Question about making shrimp cocktail...

[sarahbeth]

I'd like to make shrimp cocktail using the Old Bay recipe on the back of the can. According to their website, I am supposed to use white vinegar. I do not have any in the house but I do have Red Wine Vinegar, Apple Cider Vinegar and Rice Wine Vinegar. Which one should I use or should I run out for white vinegar?

[thew]

cider or rice would both work, though rice would have less tang

[coll]

I think I'd rather use lemon juice. Not that I'm familiar with the recipe.....

[mcel215]

I use lemon juice instead of vinegar myself.

And if I don't have all the ingredients that Old Bay suggests, I have just thrown together, Ketchup, (lots) of horshradish, lemon juice, salt & pepper. It's really good.

[coll]

Worcestshire too, and tabasco. I just got my fresh made horseradish from the local fish store for tonight.

[porker]

I've made it with and without vinegar (white). There isn't a *big* difference. I'd suggest the apple cider vinegar. A bigger concern is when you make it - try to prepare it as close to eating them as possible. A day in advance, I find the flavors begin to dissipate.

Haagen, just curious, I thought white vineger is not the norm in US households. As a kid, travelling through the eastern us, nobody heard of vinegar on fries (I live in Canada) - and was always given a malt vinegar (blech on fries...) never white.
I do see it more nowadays, but still I assumed vinegar in the states meant a wine or cider vinegar?

[HaagenDazs]

"I thought white vineger is not the norm in US households"

You're talking about putting vinegar on food, like fries & fish? Sure, you're probably going to run into a bottle of malt vinegar 99.9% of the time at a restaurant, but that's not what we're talking about here. Malt vinegar is a typical condiment for fish & chips...

Anyway, white vinegar is pretty common compared to cider vinegar, sherry vinegar, balsamic vinegar, herb vinegar, etc. Does anyone disagree? Here in the southern US, I can walk into any grocery store and buy a gallon jug of white vinegar but I'd be pretty hard pressed to find a gallon jug of balsamic or sherry vinegar anywhere.

[sarahbeth]

Yes I agree, white vinegar is probably the most common because it can be used in cooking and household cleaning. Standard in the cabinet next to baking soda and flour. The only place that white vinegar is used as a condiment is Delaware beaches and nearby shores--- used on french fries instead of the typical malt vinegar found elsewhere.

[HaagenDazs]

Really anything of those vinegars will work, but I agree that cider vinegar is probably best. This is a good example of putting your own spin on a recipe - you will not always have the exact ingredients for all dishes you make, and following recipes can sometimes be bland and boring. Trust yourself and get the idea in your head that you can and should personalize dishes you cook in your own home!

Think about it this way: How did the folks at Old Bay come up with a recipe for this dish? Averaging all American households, what kind of vinegar is likely to be found in most homes? Answer: white vinegar. So... Old Bay probably decided that they would put white vinegar on the ingredient list because most homes will already have it.

Now enter creativity, flavor, and availability: What vinegar will have the most impact on flavor, what kind of vinegar do I like, and what do I have on my shelf right now?

[chowmel]

Growing up (New England) I thought white vinegar was for cleaning and pickling. We always used Cider vinegar in cooking and for salads (and for pickling too). I thought that was the norm !

[bacchus_is_watching]

Personally I like to use a little lime juice But I checked the Old Bay website to see what else their recipe called for and the site I read said cider vinegar...so I guess that would work fine!