Contrary to what you might think, cooking with wine is simple. Now that we got that out of the way, budding cooks can gain a lot when they learn how to cook with wine. Some flavors remain locked and unused without the assistance of wine. Its ability to release the taste of foods is unparalleled in fine cuisine. So, let's start with the basics.
How Much Wine to Use
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to cooking with wine; however, it is better to start with a little and then add more if you feel the dish needs more. It is important to realize that the flavor of wine when it is used in cooking doesn't come from the alcohol but from the true nature of the wine. In fact, very little alcohol is left in a finished dish, as most of it will evaporate.
This presents another thing that you have to be aware of. When you cook off the liquid in wine, the flavor intensifies. When wine is reduced, it gets concentrated and the flavor gets kicked up a notch. So, add it in near the end because you can end up overwhelming the dish when it's done.
Will Any Bottle of Wine Do for Cooking?
No. The type of wine that you want to use for cooking is the kind that you would like to drink. Lower priced wines shouldn't be used for cooking but that doesn't mean you need a $100 bottle, either. You can find a great medium grade wine for under $10 a bottle. It will work just fine.
A common red or white wine that you enjoy would be a good starting point. For marinades, sauting, chicken, and seafood - applications not requiring intense flavor - it's hard to go wrong with a Sauvignon Blanc. Red meats or sauces with a red meat base have inherently deep flavor, so a more powerful wine is in order. A Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for the job.
Other Tips
The more you use wine in the kitchen, the more comfortable you will be in experimenting. Before you get to that level, keep the following in mind:
You will soon get comfortable enough to come up with your own ideas. But until that moment comes, try these tips: Experiment with replacing water in a recipe with wine for more flavor. Your brown gravy will be tastier with a few tablespoons of wine. Make the gravy in the pan you baked, broiled, or fried with. Wine will deglaze the pan, removing and dissolving caramelized bits of food and adding it to your gravy. Guests will wonder how you did it. Marinate meat and poultry in a mixture of wine and your favorite flavored oil. Use warm wine for cooking. Wine above room temperature has a tenderizing effect on meats. Cold wine has the opposite effect, so avoid it if you don't want to end up with meat resembling shoe leather. Red meats like beef and lamb needs stronger flavor. A dry red wine works best. White meat, poultry, and fish tend to get overpowered easily so a light, white wine is needed. Try to balance a meal by serving the same wine you cooked with. If that is not possible at least keep reds with reds and whites with whites. Never mix the two.
Final Thought
Cooking with wine is a great way to add a new dimension to your favorite recipes. It only takes some experimentation to realize which wines are your favorites to cook with!
How Much Wine to Use
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to cooking with wine; however, it is better to start with a little and then add more if you feel the dish needs more. It is important to realize that the flavor of wine when it is used in cooking doesn't come from the alcohol but from the true nature of the wine. In fact, very little alcohol is left in a finished dish, as most of it will evaporate.
This presents another thing that you have to be aware of. When you cook off the liquid in wine, the flavor intensifies. When wine is reduced, it gets concentrated and the flavor gets kicked up a notch. So, add it in near the end because you can end up overwhelming the dish when it's done.
Will Any Bottle of Wine Do for Cooking?
No. The type of wine that you want to use for cooking is the kind that you would like to drink. Lower priced wines shouldn't be used for cooking but that doesn't mean you need a $100 bottle, either. You can find a great medium grade wine for under $10 a bottle. It will work just fine.
A common red or white wine that you enjoy would be a good starting point. For marinades, sauting, chicken, and seafood - applications not requiring intense flavor - it's hard to go wrong with a Sauvignon Blanc. Red meats or sauces with a red meat base have inherently deep flavor, so a more powerful wine is in order. A Chianti or Cabernet Sauvignon is perfect for the job.
Other Tips
The more you use wine in the kitchen, the more comfortable you will be in experimenting. Before you get to that level, keep the following in mind:
You will soon get comfortable enough to come up with your own ideas. But until that moment comes, try these tips: Experiment with replacing water in a recipe with wine for more flavor. Your brown gravy will be tastier with a few tablespoons of wine. Make the gravy in the pan you baked, broiled, or fried with. Wine will deglaze the pan, removing and dissolving caramelized bits of food and adding it to your gravy. Guests will wonder how you did it. Marinate meat and poultry in a mixture of wine and your favorite flavored oil. Use warm wine for cooking. Wine above room temperature has a tenderizing effect on meats. Cold wine has the opposite effect, so avoid it if you don't want to end up with meat resembling shoe leather. Red meats like beef and lamb needs stronger flavor. A dry red wine works best. White meat, poultry, and fish tend to get overpowered easily so a light, white wine is needed. Try to balance a meal by serving the same wine you cooked with. If that is not possible at least keep reds with reds and whites with whites. Never mix the two.
Final Thought
Cooking with wine is a great way to add a new dimension to your favorite recipes. It only takes some experimentation to realize which wines are your favorites to cook with!
About the Author:
Michelle really is a season author concerning domestic cooking. She simply really loves sharing her pointers and great tips on creating crock pot recipes or crock pot meals.
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