Someone at Alcohol SE suggested that I post this question here: Dehydrating Apple Cider Vinegar?
I've been experimenting with dehydrating apple cider vinegar
I'd like to concentrate it and put it into capsules. ~15 size 00 capsules are needed to contain 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar. Since most apple cider vinegar purchased on the market is ~95% water, the result of putting it into gelatin capsules is that the capsules dissolve. In theory, I should be able to separate out the water and be left with a substance that will not dissolve capsules made for oils. Also in theory, I could make 1 serving of apple cider vinegar fit into 1 capsule and have some room left over.
My current method is to dehydrate the apple cider vinegar at 145 degrees fahrenheit. I've ready that any temperature higher than 150 farenheit will break down enzymes in whatever substance I'm heating (I'm assuming there are precious enzymes to preserve in apple cider vinegar). The result after 3 hours is a brown syrupy substance that only partially dissolved a gelatin capsule. The result after 6 hours is a thick dark brown substance that I'm currently testing in gelatin capsules. My questions is, is it safe to assume that that dark brown substance is dehydrated apple cider vinegar that can be rehydrated, or would the dehyration process evaporate the vinegar away along with the water?
What might this left over substance be, in that case?
Best Answer
You might actually want to look at other methods - either alongside or instead of your current dehydration.
"Commercial" Vinegar powder (where it isn't actually just the acid components) is basically maltodextrin sprayed with your vinegar and dried. There's a ton of references like this one, though admittedly I learnt this from watching how its made.
The nice thing here is you don't really need more heat (or high heat) to do this. In theory you might also be able to do it with starch.
Since the water is 'locked away' its also less likely to dissolve your capsule
I'm almost half certain that I remember that spray drying or freeze drying would work too, but I can't find any sources, and these arn't processes one can easily do at home