I'd be concerned about the vinegar - most table vinegar is only 5% acidity.

I prefer this recipe:

1Tbsp cornstarch

1Tbsp water

2/3 c pineapple juice

1/3 c rice vinegar

1/3 c brown sugar

3 Tbsp ketchup

1Tbsp soy sauce

Thanks for the recipe, but I want to sort my problem first then I will look for better recipes. Would an apple vinegar be a good alternative?

You can use whatever vinegar you have but make sure the acid strength is no more than 5%.

btw, when heated, vinegar does give off fumes that can be rather intense. It is really the taste you need to be concerned about.

Well, I could barely bring a spoon of sauce to my face, felt really strong sensation of vinegar. Also as I was buying the vinegar I noticed that most of the vinegar on the shelf was 9%, so I thought this is the standard, although some of the vinegar like apple or wine was 5%.

Forgot to say that, at least here in the US, there are two versions widely available. Seasoned & unseasoned. I prefer the unseasoned (no added salt & sugar.)

I just checked and the organic apple cider vinegar we have is 5%. I would definitely try the recipe again with apple cider vinegar.

I have never seen 9% vinegar for sale as a table vinegar. That is way too acidic. Maybe it is intended for brining or pickling but not for 'normal' cooking or salad dressing purposes.

Dilute the stronger vinegar. Rice vinegar is preferred, per ci_lantro.

I have 3 and they're 5%, 6% & 7%. No 9%.

I agree with Ci_lantro - try it again with rice vinegar. I think that is what is used with most sweet & sour sauces. However, it is not something I make myself, but I do have both white and red rice vinegar.

I am curious. What is the brand of the vinegar. I have looked for vinegar higher than 5% for a specific purpose, but have been unable to find it. I would love to know the brand, so I can look for that specifically. TIA.

WalnutCreek, I'm also looking for vinegar with a higher percentage than 5%. The closest I've found --online-- is a gallon of 6% vinegar from Walmart, but they don't carry it in the store--it's called Cleaning Vinegar ($3.44/gallon), it has to be ordered, and the shipping cost is outrageous.

I've read that you can make 5% vinegar more concentrated by boiling it--the water component that dilutes the vinegar to 5% will be lost in steam, and what you'll have left is a concentrate at a higher percentage that 5%. I'm not sure how accurate that information was, though, and I'm sure there are some safety considerations, too (like, don't inhale the steam!).

That is interesting, Sooz. Will have to keep that in mind (about reducing the vinegar). I, too, am averse to paying exhorbitant shipping charges. Am off to do a Google search for 9% vinegar. Hopefully, Linas will respond.

I have seen Cleaning vinegar recently in the cleaning products area, just trying to recall which store. I think it was Lowe's.

Thanks, sushipup! I looked it up online and it's $1.79/gallon, but "answered questions" had the acidity at 5%. Next time I'm at Lowe's, I'll see if there is any more info on the label that verifies the percentage.

I never use white vinegar for anything but cleaning. Your sauce would be better with cider vinegar and better yet with rice wine vinegar.

Check cleaning supplies at any store, not jut Lowe's.