Make Store-Bought Potato Salad Taste Homemade With A Splash Of One Specific Vinegar
Ever buy a potato salad from the supermarket, then serve it and wish it tasted just a bit more homemade? Well, there's an easy fix to help you enhance the flavor of store-bought potato salad: All it takes is a splash of a specific vinegar, and you probably already have a bottle of it in your pantry. This vinegar is none other than apple cider vinegar, a tangy pantry staple known to wake up boring salads.
See, the acidity in apple cider vinegar helps cut through the fatty richness of the mayo in potato salad. The tanginess also adds a layer of flavor. Potatoes, after all, can be a little bland, though they do make good vessels for flavors. The apples in the vinegar deliver a subtly sweet fruitiness that rounds out the acidity and sharpness of the vinegar. These added notes will overall enhance the potato salad and make it taste closer to homemade.
If you're wondering if white distilled vinegar will work, the answer is that it would, but not quite as well. White distilled vinegar lacks the nuances and roundness of apple cider vinegar, which is made from apple fermentation.
It's easy to punch up the flavors of potato salads with just a spoonful of apple cider vinegar
As to how to incorporate apple cider vinegar into your store-bought potato salad, the key is to start with just a splash. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar directly into the tub. Give it a good stir, either with chopsticks or a spoon, taking care not to mash the potatoes. Have a taste to see if you'd prefer more vinegar. Let your taste buds guide you.
Remember that over time, the tangy flavors will get stronger. Adding too much apple cider vinegar could overpower the potato salad instead of enhancing it, especially if you let the dish sit in the fridge for a few days.
You don't have to stop with store-bought options: You can also elevate your tried-and-true homemade potato salad with a splash of apple cider vinegar. And for those who don't have a favorite recipe in their existing repertoire, go ahead and try adding it to our classic Southern potato salad recipe. Finally, if you're wondering what the best apple cider vinegar is, our ranking of 11 brands from best to worst might help you decide.