TREND BITES:
Vinegar
Why Menu Makers are Zeroing in on Vinegar
Between data-backed menu growth, flavor-boosting properties, and customer intrigue, you should really take a closer look at how vinegar is being used on your menu—and how it isn't. Datssential's Menu Trends shows impressive increases in menu mentions for several types of vinegar. "Salt and Vinegar" has grown by 34% over the past four years while "Rice Vinegar" has grown by 15%. "Apple Cider Vinegar" has remained level but data experts predict it to increase in menu mentions by a massive 78% over the next four years.
Consumers and chefs alike are interested in dishes that include vinegar because while vinegar's flavor is extremely powerful (and we're well aware that bold flavors are popular), it's still very familiar and can add a huge flourish of flavor to an application that is equally expected and unexpected. Expected, because everyone knows what vinegar tastes like. Unexpected, because consumers might not know exactly how vinegar's acidity will enhance other features of the dish.Vinegar Varieties Customers Care About
Vinegar is showing up everywhere from craft cocktails to creamy condiments, in what Whole Foods calls "vinegar's modern renaissance." They listed vinegar as one of their Top 8 Food Trends for 2026 due to its ability to infiltrate so many menus, lifestyles, and grocery store aisles.
As a foodservice operator, there are a few key varieties of to call out on menus right now that will appeal to customers.
- First: Salt and Vinegar. This tangy, thirst-inducing combo is making its way up the snack food chain. It reached ubiquity in potato chips, then moved into French fries, and now it's popular on chicken wings. Here's our Salt and Vinegar Wings recipe, which will be a hit with snacky customers.
- Second: Vinaigrette. Because consumers are so familiar with vinaigrette as a salad dressing, it's very approachable and chefs are finding success in using it to add brightness to savory dishes. Try serving this Lemongrass Chicken while calling out "vinaigrette" in the item descriptions.
- Third: Rice Vinegar. This Asian vinegar variation is milder and sweeter than traditional Western vinegars. Consumers became familiar with it through sushi and are craving its global appeal across other menu items. Take the same depth and complexity rice vinegar adds to sushi and apply it to other entrees that feature savory and fresh elements like this Miso Chicken with Walnuts and Grapes.
- Fourth: Apple Cider Vinegar. As mentioned above, apple cider vinegar is expected to surge on menus soon, likely due to an increase in "functional eating," the trend where consumers seek out foods for the function they provide to our bodies. Apple cider vinegar has many perceived health benefits, from helping with blood sugar management to supporting weight loss. According to Datassential's "Inspiration Report: Health & Wellness", functional foods like apple cider vinegar are increasingly appealing to younger diners and health-minded consumers.
Recipes Balanced with Vinegar that Your Guests Will Love:
The Science of Flavor Boosting
There's a reason vinegar-based dressings are the preferred pairing to salads. Vinegar's bright acidity makes fresh vegetables seem extra crisp and flavorful. It can also lift the natural richness or earthiness of the vegetables to the surface, so that each individual flavor featured in a bite of salad stands out more. If you're interested in the science of how acidity enhances taste buds' interactions with other flavors, scientists at Business University in Beijing have been studying the taste characteristics of organic acids in foods.
On the opposite side of the food spectrum from fresh veggies are rich, heavy foods like creamy soups, sandwiches, and fried appetizers. And vinegar pairs well with them too! It gives a sharp contrast that cuts through the thickness of fatty foods, rounding out the flavors. The Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts advises that when adding vinegar to a fatty food, "The key is to start small and taste as you go." Start with a teaspoon in a sauce or soup to see how it enhances the dish before it can dominate it.
Here are a few more recipes our culinary team made to get you started! Use vinegar to bring out the flavors in fresh veggies in this Chopped Asian Salad or let vinegar's acidity cut through the indulgent, heavy ingredients in this Harissa Burger.Chicken for Your Vinegar Creations
Give Vinegar a Starring Role on Your Menu
Vinegar has turned from a pantry staple into a powerhouse that’s driving menu innovation. With data showing steady growth and even bigger projections ahead, now is the time to explore how a touch of vinegar can enhance your menu!
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