| When you add that rum to your holiday cookies, | | | | - Food which has been baked or simmered for thirty |
| brandy to your pudding or whiskey to your BBQ sauce | | | | minutes still has 35% of the original alcohol |
| all that is left behind is the flavor, right? That cooking | | | | - Cooking for a full hour still retains 25% of the original |
| sherry might get you drunk right out of the bottle but it | | | | alcohol |
| just ads a nice taste to that saute, correct? You | | | | - Even two full hours of baking or simmering retains |
| better think again based on a study performed by the | | | | 10% of the alcohol |
| USDA. Thanks to your tax dollars at work, we now | | | | As you can see, eating a few too many of Auntie |
| have conclusive evidence that a surprisingly high | | | | Marge's famous rum balls really could give you enough |
| percentage of alcohol remains in your food even after | | | | alcohol to impact your driving or even fail a roadside |
| extensive cooking time. | | | | sobriety test. Assuming you had a careful drink or two |
| The major factors seem to be the density of the food | | | | with a meal, the extra alcohol in your flambé at |
| being prepared, whether the food forms a layer which | | | | that restaurant or even that rum-raisin ice you had for |
| may reduce evaporation or if you keep the food | | | | dessert could be enough to put you over the legal limit. |
| covered while cooking. Although there are many | | | | And if you are watching your alcohol intake for health |
| factors which can impact how much is retained in your | | | | reasons, take medications which interact with alcohol |
| food, as much as 10% still remains even after two | | | | or happen to be serving food to one of the estimated |
| hours of baking or simmering. A quick review of the list | | | | 270 million alcoholics worldwide, even small amounts of |
| below will give you an idea of just how much alcohol | | | | alcohol has the potential for unexpected |
| you may have been giving your little nieces and | | | | consequences. |
| nephews at your last holiday party. | | | | You can get the entire report from the USDA |
| - Alcohol added to food or liquid and stored overnight | | | | Agricultural Research Service then search for "Nutrient |
| with no heat retains 70% of the original alcohol content | | | | Retention Factors". Release number 6 was the latest |
| - Stirring alcohol into hot liquid without further cooking | | | | version at the time of this writing. |
| retains 85% or the original alcohol | | | | Your level of alcohol consumption should be an |
| - That spectacular flambe still has 75% or the original | | | | informed decision so I hope this information will make |
| alcohol after the flames go out | | | | you more aware of unexpected sources of alcohol in |
| - Baking or simmering for fifteen minutes retains 40% | | | | your diet. |
| or the original alcohol | | | | |