Is Balsamic Vinegar Acidic or Alkaline?
Balsamic vinegar (raw) is alkaline: Negative PRAL: alkalizing after digestion.
Classification
Balsamic vinegar is cooked-down grape must mixed with vinegar. The must brings some potassium into the bottle, hence the slightly alkaline value of −1.0 per 100 ml. The acetic acid itself is fully metabolized and doesn't count. Since you only use a tablespoon per salad, its contribution stays small. Still, it replaces creamy dressings made with yogurt, egg yolk or cheese.
In the Herbs, Spices & Sauces category, balsamic vinegar (raw) ranks #51 of 75, sorted from alkaline to acid-forming. More alkaline options include Italian dressing (−1.3), Honey mustard dressing (−1.3), Sauce Tabasco (−1.7). More acid-forming are Capers (−0.2), Yogurt dressing (+0.1), Beef broth, powder (+0.2).
Acidic or alkaline: PRAL, not pH
On this site, acidic and alkaline refer to the PRAL (potential renal acid load). It estimates what a food leaves behind once it has been digested: a positive value is acid-forming, a negative value is alkalizing. That is different from the pH of the food itself: a lemon tastes sour, yet its PRAL is −4.0, so it is alkalizing. Your diet does not change your blood pH. It does change how much acid your kidneys have to deal with.
Goes well with
Frequently Asked Questions
Is balsamic vinegar acidic?
It depends on what you mean by acidic. The pH describes the food itself, for example how sour it tastes. The PRAL describes what it leaves behind after digestion: Balsamic vinegar (raw) has a PRAL of −1.0 per 100 ml, so it counts as alkaline in your daily acid-base balance.
How much balsamic vinegar do I need for a noticeable effect?
A teaspoon (5 g) of balsamic vinegar adds −0.1 to your daily balance. For comparison: an egg is around +5.4, a slice of cheese around +6. So one serving of balsamic vinegar roughly offsets one of them.
Why is balsamic vinegar alkaline even though it tastes sour?
The PRAL depends on the minerals left over after digestion, not on taste or pH. Balsamic vinegar provides more potassium, magnesium and calcium than phosphorus and protein, so the balance is negative (−1.0).
Balsamic Vinegar logged, balance checked.
Basentracker adds up every meal automatically and shows whether your day is in the alkaline range. The same values as on this page, all 977 foods, photo scan, recipes.
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Compare all Herbs, Spices & Sauces: Herbs, Spices & Sauces table. Common questions are answered in Acidic or Alkaline?, and the PRAL calculator adds up a whole meal.
Source: Basentracker food database (PRAL according to Remer & Manz, calculated from protein, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium per 100 g). This information does not replace medical advice.