When the weather gets frightful, nothing goes down better than a hot alcoholic beverage. For one, the hot liquid is warming. Second, the alcohol makes you feel warmer and helps you forget that you can’t go outside without putting on half of your closet. But heating alcohol does have an unfortunate side effect: It causes some of it to evaporate. With the goal ofconsumingthe alcohol, any evaporated alcohol is a small affront to the holiday season. But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture did a study in 2007 that nailed down the numbers with the magic of the scientific method. Preparation of hot alcoholic beverages is a dream job for some, and the daily grind for others. The lucky scientists, paid with America’s hard-earned tax dollars, tested how much alcohol was lost in four types of food preparation: no heat, alcohol in boiling liquid, flaming alcohol, and baked alcohol at various times.
Feel free to test out the percentages yourself in a less scientific way. It’s your prerogative. For the rest of us, here is the breakdown of how much alcohol your drink loses based on how you made it (we’re not sure who is baking their stirred alcoholic beverages, but the more you know the better, right?):
Don't Miss A DropGet the latest in beer, wine, and co*cktail culture sent straight to your inbox.
| Preparation | Percent of alcohol that stays in the drink |
|---|
| Not heated, but stored open overnight | 70 |
| Stirred into a hot liquid | 85 |
| Flamed, like in a flaming shot | 75 |
| Stirred, baked, then simmered for 15 minutes | 40 |
| Stirred, baked, then simmered for 30 minutes | 35 |
| Stirred, baked, then simmered for 1 hour | 25 |
| Stirred, baked, then simmered for 1.5 hours | 20 |
| Stirred, baked, then simmered for 2 hours | 10 |
| Stirred, baked, then simmered for 2.5 hours | 5 |
So go off and heat up those festive drinks. And if you’re worried about that lost 15 percent of alcohol, it’s the perfect excuse to add a little extra into your cup.
Published: December 20, 2016
FAQs
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.
How quickly does 40% alcohol evaporate? ›
Does alcohol lose its potency when heated? ›
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.
How hot does liquid have to be to burn off alcohol? ›
Its molecules will evaporate not just when alcohol reaches its boiling point, a chilly 173 degrees Fahrenheit compared to water's 212 degree Fahrenheit boiling point, but any time it is exposed to the air. Despite its ability to dissipate, “it's impossible to cook out all of the alcohol [in a dish],” says McGee.
How much does alcohol evaporate? ›
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.
Does alcohol evaporate in hot drinks? ›
But heating alcohol does have an unfortunate side effect: It causes some of it to evaporate. With the goal of consuming the alcohol, any evaporated alcohol is a small affront to the holiday season.
How fast does 70% 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.
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 for alcohol to evaporate in heat? ›
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.
Does alcohol really burn off when cooking? ›
Cooking always results in some, but not total loss of alcohol. The extent of loss depends on the severity of the heat application, or any other factor favoring evaporation. Cooking time had the greatest impact on alcohol retention. Flaming a dish results in much smaller losses of alcohol than cooking.
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.
Can Muslims eat food cooked with alcohol? ›
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.
Does alcohol evaporate if you leave a drink out? ›
So, yes, alcohol does evaporate but the evaporated amount is negligible. The exact amount of evaporation depends on a number of different variables, including the following: Temperature – higher temperatures will increase the rate of evaporation—however, the presence of humidity can counterbalance this effect.
Does 100% alcohol evaporate? ›
Pure ethanol has a higher vapor pressure and thus evaporates faster than pure water (in 0% humidity). So the gist is that as liquid evaporates the water/ethanol composition of the liquid will change.
How long does it take for alcohol to dissipate? ›
Blood: Alcohol is eliminated from the bloodstream at about 0.015 per hour. Alcohol can show up in a blood test for up to 12 hours. Urine: Alcohol can be detected in urine for up 3 to 5 days via the ethyl glucuronide (EtG) test or 10 to 12 hours via the traditional method.
How long does it take for 40% alcohol to wear off? ›
The half-life of alcohol is four to five hours. A half-life is how long it takes for your body to get rid of half of it. But you need about five half-lives to get rid of alcohol completely. So, it takes about 25 hours for your body to clear all the alcohol.
Does 40% alcohol go off? ›
That said, if you store hard liquor at moderate temperature away from direct light, it lasts indefinitely. At 30% to 40%, liquor is not a hospitable environment for bacteria. And if it's not opened, you'll deal with virtually no oxidation.
Can bacteria grow in 40 percent alcohol? ›
A laboratory study looked at the penetration of alcohol into groups of microorganisms in the mouth and its effect on killing microbes. Alcohol concentrations lower than 40% were found to be significantly weaker in affecting bacterial growth.
Can you clean with 40 alcohol? ›
Vodka and clear very high alcohol content liqueurs with very low sugar contents are great disinfectants. As such they are so great at disinfecting they can be used for household cleaning.
