20 Surprising Uses for Apple Cider Vinegar

From the past 5-6 years, science is coming up with the health benefits of interestingly Apple Cider Vinegar. But if we talk about ancient times, then it was always there as proven health and medical benefits.

This age-old and antique ingredient has been used for various cooking and household purposes. Its usage not only benefits in lower blood sugar, cholesterol, and weight loss, but it's improvised version also helps in controlling symptoms of diabetes.

It can also be used in all sorts of recipes, including salad dressings, soups, sauces, hot drinks and more.

Here are the 20 Ways to use Apple Cider Vinegar.

1. To Lower Blood Sugar 

Apple cider vinegar is claimed to help diabetics control their blood sugar levels. Some studies have shown that consuming vinegar after a high-carb meal can improve insulin sensitivity by as much as 34% and reduce blood sugar levels significantly.
However, if you’re on medication for diabetes, you should check with your doctor before taking apple cider vinegar.

2. To Help You Feel Full

Apple cider vinegar is sometimes recommended as a weight loss aid. This is because it may help you feel full.
Some short-term studies have shown that consuming apple cider vinegar may help you eat fewer calories, lose weight and reduce belly fat. However, its long-term effects on weight loss are unknown and likely to be small unless other dietary and lifestyle changes are made.

3. To Preserve Food 

Just like other types of vinegar, apple cider vinegar is an effective preservative. In fact, people have used vinegar as a pickling agent to preserve foods for thousands of years. It works by making the food more acidic, which deactivates its enzymes and kills any bacteria in the food that may cause spoilage.

4. As a Deodorizer

Apple cider vinegar is known to have antibacterial properties. Because of this, it’s often claimed that apple cider vinegar can eliminate bad smells. There isn’t any research to back up these claims, but you can try it out by mixing apple cider vinegar with water to make a deodorizing spray.

This makes a natural alternative to odour neutralizers. You can also mix it with water and Epsom salts to make a foot soak, like this. This may help get rid of unwanted foot odour by killing off odour- causing bacteria.

5. To Make a Salad Vinaigrette

One easy way to use apple cider vinegar is to make a simple salad dressing. Homemade salad dressings can be much healthier for you than store-bought ones, and they’re often tastier, too.

6. To Make an All-Purpose Cleaner

Apple cider vinegar is often a popular choice for a natural alternative to commercial cleaning agents. This is because of its antibacterial properties. Mix 1 cup of water with half a cup of apple cider vinegar, and you’ll have a natural all-purpose cleaner.

However, it’s worth noting that although vinegar such as apple cider vinegar can kill some bacteria, they aren’t as effective at killing harmful bacteria as commercial cleaning agents

7. To Soothe a Sore Throat

Apple cider vinegar is a popular home remedy for sore throats. It’s thought that its antibacterial properties could help kill off the bacteria that could be causing the problem. However, there is no evidence to support its use in this way. If you try this at home, make sure you mix the vinegar with water before gargling.

This is because apple cider vinegar is very acidic and has been known to cause throat burns when consumed undiluted

8. As a Facial Toner

Anecdotally, apple cider vinegar is claimed to help remedy skin conditions and reduce the signs of ageing.

As such, many people like to use apple cider vinegar to make a skin tonic. The general recipe is 1 part apple cider vinegar to 2 parts water. This is then applied to the skin using a cotton pad. However, if you have sensitive skin, you may want to make a more diluted solution.

9. To Trap Fruit Flies

Fruit flies can be a pest. Interestingly, it’s really easy to use apple cider vinegar to make a cheap fruit fly trap.  Simply pour some apple cider vinegar into a cup, add a few drops of dish soap (so that any trapped flies sink) and you’re good to go.

10. To Boil Better Eggs 

Adding vinegar to the water you use to boil or poach eggs can help you produce consistently good eggs. This is because the protein in egg whites firm up more quickly when exposed to a more acidic liquid

11. As a Marinade

Another way to use apple cider vinegar when cooking is to make a marinade. In fact, apple cider vinegar is a popular ingredient in many steak marinades, as it gives the meat a nice sweet and sour flavour.

Combine it with wine, garlic, soy sauce, onion, and cayenne pepper to give your steak a delicious flavour.

12. To Wash Fruits and Vegetables

Pesticide residue on fruits and vegetables can be a concern for many people. That’s why some people like to wash their fruits and vegetables in apple cider vinegar. The hope is that it’ll remove more of the chemical residues than water alone. Although it’s not entirely clear if it will remove more pesticides than simply washing with water, it may help kill any dangerous bacteria on food.

For example, washing foods in vinegar has been shown to remove dangerous bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella

13. To Clean Dentures

You can also use apple cider vinegar to clean dentures. Although there’s no consensus on the best method to clean dentures, it’s thought that the residues justify by apple cider vinegar could be less harmful to the skin in your mouth than other cleaning agents

14. In the Bath

For the same reasons people like using apple cider vinegar as a homemade facial toner, they also like using it in the bath. If you want to try it, add 1–2 cups of apple cider vinegar to your bathwater and enjoy a soak in your tub.

15. As a Hair Rinse

An apple cider vinegar hair rinse is said to remove product build up, detangle and add shine to your hair. Try mixing 1 part apple cider vinegar with 1 part water and pour the mixture over your hair. Leave it in for a few minutes before washing it out.

If you have sensitive skin, then you should try doing this with a weaker dilution first, as the vinegar is quite acidic.

16. As a Dandruff Treatment

Massaging diluted apple cider vinegar into your scalp may help get rid of dandruff. It’s unclear how effective this is, but the theory is that the acid in the vinegar could help stop the growth of the fungus Malassezia, which may contribute to dandruff.

17. In a Sauce

Apple cider vinegar can be a great ingredient for a tangy sauce for your food. Try adding it to tomato-based sauces to give them a fuller flavour.

18. In Soup

Adding vinegar to a soup can help bring its flavours to life. If your favourite homemade soup tastes a little bland, try adding a little vinegar to it at the end. Add it gradually until the soup tastes great.

19. As a Weed Killer

Another great use for apple cider vinegar is as a homemade weed killer.  Spray undiluted vinegar on unwanted weeds in your garden to get rid of them. You can also try mixing it with soap and lemon juice to see if that makes it more effective. 

Studies show that if you are using Apple Cider Vinegar in your diet in a specific amount, then it can manage your overall health problems. Although an excess of anything is injurious to health, if you keep a track on the dosage of Apple Cider Vinegar, then it can support your health in various ways.

20. To Lower the Risk of Cancer

It’s often claimed that apple cider vinegar can help lower your risk of cancer.

In test-tube studies, vinegar has been shown to kill cancer cells Some observational studies, which can’t prove causation, have also linked consuming apple cider vinegar with a decreased risk of oesophageal cancer. However, other studies have linked it with an increased risk of bladder cancer

Overall, there is insufficient evidence to make any claims regarding the effects of apple cider vinegar on the risk of cancer.