Does Vinegar Make Something Less Spicy? The Culinary Science Explained
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6 min read
The burning sensation from a spicy chili pepper isn't a taste, but a reaction to the chemical compound capsaicin. A popular kitchen trick for taming an overly fiery dish involves adding an acidic ingredient like vinegar, but does vinegar make something less spicy, or does it just change the flavor profile? The answer lies in the molecular properties of capsaicin and its interaction with acetic acid.
