Ledzeptt
Well-Known Member
If like me, you're not allowed alcohol, to protect your pancreas, but you want the flavour of wine or whatever in your cooking, particularly at Christmas, you may have felt safe that the alcohol would be removed during cooking. You may even flame your brandy flamboyantly over the Christmas pudding!
I wasn't so sure this would remove the alcohol, so I want to share my investigations.
This article (and many similar) suggests it is a myth that all alcohol is "burnt" or evaporated away: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AlcoholEvap.htm
I believe the following is the best article as it's supported by evidence from the US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory: http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/659/cooking-away-alcohol
In summary, it states when baked/simmered for the following durations, alcohol stirred into a mixture reduces to:
15 minutes - 40%
30 minutes - 35%
1 hour - 25%
1.5 hours - 20%
2 hours - 10%
2.5 hours - 5%
Other cooking methods were considered: flaming only reduces the alcohol to 75%.
These figures were quoted in a Saga article (unattributed): https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/diet-nutrition/nutrition/alcohol-myth-buster
However you decide to cook, have a merry Christmas!
I wasn't so sure this would remove the alcohol, so I want to share my investigations.
This article (and many similar) suggests it is a myth that all alcohol is "burnt" or evaporated away: https://whatscookingamerica.net/Q-A/AlcoholEvap.htm
I believe the following is the best article as it's supported by evidence from the US Department of Agriculture’s Nutrient Data Laboratory: http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/659/cooking-away-alcohol
In summary, it states when baked/simmered for the following durations, alcohol stirred into a mixture reduces to:
15 minutes - 40%
30 minutes - 35%
1 hour - 25%
1.5 hours - 20%
2 hours - 10%
2.5 hours - 5%
Other cooking methods were considered: flaming only reduces the alcohol to 75%.
These figures were quoted in a Saga article (unattributed): https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/health-wellbeing/diet-nutrition/nutrition/alcohol-myth-buster
However you decide to cook, have a merry Christmas!
