When cooking with alcohol...?

Question

...I've always heard that the alcohol "cooks out." Is this true?

Answer 1

the alcohol cooks out and you are left with the flavour

Answer 2

Yes it is true.

Answer 3

Yes.  Make sure that if you are using wine, the heat needs to be somewhat high.  You want the flavor to concentrate by cooking out the alcohol content and water content and leaving the flavor.

So, if you "deglaze" your pan with wine, let it cook for about 1-2 mins and then the alcohol will have time to cook out.

Answer 4

There are studies that show this is NOT entirely true.  

""What we found out has really surprised us. The conventional wisdom accepted by just about everyone in the food world is that all the alcohol you add to a dish evaporates or dissipates during cooking. It’s wrong. In fact, you have to cook something for a good three hours to eradicate virtually all traces of alcohol.

And some cooking methods are less effective at removing alcohol than just letting it stand out uncovered overnight.

A study conducted by the US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory calculated the percentage of alcohol remaining in a dish based on various cooking methods.

Now, it may be that the amount of alcohol in a dish is modest to start with, but the fact that some of the alcohol remains could be of significant concern to recovering alcoholics, parents, and others who have ethical or religious reasons for avoiding alcohol.

Answer 5

It depends how long you are going to cook it for. Alcohol boils at 78C./172F. (water boils at 100C./212F.) So, if you are using a high proof alcohol, like tequila, you'll have to cook longer then if you where using beer or wine. So there are ways to cook and still have alcohol left over. In fact, there are some chocolate sauces with alcohol percentages.  

Answer 6

yes.

Answer 7

The alcohol in the wine or  spirit you add to your food will burn out, because alcohol evaporates at a temperature lower than water so you have to basically boil whatever you've added the alcohol to.  But not all of the alcohol burns out even when you flambe.  So if you have an intolerance just don't add the alcohol.  Most dishes don't need the alcohol, it's just an added depth of flavor.  Fruit and vegetable juices or even some vinegars can be used in place of alcohol if you wanted added flavor without alcohol.

Answer 8

yes it's true. when you add it keep the pan off the fire, when you add it it will light, when the fire goes out the alcohol is gone