It is “common knowledge” that cooking something that contains alcohol will cook off the alcohol. Well. Maybe somewhat, but it is obviously not quite that simple.
Alcohol Retention when Cooking
This data is from Alcohol Retention in Food Preparation by Augustin et al, 1992 –J Am Diet Assoc. 1992 Apr;92(4):486-8.- (though you can’t download the study there). You can read the same information here, from the USDA’s Nutrient Data Laboratory – USDA Table of Nutrient Retention Factos, Release 5 (2003) – see page 12. Or, here is the pdf hosted locally – see page 12.
| Preparation Style |
Alcohol Remaining |
| No heat, stored overnight |
70% left |
| Stirred into hot liquid |
85% left |
| Flamed (flambé) |
75% left |
| NOT stirred in but baked 25 minutes |
45% left |
| Stirred in and baked, simmered – 15 minutes |
40% left |
| Stirred in and baked, simmered – 30 minutes |
35% left |
| Stirred in and baked, simmered – 60 minutes (1 hr) |
25% left |
| Stirred in and baked, simmered – 90 minutes (1.5 hrs) |
20% left |
| Stirred in and baked, simmered – 120 minutes (2 hrs) |
10% left |
| Stirred in and baked, simmered – 180 minutes (2.5 hrs) |
5% left |
Alcohol and Breastfeeding
Here’s a related table from Ho et al Alcohol and breastfeeding: calculation of time to zero-level in milk from 2001 -Biol Neonate. 2001; 80: 219-22.-
This is data from a study… not data about your body. Therefore numbers will be different for your body and your metabolism.
| Mom’s Weight
kg (lb) |
Number of “standard” drinks |
| 1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
| 45 (100) |
1:54 |
3:50 |
5:45 |
7:40 |
9:36 |
11:31 |
13:27 |
15:22 |
|
|
| 47 (104) |
1:52 |
3:44 |
5:37 |
7:29 |
9:22 |
11:14 |
13:07 |
14:59 |
|
|
| 50 (110) |
1:51 |
3:43 |
5:35 |
7:27 |
9:18 |
11:11 |
13:03 |
14:54 |
16:52 |
|
| 52 (115) |
1:48 |
3:37 |
5:26 |
7:15 |
9:05 |
10:53 |
12:42 |
14:31 |
16:47 |
|
| 54 (120) |
1:46 |
3:32 |
5:19 |
7:05 |
8:52 |
10:38 |
12:25 |
14:11 |
16:21 |
|
| 57 (126) |
1:45 |
3:31 |
5:17 |
7:02 |
8:48 |
10:34 |
12:20 |
14:05 |
15:58 |
|
| 59 (130) |
1:42 |
3:26 |
5:09 |
6:52 |
8:36 |
10:19 |
12:02 |
13:45 |
15:52 |
|
| 61 (134) |
1:40 |
3:21 |
5:02 |
6:43 |
8:24 |
10:05 |
11:46 |
13:28 |
15:29 |
16:50 |
| 63 (139) |
1:38 |
3:17 |
4:56 |
6:34 |
8:13 |
9:52 |
11:30 |
13:10 |
15:09 |
16:27 |
| 66 (146) |
1:37 |
3:15 |
4:53 |
6:31 |
8:10 |
9:48 |
11:26 |
13:04 |
14:48 |
16:20 |
| 68 (150) |
1:35 |
3:12 |
4:47 |
6:24 |
8:00 |
9:36 |
11:12 |
12:48 |
14:42 |
16:00 |
| 70 (154) |
1:33 |
3:07 |
4:41 |
6:15 |
7:50 |
9:24 |
10:57 |
12:31 |
14:24 |
15:40 |
As usual, I am not a doctor or nurse. I cannot and will not give you medical advice. I present the information above for interest only. If you find it interesting or useful – great, but any decisions you make regarding alcohol are your own responsibility, and will affect your health and your children.
“GOVERNMENT WARNING: (1) According to the Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects. (2) Consumption of alcoholic beverages impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems”
