Does Cooking Burn Off All the Alcohol in a Recipe? (2024)

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Updated: Jul. 07, 2022

Does Cooking Burn Off All the Alcohol in a Recipe? (2)Bruno Monico/Shutterstock

Flambe away? Not so fast! How much alcohol is really burned off? We've got the scoop.

Here in the Test Kitchen, we receive questions about cooking with alcohol at least once a week. While this is not a new technique (cooking with alcohol has been around for hundreds of years), concerns about alcohol are becoming more common.

So does the alcohol really cook away during the cooking process? It seems the answer is a bit more complicated than a simple yes or no.

Experts Weigh In

Nutritionists from some leading universities set out to solve the mystery once and for all. Using the same recipe, they used a few different cooking and prep methods, then tested the end result for alcohol concentration.

The big failure? Flambe! That impressive flash of fire in the pan would make you think all the alcohol burns off but an amazing liquor-drizzled dessert like Quick Bananas Foster will retain 75% of the alcohol after the flame is put out.

On the other end of the spectrum, a longer cook time means less residual alcohol. So go ahead and make Slow-Simmering Beef Bourguignon without fear that the wine will cause trouble. After 2½ hours, only 5% of the alcohol stays behind. So after cooking low and slow all day, it’s safe to say most, if not all, of the wine has lost its alcoholic punch. Thank goodness all that glorious flavor stays behind. After all, that’s the real reason we’re adding booze to our food, right?

Want to learn more? Here’s a guide to what cooking wine is and how to cook with wine.

Is Alcohol-free the Way to Be?

Now you’re thinking to yourself, Does it really matter? That depends upon whom you’re feeding. Many of the readers who ask this question have an allergy to alcohol, so in that case it definitely matters. Not only do those folks need to avoid cooking with alcohol, they’ll want to avoid extracts, too. Most extracts are made using alcohol. While alcohol-free extracts are available, they’re still labeled as containing some, albeit less than half a percent.

At the end of the day, what ingredients you cook with and the methods you use are totally up to you. Now you can make an informed decision and maybe win a question at trivia night.

Don't Miss These Boozy Treats

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Originally Published: January 30, 2019

Author

Sue Stetzel

Sue has been working with Taste of Home since 2011. When she isn’t writing, she’s answering your burning cooking questions and working with our team of Community Cooks. She spends her free time cooking, crafting, and volunteering for various organizations in her home town.

Does Cooking Burn Off All the Alcohol in a Recipe? (3)

Does Cooking Burn Off All the Alcohol in a Recipe? (2024)

FAQs

Does Cooking Burn Off All the Alcohol in a Recipe? ›

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 all the alcohol 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.

How much alcohol will remain in a food after baking or simmering? ›

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.

Can kids 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.

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.

How long does it take to cook off alcohol 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 kids eat vodka sauce? ›

We reached out to a few experts to find out if we'd be better off fixing a simple tomato sauce on the side for the kids, or if vodka sauce is OK for the littles when consumed in moderation. The general consensus was that a vodka pasta sauce should be safe for children, if cooked thoroughly.

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.

Does marsala cooking wine have alcohol? ›

Marsala is produced using the Grillo, Inzolia, Catarratto and Damaschino white grape varietals, among others. Marsala contains about 15–20% alcohol by volume. Different Marsala wines are classified according to their color, sweetness, and duration of their ageing.

What is the burn-off rate of alcohol? ›

Alcohol burns off at a rate of . 016 BAC per hour, which is equal to about one standard drink each hour depending on the person's weight. This rate is true regardless of the size of the person's body. A 5'3″ female will burn off alcohol at the same rate as an overweight 6'1″ male.

Can an alcoholic eat food that has been cooked with wine? ›

Even small amounts of alcohol can trigger cravings in recovering alcoholics. This is because the taste, smell, or even the thought of alcohol can be a powerful reminder of past habits. Consuming food cooked with wine could lead to a relapse, jeopardizing the hard work put into recovery.

Can kids eat chili that has beer in it? ›

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.

What is a good substitute for white wine in cooking? ›

A good substitute for a cup of white wine is a cup of broth or vegetable stock, with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for acidity. The general rule is to add one tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of broth used. For recipes requiring ¼ cup of white wine or less, it's generally safe to omit the wine altogether.

Does alcohol burn off during cooking? ›

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.

Can I breastfeed after 2 glasses of wine? ›

Based on metabolization math and recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, you can breastfeed about two hours after you've finished one drink. If you've had two drinks, wait four to five hours. In other words, if there's still alcohol in your system, there's still alcohol in your breast milk.

How long does it take for alcohol to get into breast milk? ›

Alcohol passes freely into breastmilk and has been found to peak about 30 to 60 minutes after consumption, 60 to 90 minutes when drunk with food.

Does liquor evaporate if left open? ›

Once the bottle has been opened, the liquid is, of course, exposed to oxygen. If that exposure continues, a slow process of evaporation begins. Have you ever seen a vintage bottle of whiskey with a noticeably lower fill line than usual? If so, you've seen firsthand the effects of evaporation.

How quickly does isopropyl alcohol evaporate? ›

50% or 70% Isopropyl Rubbing alcohol evaporates in minutes (5-7 min) after disinfecting the surface. The Fumes are not hazardous, so you can safely use it repeatedly. I hope it Answered your query?

Can alcohol evaporate in a sealed bottle? ›

Depends whether the container is porous. If air tight, then no. On the other hand for example, whisky, left to condition in wooden barrels will lose ~20% due to evaporation — the Angels' share.

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.

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