How to Make Dandelion Vinegar

Learn how to make dandelion vinegar.  There are several dandelion vinegar benefits for your health, and you can use your infused vinegar for cooking or for DIY beauty recipes.

Dandelion Infused Vinegar

Dandelions are starting to pop up all over, dotting yards with little yellow flowers.  I remember my grandfather would freak out at the first sign of a dandelion.

He'd grab his spray bottle, and that was the end of the dandelions.

That was back in the late 80s and early 90s.  We know better now, so we do better.

I don't see little weeds.  I see the first signs of spring and a plant that has several health benefits.

I remember thinking that using dandelions as food was weird, but now I make all kinds of things with dandelions each year.

I usually infuse dandelions in oil for DIY beauty recipes.   I have a quart of hemp seed oil infusing in dandelions this year to make soap.

Here are more ways to use dandelions:

• Dandelion Tea Recipe
• Dandelion Jelly Canning Recipe
• How to Make Dandelion Oil
• Dandelion Lip Balm
• Dandelion Soap Recipe With Melt and Pour
• Dandelion Solid Lotion Recipe
• Dandelion Body Butter Recipe

 Dandelion Health Benefits 

Dandelions have several benefits for your health.  

Keep in mind that this dandelion infused vinegar will have a small amount of dandelion from the flowers, so you won't get a lot of these dandelion vinegar benefits simply due to the fact that you aren't using a lot at a time.

However, I think the dandelion vinegar benefits are still worth it.  Infusing the dandelion also gives a flavor boost.

Dandelion benefits include:

• Dandelion greens are a good source of Vitamins A, C, and K.  They also have Vitamin E and some B vitamins, as well as folate, iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
• Dandelions have beta carotene and polyphenols, which are powerful antioxidants.
• The polyphenols may reduce inflammation in the body.
• Chicoric acid and chlorogenic acid may reduce blood sugar levels.
• These acids may also limit how your body digests starch and carbohydrates.  
• Certain compounds may reduce cholesterol levels.
• Dandelions are a natural diuretic. 
• Dandelions may promote liver detox.
• Topically, dandelions may protect you from UVB rays.
• Dandelions can also reduce inflammation topically.

You will get some of these dandelion vinegar benefits, but keep in mind that you won't be ingesting a lot of dandelion with each serving.

What Do You Use Dandelion Vinegar For?

There are several dandelion vinegar uses.  Use it in place of vinegar in several recipes.

I like to use it as a marinade.  You can use dandelion vinegar in place of the lemon juice in this best ever steak marinade recipe.

Here are more dandelion vinegar uses:

• Use in place of vinegar to make salad dressing.  I use it in this zesty Italian dressing mix recipe.
• Use to marinate meat or vegetables.
• Dilute with water to drink.
• Use dandelion infused vinegar to make an herbal apple cider vinegar hair rinse.
• Use it to make a DIY hair mask for dry or damaged hair.
• Get the dandelion vinegar benefits for this DIY after sun spray recipe.
• Use it for this turmeric ginger shots recipe.

Can I Eat Dandelions From My Yard?

Yes, you can eat dandelions from your yard.  Avoid using dandelions near the road due to dust and debris from cars passing by.

Also make sure they are not where dogs or other animals might use them, if you know what I mean.

You can also find dried dandelions on Etsy.

Does Dandelion Have a Taste?

Dandelion flowers have a subtle sweet taste that complements the tartness of the vinegar in this dandelion vinegar recipe.

White vinegar tends to overpower the taste of the dandelion, so I recommend using a different vinegar when you learn how to make dandelion vinegar.

What Vinegar Should I Use for Dandelion Infused Vinegar?

You can use any vinegar to make dandelion infused vinegar.  I used white wine vinegar for salad dressings and apple cider vinegar for my hair.

Try using one of these vinegars:

• Apple cider vinegar (learn how to make apple cider vinegar from scratch)
• Red wine vinegar
• White wine vinegar
• Rice wine vinegar
• Distilled white vinegar
• Balsamic vinegar
• Champagne vinegar
• Sherry vinegar

Keep in mind that lighter vinegars will have more color after the infusion.  You'll still get the dandelion vinegar benefits with darker vinegars though.

How Long Does Dandelion Vinegar Last?

Although vinegar has an expiration date, it will last indefinitely due to the acid in the vinegar.  Your dandelion vinegar recipe will last for years as long as no water introduced into the bottle.

Tips for Making a Dandelion Vinegar Recipe

Here are some tips for learning how to make dandelion vinegar:

• Make and store your dandelion infused vinegar in a mason jar with a plastic lid.  The vinegar can react with the metal, so I don't recommend using a traditional canning lid and ring.  (I've bought cheap lids, and they break if you look at them wrong.  The Ball plastic lids are sturdy.)
• You can use fresh dandelions or dried dandelions.  If you use fresh flowers, wash them with water and let dry completely.
• I did a long infusion that takes a few weeks.  You can jump start it by heating the vinegar to 180 degrees F and pouring it over the flowers.  Heating vinegar can destroy some of the health properties of the vinegar, so I recommend using the longer infusion method.  However, heating the vinegar is better for dried dandelions to extract more of the benefits.
• A general rule is to use 2 parts vinegar to 1 part flowers.  If you use dried dandelions, you'll need about 2 tablespoons per pint of vinegar.
• Light vinegars will turn pale yellow in a few weeks.  Darker vinegars are hard to tell, so let them sit for two weeks.
• You don't need to be careful about removing the petals from the green base of the blossom.  The green part won't affect your vinegar.

Dandelion Infused Vinegar Ingredients

You will need the following for a dandelion vinegar recipe:

• 2 cups vinegar
• 1 cup fresh dandelion flowers or 2 tablespoons dried dandelion flowers
• Pint jar
• Plastic mason jar lid

How to Make Dandelion Vinegar

Step #1

Gather your dandelions.  You want the flower and not the stem because it can be bitter.

Step #2

Place the dandelion flowers in a colander and rinse well with cold water.  Let dry completely.  

Step #3

Fill a pint jar about half full with dandelions.  

Step #4

Cover with your choice of vinegar.  Label the jars and place a cap on it.  Let it sit in a cool dark location for two to four weeks.  Shake it every few days.

Step #5

When the vinegar turns yellow, strain out the dandelions by pouring into a fine mesh sieve.  Compost the flowers and save the dandelion infused vinegar.  You can then pour through cheesecloth if there are still bits of flowers left in the vinegar.

And that's how to make dandelion vinegar.  How will you use it?