topic Re: Cooking wines? in Kitchen

Cooking wines?

madzonie — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:34:30 GMT

When I was a kid, I remember my mom kept a bottle of sherry in the pantry that she called "cooking sherry." Of course I have no idea what it tasted like since I never went near alcohol when I was a child...never curious! LOL

I recently bought a couple bottles of both white and red cooking wine, and have found they both are REALLY salty, and to me, taste nothing like drinking wine. They actually taste icky!

Is this the way "cooking wine" is supposed to be?

Re: Cooking wines?

lolakimono — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:35:20 GMT

Chefs will say NOT to use any wine to cook with that YOU wouldn't drink, as the flavor concentrates while cooking.

Re: Cooking wines?

KYToby — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 00:36:42 GMT

If you won't drink it, don't cook with it.

Re: Cooking wines?

AZ Diamondback Mom — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:14:24 GMT

As the others commented above have said only what you will drink. My friends that are professional chefs and the classes I have taken all recommend that to only use wines you would enjoy drinking in your cooking. Look to something else than cooking wine.

Re: Cooking wines?

Snicks1 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:38:44 GMT

Yes...what they^^^^^said. And usually a dry wine is better in cooking.

Re: Cooking wines?

Another new name Sue — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 01:39:46 GMT

Sometimes I use white vermouth for dry white.

Re: Cooking wines?

LonestarBabs — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:31:56 GMT

I love cooking with wine! Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Re: Cooking wines?

millieshops — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:38:19 GMT

I never buy cooking wine. The worst wine sin I commit is using older wine than is probably top-notch to add to my cooking sometimes.

Re: Cooking wines?

blackhole99 — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:43:08 GMT

I used to use cooking wine and liked the taste it gave the food. I don't think there is much alcohol in it and people who don't like wine in food will often like cooking wine in food. Yes it is salty, but it's specifically made for cooking not drinking.

Re: Cooking wines?

faeriemoon — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 02:50:43 GMT

Anything labeled ""cooking wine"" is most likely a no-no.

Re: Cooking wines?

house_cat — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:41:05 GMT

Neither DH nor I drink wine, so it's hard for me to judge. I buy little six packs of red and white wine at the grocery store. They're not fancy, they have screw tops. One of them is almost always enough for any recipe, so there's no waste.

Re: Cooking wines?

HandJive — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 04:47:24 GMT

On 2/12/2015 KYToby said:
If you won't drink it, don't cook with it.

Re: Cooking wines?

glmama — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:36:26 GMT

On 2/12/2015 lolakimono said:
Chefs will say NOT to use any wine to cook with that YOU wouldn't drink, as the flavor concentrates while cooking.

Yes, this.

Re: Cooking wines?

madzonie — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 19:03:58 GMT

Wanted to thank everyone for the very helpful input! I will find some way to use up these cooking wines that I bought, and will go back to using "drinkable" wines in my cooking!

I appreciate all the information and the suggestions! Thanks!!

Re: Cooking wines?

Bird — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 19:30:24 GMT

Other than knowing NOT to use "cooking wines" because they are salty and have other nasty ingredients, I am so ignorant here and hope someone can give specifics.

When it says add a "dry white wine" or some "dry sherry," what IS dry? How do you tell from looking at the bottle? Does "dry" just mean "not sweet?" Please don't laugh. Total ignoramus here! Do you have any brand names? - Bird

Re: Cooking wines?

chickenbutt — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 19:43:02 GMT

On 2/12/2015 lolakimono said:
Chefs will say NOT to use any wine to cook with that YOU wouldn't drink, as the flavor concentrates while cooking.

That's what I've always heard. You want flavors that would appeal to you, and be of quality ingredients, so it makes sense.

I don't care for wine so I don't cook with it. I've passed over lots of recipes over the years because I didn't want to purchase a bottle of wine and then end up throwing the rest of it away. but, that's ok. That's the choice I made.

If I were to cook with wine, however, I would choose a decent one that appealed to me.

Re: Cooking wines?

NoelSeven — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 21:41:14 GMT

Never use a "cooking" wine.

Get a regular good bottle of wine or sherry and use that. If you're unfamiliar with wines, go to a liquor store like BevMo and ask one of their managers to help you choose a good, moderate brand.