You've made a lovely, rich stew with wine or beer to flavour it. But can your baby or toddler share it with you and your family? It depends on a number of factors, including the strength of alcohol you use, the amount of alcohol and how long you’ve cooked or simmered the alcohol for.
Can I give my child food that’s been cooked with alcohol?
You can, as long as most of the alcohol has been cooked off. The amount of alcohol left in a dish after cooking can depend on lots of different factors though, including:
- the type of alcohol you use, and its strength
- the quantity of alcohol you use
- what methods you use to cook the dish
- how long you cook the dish for
(Ryapushkina et al 2016)
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How long does it take for alcohol to cook out of food?
Again, it’s hard to say for sure because it depends on the cooking method and the strength of the alcohol. But the longer the cooking time, the more the alcohol evaporates and the lower the alcohol level will be. And if you simmer a stew with wine, cider or beer for 90 minutes to two hours, most of the alcohol content will be burned off (Ryapushkina et al 2016). Some alcohol may remain, but not in any quantity that’s likely to harm your baby.
If you add alcohol to a dish later in the cooking process, however, the alcohol content will be higher. Any alcohol that’s stirred into a hot dish at the end of cooking, or added after cooking, will still be there when you serve it up.
Baked foods that are made by stirring alcohol into the mixture, such as cakes, hold on to more of the alcohol content (Ryapushkina et al 2016).
How can I make sure most of the alcohol has been cooked off?
It’s understandable that you may not want your baby to miss out on some favourite and flavourful recipes. If you are cooking a family stew that has wine or beer on the list of ingredients, do the following to burn off the alcohol:
- Use a wide, uncovered pan. Alcohol takes longer to burn off in smaller pans.
- Add the alcohol early in the cooking process.
- Simmer or cook for at least 90 minutes.
(Ryapushkina et al 2016)
What kind of alcohol can I use for family recipes?
Wine, cider and beer can be used occasionally as long as you follow the guidance to make sure most of the alcohol has been cooked off.
It’s best not to give your baby any food that’s been prepared with spirits or liqueurs. This is because these drinks have a higher alcohol by volume (ABV) content than wine, cider or beer. If you prefer, you could substitute the alcohol without losing too much flavour. You could try wine vinegar, for example, which contains little or no alcohol. Or you could use non-alcoholic wines or beers instead.
Here are some other alternatives to try:
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- Apple juice instead of cider
- Chicken broth instead of white wine
- Ginger ale instead of beer
- Orange juice or pineapple juice instead of sherry
- Apricot, peach or pear juice instead of brandy
More common weaning questions
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FAQs
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 alcohol cook off in food? ›
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 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 you eat food cooked over alcohol? ›
Be aware that alcohol doesn't burn off during cooking, this is a common mistake. Even the smallest amounts of food with alcohol can adversely affect someone who is recovering from alcoholism, even if it's consumed accidentally.
Can babies eat food with wine cooked 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.
Can kids eat vodka sauce? ›
Add in vodka and cook it until evaporated. This is where you'll cook off the alcohol content, so this recipe is completely safe for those who don't drink, are pregnant, or children.
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.
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 the alcohol cook off in vodka sauce? ›
Yes, vodka sauce does contain alcohol. But while vodka is a key ingredient in vodka sauce, it is not meant to be the star of the show. The amount of vodka used in a typical vodka sauce recipe is relatively small, and most, if not all, of the alcohol cooks off during the cooking process, leaving behind only the flavor.
Does alcohol cook out of BBQ sauce? ›
The answer is, no. Unless you are going in for the longest of long-haul cooks, a smoked brisket or simmering a stew or sauce for hours and hours, alcohol in any dish will not cook out entirely. The physical amount of alcohol that is left in a cooked dish depends entirely on the alcohol by volume (ABV).
Fueled by rubbing. alcohol, you can roast marshmallows or other food on. the flame!
Can kids eat bourbon chicken? ›
Bring it to a simmer and continue cooking until the sauce thickens. The heat will cook off any alcohol content from the bourbon making it safe to eat for children.
Does cooking remove alcohol? ›
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.
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.
Does alcohol cook off in a slow cooker? ›
So, for recipes that use alcoholic ingredients, it's important to avoid over-pouring, as the alcohol will not burn off in the pot like it would in other cooking vessels. A slow cooker's lid will trap in that condensed alcohol and simply drop it back into the pot.
What temperature does alcohol boil at? ›
The boiling point of alcohol is the temperature at which the liquid will change into a gas. The boiling point of ethanol, the type of alcohol found in alcoholic beverages, is 78.3 degrees Celsius (173.14 degrees Fahrenheit).
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 burn off alcohol? ›
The most commonly used estimate is that alcohol burns at a rate of 1 gram per hour per 10 kilos of bodyweight. For example, an adult weighing 80 kilos would burn 8 grams of alcohol per hour, while an adult weighing 60 kilos would burn 6 grams of alcohol per hour.
