Weird floating stuff in vinegar (red wine, cider, organic, shake)

[rrah]

I keep several types of vinegar in the pantry. I most often use Red Wine vinegar for salad dressings. My son purchased a "fancy" bottle when he was here at Christmas. I've used it since then and even as recently as last week.

I went into the pantry today to use it. There was this weird, almost floating stuff on top--almost like a layer of oil. I've seen vinegar before with sediment. This wasn't sediment. When I shook the bottle up the entire layer kind of moved around together and didn't separate. I have no idea what it is. I didn't think vinegar would mold.

The bottle has already been tossed, but any ideas what this is or what caused it? I keep it stored in the pantry like I've always done.

[evening sun]

I think it might have been the "Mother" You can use it to make more vinegar. I tried to do that once, but I had no luck. It is not dangerous & the vinegar is still good to use.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_of_vinegar

[Catgirl64]

Originally Posted by evening sun

I think it might have been the "Mother" You can use it to make more vinegar. I tried to do that once, but I had no luck. It is not dangerous & the vinegar is still good to use.



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_of_vinegar

That was my first thought, too, but doesn't the mother usually settle at the bottom of the bottle? I wouldn't describe it as looking like oil.

[evening sun]

Originally Posted by Catgirl64

That was my first thought, too, but doesn't the mother usually settle at the bottom of the bottle? I wouldn't describe it as looking like oil.

I don't know, but it does stick together when the bottle is shaken, as Op said. Mine did look a bit oily or slimy, it is weird looking stuff.

[rrah]

Hmm....interesting thought about the mother. I have some organic apple cider vinegar with the mother. It does settle at the bottom in that bottle. Just odd because this was on the top.

Updating this--You both win the prize for the day! I googled images of red wine vinegar "mother." That's what it is!

[TerraDown]

They are correct. It is the Mother. Kombucha is related, and does float to the surface.

[Debsi]

Reminds me of a story my brother tells about his Sicilian Father-in-Law -- "I killed the mother, I killed the mother!"

[hotzcatz]

If you get a bottle of good vinegar with the mother in it, you can pour just a bit of it into a bottle of not so good vinegar and then the mother will grow in that one and improve it. We will usually get a small pint of the good stuff and a gallon of the not as good stuff and inoculate the gallon and then wait until it's got the floating streamers of mother in it.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

If you get a bottle of good vinegar with the mother in it, you can pour just a bit of it into a bottle of not so good vinegar and then the mother will grow in that one and improve it. We will usually get a small pint of the good stuff and a gallon of the not as good stuff and inoculate the gallon and then wait until it's got the floating streamers of mother in it.

Thank you! I didn't know that.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

If you get a bottle of good vinegar with the mother in it, you can pour just a bit of it into a bottle of not so good vinegar and then the mother will grow in that one and improve it. We will usually get a small pint of the good stuff and a gallon of the not as good stuff and inoculate the gallon and then wait until it's got the floating streamers of mother in it.

The first thing I thought of when I read this is that a gallon of vinegar will last me the rest of my life