[Stevie Bain (OP)]

Zettie would like to know:

When you cook food with alcohol, how much of the alcohol is left behind and what effect does this have on alcoholics?

Can you help?

[chris]

Now this is an important question!

I volunteer to eat lots of alcohol-infused delicious foodstuffs that anyone would like to send me to... er... evaluate this scientifically! 

[terryj1517]

The amount of alcohol left when cooking depends on the type of drink being used and how long it is cooked, the longer it is cooked the less alcohol remains. Example: If cooking with brandy making a flaming dish after the flame is gone there is still about 75% of the alcohol left.

[chris]

Thanks @terryj1517 - is this based on personal experience, or a reference?!

[alancalverd]

Boiling, frying or baking will evaporate alcohol (b.p. 78°C) to almost zero at the surface of the food, though marinated meat or cakes containing booze will be fully cooked before the interior reaches boiling point.

[Colin2B]

As you might guess it depends how and for how long you cook. Cooking a sauce as a thin layer in an open pan gives a large surface area compared to volume and so virtually all alcohol will evaporate very quickly on the other hand a stew in a covered pan will require a lot longer for the reduction of alcohol.
I can't find the original study, but at the time I did clip this table. The lower part is for a stew with red wine.

Alcohol Burn-off Chart - US Dept of Agriculture
Preparation Method                                                Percent Retained
alcohol added to boiling liquid & removed from heat   85%
alcohol flamed                                                                   75%
no heat, stored overnight                                           70%
baked, 25 minutes, alcohol not stirred into mixture            45%
--------------
Baked/simmered dishes with alcohol stirred into mixture:
15 minutes cooking time                     40%
30 minutes cooking time                     35%
1 hour cooking time                             25%
1.5 hours cooking time                     20%
2 hours cooking time                     10%
2.5 hours cooking time                      5%


PS found the original study will try to post a copy, can't do it from ipad
 

[chris]

PS found the original study will try to post a copy, can't do it from ipad

Ooo, yes please.

[Colin2B]

Ooo, yes please.

too big to attach, sending in mail

[katieHaylor]

This question has now been answered, and you can listen to it here - https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/how-much-alcohol-does-cooking-remove