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Alcohol and Cooking (and Breastfeeding)
Jul 26th, 2010 by Alice

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, 1992J 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 LaboratoryUSDA 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”

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