due to the drying time, but also the flavor. The salt was overpowering, and the cornstarch sucked any moisture out of my mouth when I tried to sprinkle it on chips and popcorn. And while it smelled like vinegar, the actual vinegar flavor was lost.

Boiling Method

The second method I tried was the boiling method from Life Hacker using a mixture of baking soda with white vinegar that is stirred until it no longer bubbles. It’s then boiled on the stove or microwave until reduced to 1/10th of what you started with. Crystals are supposed to form, then you let the crystals dry, crush them into powder, and add salt to taste. Some recipes also add cornstarch to prevent it from clumping.

The recipe uses a lot of vinegar and took a long time to reduce. I tried on the stovetop and in the microwave but never did see any crystals form. The liquid, however, tasted EXACTLY like a salt and vinegar potato chip, so I was disappointed I couldn’t get this to work because the flavor was spot on.

The other downside to the boiling method is that it completely stinks up your house to the point of almost being overpowering. I had to open all of my doors and windows to clear the air at one point.

Shortcut Salt And Vinegar Seasoning

If either of the above methods were quick, I might reconsider trying them again. But instead, I opted for a shortcut with vinegar powder. I haven’t seen vinegar powder in grocery stores yet, but it can be easily found online. The powder is available in small packages as “white distilled” or “malt vinegar” and either one will work well for my shortcut recipe.

To make the salt and vinegar seasoning, mix together the vinegar powder and salt until well combined. Then transfer the mixture to a glass or ceramic container, and store in a cool, dry place up to three months.

Using Salt And Vinegar

I like to sprinkle this on hot popcorn and French fries. Make everything taste like salt and vinegar potato chips!

It also works well in marinades and salad dressings as a substitute for liquid vinegar. And, it gives dry rubs for things like chicken wings a little bit of a kick, too.

More Homemade Seasoning Blends

Love to get creative with your seasoning mixes? Try these recipes too.

Podcast Episode About Making Salt and Vinegar Seasoning

Listen to me explain briefly about how to make this recipe, with some great tips along the way, by clicking the play button below:

Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.

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Spice jar of salt and vinegar seasoning, popcorn and measuring spoons around.

Salt and Vinegar Seasoning Recipe

  • Author: Christine Pittman
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: About 4 oz. (1/2 cup) 1x
  • Category: Spice Blend
  • Method: Mix
  • Cuisine: American

DESCRIPTION

If you love salt and vinegar chips, you’ve probably wondered how to make that seasoning. 


Ingredients

  • 7 Tbsp. vinegar powder
  • 1 Tbsp. salt

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl whisk together vinegar powder and salt.
  2. Transfer mixture to an air-tight container. Store up to 3 months in a cool, dry, dark, place.

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Salt and Vinegar Seasoning

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About Christine

Christine is the founder of TheCookful and also of her blog COOKtheSTORY. Her passion is explaining the WHY behind cooking – Why should you cook things a certain way; Will they turn out if you do it differently; What are the pros and cons of the method? Learn more about Christine, her cookbooks, and her podcast.

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4 Comments

  1. I also tried the boiling method and it didn’t work. I ordered the vinegar powder and have to say that it is the best version so far! Thanks for the tip!






    1. Cheryl, I know it’s annoying that we have to order an ingredient, but I agree that it is the best method! Thanks for your feedback!

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