The holiday gathering featured family favorites with a twist. My friend infused each recipe with the unique profiles of booze: beer cornbread, beef with wine sauce, carrots in bourbon sauce, salad greens tossed with a champagne vinaigrette, and amaretto apple crisp. However, this feast worried one of the guests.
I overheard a young man whisper apologetically to the hostess that he was headed out because he did not drink. She responded that there was nothing to worry about—during cooking the alcohol burns off. Luckily, he opted to leave.
It is true that some of the alcohol evaporates, or burns off, during the cooking process. “Some” being the operative word. Exactly how much depends on many factors. To learn more, a group of researchers, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, marinated, flamed, baked, and simmered a variety of foods with different sources of alcohol. The verdict: after cooking, the amount of alcohol remaining ranged from 4 percent to 95 percent.
Many factors impact the final alcohol content of homemade recipes. How long the dish is cooked at the boiling point of alcohol (173 degrees Fahrenheit) is a big factor (source: USDA Table of Nutrient Rentention Factors, Release 6:
| Time Cooked at Boiling point of alcohol | Approximate Amount of Alcohol Remaining |
|---|
| 15 minutes | 40 percent |
| 30 minutes | 35 percent |
| One hour | 25 percent |
| Two hours | 10 percent |
| Two and one-half hours | 5 percent |
But there’s more…
The other ingredients in the recipe influence the amount of alcohol retained. For example, a bread crumb topping on scallops cooked in wine sauce can prevent some of the alcohol from evaporating, increasing the amount of alcohol in the final dish.
The size of the pan also comes into play. More alcohol remains in recipes made in smaller pans. The reason is that a larger pot has more surface area which lets more of the alcohol evaporate. In addition, recipes that require you to stir during the cooking process, tend to have lower amounts of alcohol because this action also promotes evaporation.
Roughly speaking:
- Beer cheese sauce, bourbon caramel and other sauces brought to a boil and then removed from the heat typically retain about 85 percent of the alcohol.
Diane, cherries jubilee and other recipes that flame the alcohol may still have 75 percent of the alcohol.
Marinades that are not cooked can maintain as much as 70 percent of the added alcohol.
Meats and baked goods that are cooked for 25 minutes without being stirred retain 45 percent of alcohol.
Stews and other dishes that simmer for two and one-half hours tend to have the lowest amounts, but they retain about five percent of the alcohol.
The takeaway: For individuals in recovery, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, and those who choose not to drink for religious, health or other reasons, all of the alcohol does NOT burn off. They may need to opt-out of holiday recipes that include alcohol as an ingredient. And, for those of us toasting in the holiday, some sauces may be contributing more to our blood alcohol levels than we realize.
FAQs
The longer you cook, the more alcohol cooks out, but you have to cook food for about 3 hours to fully erase all traces of alcohol. A study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Data lab confirmed this and added that food baked or simmered in alcohol for 15 minutes still retains 40 percent of the alcohol.
Is it true that alcohol burns off during cooking? ›
Alcohol does partially evaporate during cooking, but not as much as you might think. Depending on the cooking method and how much alcohol is used, anywhere from 4 to 85 percent of the alcohol may remain. After 15 minutes of cooking, about 40 percent of the alcohol remains.
How do you burn alcohol when cooking? ›
You need to cook a sauce for at least 20 to 30 seconds after adding wine to it to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Since alcohol evaporates at 172°F (78°C), any sauce or stew that is simmering or boiling is certainly hot enough to evaporate the alcohol.
How long does it take to burn off alcohol? ›
The most commonly used estimate is that alcohol burns at a rate of 1 gram per hour per 10 kilos of bodyweight. For example, an adult weighing 80 kilos would burn 8 grams of alcohol per hour, while an adult weighing 60 kilos would burn 6 grams of alcohol per hour.
Will alcohol burn off in a slow cooker? ›
Raw alcohol will evaporate at 78 C, importantly even with conventional cooking techniques, not all the alcohol will burn off. When using a slow cooker the internal temperature may only just get to this important temperature, and because of the lid any alcohol that does evaporate will return back into the cooker.
How long does it take for vodka to cook off? ›
It usually takes around 2 to 3 hours for the alcohol to evaporate completely when added to a dish that is cooking on a low heat. When cooking at high heat, e.g. frying or sautéing, it can take as little as 30 seconds for the alcohol to evaporate.
Can kids eat vodka sauce? ›
Yes, a vodka pasta sauce should be safe for children, if cooked thoroughly. Traditional vodka sauce uses such a small amount of alcohol that it should evaporate out during cooking.
Can a toddler eat food cooked with wine? ›
The choice is up to you. You may choose to use cooking methods that help to reduce the alcohol content and use less alcohol in a dish to make it safer for your child. Otherwise the safer option is to choose to leave out alcoholic drinks when preparing food for babies and children.
Can I use wine in cooking when pregnant? ›
Cooking with alcohol is unlikely to affect your baby if the alcohol is added early in the cooking process and the food is cooked thoroughly. This will ensure most of the alcohol will be burnt off. The longer the cooking time, the more the alcohol evaporates.
Can you eat food cooked with wine while breastfeeding? ›
Alcohol added to food during cooking does evaporate, but some alcohol will still be left. So, if you are eating dishes cooked in alcohol, for example, red wine chicken, you may wish to refrain from breastfeeding your baby for the next 1-2 hours.
A study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Nutrient Data lab confirmed this and added that food baked or simmered in alcohol for 15 minutes still retains 40 percent of the alcohol. After an hour of cooking, 25 percent of the alcohol remains, and even after two and a half hours there's still 5 percent of it.
What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›
Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.
Can kids eat food cooked with alcohol? ›
The concerns are not just for acute intoxication and overdose, but also neurophysiological risks that can come with lesser amounts of alcohol—sleep disturbances, confusion, unsteady walking, for example." "The only way to be 100 percent safe is to avoid cooking [food for children] with alcohol," says Dr. Roman.
Why does alcohol catch fire when cooking? ›
For that to happen, three things are needed: a concentration of alcohol vapors between 3.3 percent and 19 percent by volume of air; a source of oxygen; and an ignition source (such as a hot coil in an oven). When alcohol is heated in an oven, as in our recipe, the alcohol evaporates and forms combustable vapors.
Does alcohol affect cooking? ›
Flavor Boost
Whether it's beer, sake, rum or Cabernet, using alcoholic beverages in cooking can act as a flavor enhancer. It can also be used to tenderize meat in marinades or concentrate flavor when simmered down into sauces. What's even more fun about cooking with alcohol is how versatile it can be.
Does alcohol burn with fire? ›
Alcohol has a low flash point, which means that it catches on fire very quickly. Alcohol burns about half as hot as some other fuels but is a great choice for cooking indoors. It is extremely flammable, but not explosive.
I overheard a young man whisper apologetically to the hostess that he was headed out because he did not drink. She responded that there was nothing to worry about—during cooking the alcohol burns off. Luckily, he opted to leave.