Deviled eggs question...salt/wh vinegar
@above31rubies (1863)
United States
May 12, 2008 6:30pm CST
So, I made deviled eggs and followed a recipe. 
Pretty much all of the recipes I found used salt and white vinegar. I had no vinegar so I didn't use that but everything else was as called for in the recipe.
I thought the eggs were VERY salty. Now, I am super sensitive to the salt taste in foods so it may have been just me (hubby doesn't eat them and 14 yr old dd said they were fine). But, I am wondering if maybe the white vinegar interacts with the salt somehow and I should use the amount of salt it calls for when I make them again, assuming I have the vinegar then...? Or should I cut back the salt regardless of whether or not I have the vinegar because they have nothing to do with each other...?
Any chemistry buffs or cooking experts (self proclaimed or otherwise...lol) out there who now the answer...? 
Pretty much all of the recipes I found used salt and white vinegar. I had no vinegar so I didn't use that but everything else was as called for in the recipe.
I thought the eggs were VERY salty. Now, I am super sensitive to the salt taste in foods so it may have been just me (hubby doesn't eat them and 14 yr old dd said they were fine). But, I am wondering if maybe the white vinegar interacts with the salt somehow and I should use the amount of salt it calls for when I make them again, assuming I have the vinegar then...? Or should I cut back the salt regardless of whether or not I have the vinegar because they have nothing to do with each other...?
Any chemistry buffs or cooking experts (self proclaimed or otherwise...lol) out there who now the answer...? 2 people like this
13 responses
@jhl930 (3601)
• United States
13 May 08
I have made deviled egges several times and so has my family and we have never used vinegar or anything like that honestly...all we do is just boil eggs and then after we do that we peel them...and put the yellow part in a bowl and add some mayo and mustard and salt and pepper and mix it all up together and then just take scoops of the deviled part and just put it in the egg(because we cut them in half to get the yellow part out)and thats all we do and they are really good and everyone likes them...so you could try that if you wanted
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
Yep- that is usually how I make them. Honestly I was surprised to find all the recipes with the vinegar. Interesting. Thanks for the response. :)
@sedel1027 (17846)
• Cupertino, California
13 May 08
Vinegar does enhance the flavor of food, so if you use both salt & vinegar then it could bring out the saltiness.
I have never heard of deviled eggs with salt and white vinegar. I would that that would be pretty gross. We don't use vinegar in our deviled eggs.
1 person likes this
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
13 May 08
Well I don’t know about devilled eggs but from experience I have seen this much that salt and sour do tend to outbalance each other. In many dishes, particularly curries, I like adding lime juice or curd-water to add a zing to it. But sometimes when its tastes a wee bit more soury than I like, I just sprinkle some salt and the extra sour taste is gone. but if its too salty, then of course vinegar does not help. I either sprinkle some sugar (short cut) or add some potatoes (lengthy process).
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
Oh, I didn't know about sugar- there was a little sugar in the recipe, too. I didn't know this about sugar, or I could have added a touch more when I taste tested. I wonder, though...if the salt help soften the vinegar's sourness, and the sugar softens the saltiness...why not just skip them altogether and leave them out completely like my normal recipe? It's not like salt and sugar are the healthiest foods in the world, right? Though, if the other poster is correct in saying the vinegar help cut down on the overpower egg odor...that might be worth it right there...lol.
Well, thank you very much for the response. I appreciate it.
@newtondak (3946)
• United States
13 May 08
I don't use vinegar. I use Miracle Whip, mustard, and salt and pepper to taste, then sprinkle paprika on top.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
13 May 08
I've never followed a recipe for deviled eggs before, and I've never known anyone to use vinegar.
I just mix the yolk with a little mayo and/or miracle whip, a small amount of sweet relish, salt, pepper, maybe a bit of garlic salt, then fill them back up. Oh, and add a tiny sprinkle of paprika when finished to add a little color.
When asked to bring a dish for a function, I've known people to specifically ask me to bring my deviled eggs.
Don't you taste the filling before well, filling? I've never done anything without tasting it first.
What is the recipe? I'm wondering what else is different about it besides the vinegar.
1 person likes this
@kemmerlin6 (107)
• United States
13 May 08
I always use vinegar, but never salt. I simply mix mayo, mustard, and vinegar with the egg. Then sprinke with paprika. I couldn't imagine adding salt to them...but that's just me.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
YEA!! Someone that finally uses vinegar!! I was starting to wonder if the recipes were a trick...lol. Well, the recipe I used certainly had way to much salt. If you make yours without salt and like the vinegar fine...I think I will just cut the salt in half next time.
I usually just do mayo, mustard and maybe a touch of salt and pepper...but I was in the mood to try something different.
Thank you for responding! :)
@kemmerlin6 (107)
• United States
13 May 08
I really am surprised that no one else used the vinegar. Maybe it has something to do with Indiana, but everyone I know uses it. It gives it a special flavor that you wouldnt get with salt. And it doesn't give it a "vinegary" flavor. Just something different...as long as you only use a little. Good luck with it! :)
p.s. I also like to mix it up every now and then and toss in some shredded cheese and bacon bits.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
Hmm...that could be. Interesting thought. I will have to pay attention to that aspect if I decide to try this recipe again. Usually I just mix mayo, mustard and a touch of salt and pepper...decided to get creative and find a new recipe...lol. Thanks for your response.
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
14 May 08
I have never followed a recipe, just do them the way mom did... though maybe I should try a recipe some time and see how that goes. I always use a touch of mustard in the deviled eggs - and I am thinking that gives the vinegar flavoring that you are find being asked for.
Maybe vinegar would be a softer flavor than the mustard. I do like vinegar with eggs, I like pickled eggs a lot and use vinegar in my potato salad dressing.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
13 May 08
hmm..i've used vinegar in potato salad (containing eggs)but never deviled eggs..i know vinegar tends to pull the flavor out of some things stronger,like herbs,but i'd never heard it said of salt.i suppose it's possible.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
Potato salad sounds good, I was thinking of making some of that soon, too.
Someone else mentioned the vinegar just adds a little extra flavor, so maybe it enhances the other flavors a little...? Thank you for responding. :)
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
I wonder if the relish has some type of vinegar in it. At any rate, I usually make them how you do but without the relish. Thanks for responding. :)
@nova1945 (1612)
• United States
13 May 08
I have never heard of using salt and vinegar in deviled eggs. I use a very tiny bit of salt and about a tablespoon of mustard but never vinegar. Then sprinkle paprika on top as garnish.
Hubby hates vinegar in anything and is not allowed much salt due to his blood pressure meds.
@above31rubies (1863)
• United States
13 May 08
I was a little surprised to see all of the recipes calling for it, too. I usually do mayo, mustard and maybe a touch of salt and pepper. Funny...no responder here yet uses vinegar but yet all of the recipes did...lol. Maybe most people don't *really* uses recipes for them. 
Thanks for responding.
Thanks for responding.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
14 May 08
Thats a recipe for deviled eggs that I have never
heard of. I used good mayo like Hidden valley ranch
lite with chopped pickles and celery and a little chopped
green pepper in mine. not vinegar nor salt either
as I am not supposed to use salt because of my
high blood pressure.
