I don't drink. I never have. But I love to cook, and I often use alcohol in cooking.
Now that I'm into my second trimester and my appetite and energy is back, I'm ready to start cooking real meals again. Although I assume SOME of the alcohol cooks out, I don't know if all of it does, and I'm wondering if it's ok to cook with alcohol while pregnant. Especially with things like vodka...
Any thoughts?
pear / 1664 posts
I think it's OK. I had beer cheese soup at a restaurant the other day. I figured, they serve it to kids, so most/all of the alcohol must cook out??
Edited to add:
http://pregnancy.familyeducation.com/general-health-and-safety/caffeine-during-pregnancy/57523.html?page=2&detoured=1
it says " Because no safe level of alcohol intake has been established for pregnant women, the surgeon general advises that pregnant women should avoid all beverages, foods, and drugs that contain alcohol. (However, you do not have to avoid foods cooked with alcohol because the alcohol content evaporates when heated. Any alcohol left over is present in such a small amount it will not harm you or a fetus.)"
wonderful cherry / 21504 posts
So, something like vodka sauce? I think it would be fine. Most of the alcohol cooks out anyway, and you wouldn't drink the whole thing of sauce, right? I've never cooked with vodka, but I'm guessing a whole recipe of sauce calls for less than a cup of vodka, and you would only have one serving at a time, so, like, tablespoons of vodka total, in which most of the alcohol cooked out? Have you ever felt at all buzzed from whatever you are thinking of cooking?
In short, I think it's fine, so long as you've never felt buzzed from it before.
persimmon / 1161 posts
I've had vodka sauce while pregnant and I didn't worry about it at all. I actually calculated how much vodka would be in a serving based on the amount in the whole recipe (4oz). Even if it didn't cook out it was a fraction of an ounce (maybe 1/4 of an ounce) for the amount I'd eat.
persimmon / 1180 posts
Nope, all of the alcohol does not cook out. I learned this at my last doctor's appointment. Even if you bake something for 2 hours, something like 15% of the alcohol remains. There is an article out there somewhere that has a table. I'll try to find it for you and post it.
honeydew / 7589 posts
Yes, Vodka sauce is what I'm currently craving. I also use red and white wine in soups, and sherry. And beer.
wonderful grape / 20453 posts
Unless you eat the entire pot of pasta and you pour 2 cups of vodka in, it's not a concern 
A large amount of it cooks off: http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/blalcohol12.htm and it depends heavily upon how it's cooked.
The amount of alcohol per cup of sauce you're making is no more than a sip, I'd imagine I love vodka sauce, too!
persimmon / 1180 posts
Sorry it took me so long (gone all day). Here is a reference for you.
http://www.foodreference.com/html/talcoholincooking.html
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
I think you should be fine since the alcohol would burn away. I remember freaking out b/c I ate something that had been cooked with wine, and my OB said it wasn't a concern at all.
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