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.
Does alcohol really burn off when cooking? ›
The science: 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.
What happens to the alcohol during the cooking process? ›
All alcohols evaporate at a lower temperature. That is, 173°F (78°C) as opposed to water's 212°F (100°C), however, any alcohol will begin evaporating any time it's exposed to air. That being said, alcohol in cooked dishes doesn't completely dissipate when it is cooked off.
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 lose calories when cooked? ›
It's a common belief that the booze and calories simply disappear when alcohol is cooked – this isn't entirely true. How much alcohol and calories are evaporated depend on several factors including how much alcohol is used (volume and proof) and how long it's cooked for.
Can food cooked with alcohol make you drunk? ›
Although alcohol remains, it's highly unlikely that dishes cooked with alcohol will cause intoxication. The amount of wine, beer, or spirits found in most recipes is so small that, even if left uncooked, an adult would never feel its effects.
Will alcohol cook 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.
Can kids eat vodka sauce? ›
Yes, a vodka pasta sauce should be safe for children, if cooked thoroughly.
How long does it take to cook off wine in a sauce? ›
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 children eat food cooked with wine? ›
Per the USDA, you have to cook, simmer or boil a dish that contains wine for more than 2 1/2 hours to remove the alcohol. Accordingly, if you must prepare a dish with wine, only give it to your kids if it's been cooked longer than that so the alcohol evaporates.
Halal consumers should simply not cook with alcohol. In addition, for multiple reasons, it's not advised for Muslims to bring alcohol into their homes for cooking. When eating in restaurants, Halal consumers are advised to ask if the food contains alcohol and to avoid it.
What is the safest fuel to burn indoors? ›
Denatured alcohol is often recommended by manufacturers of alcohol stoves. It can be purchased online or in hardware stores in the paint section. Ethanol or ethyl is about 95 percent alcohol and is a fantastic fuel for burning indoors.
Does cooking actually remove 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. 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.
Does alcohol cook out of cake? ›
There's no real cooking time, so very little alcohol dissipates. Another thing to consider is how long the food cooks. If you cook a meal for 30 minutes, you're likely to still have a high percentage of the alcohol left that you originally added to the food.
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.
How long does it take to burn off alcohol calories? ›
You'd need to do a 45 minute walk to burn off one large glass of wine. If you drink four large glasses of wine a week, you'd need to do over 4 x 30 minute swims or 4 x 30 minute high impact step workouts a week to burn it off.
Can vodka evaporate in a sealed bottle? ›
An unopened bottle of vodka can be stored indefinitely. Because of this, you should wait to open a bottle until you're actually ready to start drinking it. The alcohol in the vodka starts to slowly evaporate once the seal is broken and the bottle is opened.
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.