What is a common use for vinegar in cooking?

Vinegar is widely recognized for its ability to balance flavors and enhance taste in cooking. The acidity of vinegar can brighten and elevate the overall flavor profile of dishes, helping to bring out other ingredients and providing a contrast to sweetness or richness. This balancing effect makes it a crucial element in dressings, marinades, and sauces, as it can temper excess saltiness, round out sweetness, and add a refreshing sharpness to meals.

While vinegar does play a minor role in softening meat when used in marinades, its primary function is not as a tenderizing agent. Similarly, vinegar does not thicken sauces; this role is typically reserved for starches or reduction techniques. Lastly, although vinegar can complement sweetness in certain dishes, it is not primarily used to enhance sweetness, as that function is more appropriately served by sugar or other sweeteners.