Burning off the alcohol
Q:
I'm pregnant and trying to avoid alcohol. I have always understood that cooking with wine at high temperatures will burn off all the alcohol but I just want to be sure before I embark on a dinner party for my husband's birthday, starring my famous Chicken in Red Wine sauce!
A:
In some ways this is a bit of a myth because various studies have shown that some alcohol - and sometimes quite a substantial amount - can remain in the food. It really depends on how hot the dish becomes during cooking. The more intense the heat, the greater the likelihood the alcohol with burn away. The size of your cooking implements has a bearing too, as more alcohol evaporates in pans with a large surface area.
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