If you haven’t bought balsamic glaze before, it can be tricky to hunt down in your local grocery store. You will find it in the condiment section, probably near the salad dressing, or in he spice section
Now that you know where to find it, you’ll need to know which stores carry it, the best brands, and what you can do with it!
Where to Buy Balsamic Glaze Near Me
You can find balsamic glaze in most grocery stores, such as:
- Walmart
- Target
- Trader Joe’s
- Costco
- Whole Foods
- Publix
- Kroger or any stores under their brand, such as Harris Teeter and Food 4 Less
As far as online options, you can order Balsamic Glaze from most of the previously listed stores through their website and have it shipped to your house. Other options include:
Supermarket Italy and Gourmet Italian ship many products straight from Italy. Sites like these are a great option when shopping for more traditional, authentic products.
Most Affordable Option
For the most affordable options, the Mondari Federzoni Glaze with Balsamic Vinegar is about $0.60 per ounce at Target. Another affordable option is the De Nigris Glaze Original. It’s only $0.59 per ounce at Walmart.
Both of these options are made with balsamic vinegar from Modena. They won’t be the most authentic, traditional options you can find, but they’re great for a budget or when trying it for the first time.
Highest Quality Option
If you’re looking for traditional balsamic vinegar, get a bottle labeled “Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale.” It will also have a D.O.P stamp verifying where it was produced.
These traditional balsamic glazes are very expensive at over $30 an ounce. They’re also hard to find so you’ll probably have to order them online, such as this Amazon Del Cristo listing.
A much more affordable option is the Condimento Balsamic Vinegar. It’s aged for less time (still over three years) and is more affordable while maintaining great quality.
The Best Brands to Buy
Some of the best balsamic glaze brands, according to Bon Appétit, include:
- Acetaia Malpighi
- Roland Diamond
- Villa Manodori Artigianale
- Oro Supremo
- Oliviers & Co.
Different brands of balsamic glaze provide different undertones and consistencies. Some are better for sauteeing, drizzling over salads, or even adding to your ice cream.
For example, Oro Supremo is best paired with cheese, while Villa Manodori Artigianale goes well drizzled over ice cream. You can buy all these brands on Amazon.
Homemade Balsamic Glaze
If you’re more of a DIYer, making a simple balsamic glaze is quick and easy!
You only need two ingredients for a basic version – four parts balsamic vinegar to 1 part brown sugar. For example, if you want about one cup of balsamic glaze, use two cups of vinegar and a half cup of brown sugar.
Mix both ingredients in a saucepan and stir until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a gentle bubble – not a boil – over medium heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
Once the glaze is done, it should have been reduced by half. Once thickened, it should coat the back of a spoon. Store this mix in the fridge in a plastic or glass bottle.
You can play around a lot with this recipe. Use a fruity balsamic vinegar for extra flavor or replace the brown sugar with molasses or honey.
How to Store Balsamic Glaze
After opening, store your balsamic glaze in a cool, dark place. This can be a cabinet or the fridge if you’re mainly using it for a salad drizzle. Whatever you do, don’t store it in the cabinets above your stove.
While the quality determines how long it lasts, most balsamic vinegar should be used within three to five years.
After five years, the quality goes down. However, that doesn’t mean the glaze is dangerous to consume – just not as tasty. The acid levels in balsamic vinegar make it a self-preserving product.
Common Ways to Use Balsamic Glaze
We listed some common ways to use balsamic glaze earlier, but let’s go into more detail. You can cook with it or drizzle it over a variety of dishes. Both sweet and savory dishes pair beautifully with balsamic.
As a Drizzle
One of the most common uses of balsamic glaze is as a drizzle over various dishes. It goes well over grilled or roasted meats (especially chicken) and veggies. Drizzle over chunks of cheese for a grazing table or use it as a salad dressing.
Cooking with Balsamic Glaze
While drizzling it over chicken and veggies is delicious, you can add it as you cook. Make chicken with balsamic and oranges, giving your dish a sweet, tart taste with a sticky glaze.
Balsamic Glaze Desserts
Due to the sweet taste and thick consistency, many love to drizzle balsamic glaze over a quality vanilla ice cream.
Balsamic poached pears also complement the vanilla ice cream to make a light, delicious dessert.
In a Drink
To spice up your dinner party, make a cherry mint shrub with balsamic vinegar or a strawberry and balsamic cocktail. For a non-alcoholic option, use club soda, strawberries, a simple syrup, and balsamic to make a spritzer.
The sweet, tangy balsamic heightens the taste of the fruit and adds a unique depth to the drink.
What to Get Instead of Balsamic Glaze
If you want to replicate balsamic glaze, you can do so with ingredients you most likely have in your pantry, including:
- Red wine vinegar, grape jelly, and soy sauce
- Red wine vinegar with maple syrup
The red wine vinegar adds the tanginess, grape jelly or maple syrup boosts the sweetness, and soy sauce provides the umami, or savory taste. For every tablespoon of red wine vinegar, add a teaspoon of grape jelly and a half-teaspoon of soy sauce.
With maple syrup, use one part syrup and four parts vinegar. Some recipes, such as on a salad or with your grilled chicken, can use balsamic vinaigrette.
However, the two are not quite the same, especially for sweeter dessert recipes. Vinaigrette usually includes olive oil and different
