The alcohol found in alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Ethanol is produced when sugar is broken down by yeast during a process called fermentation. The sugar can come from grapes to make wine or from grains to make beer and hard liquor.1
The liver is responsible for processing alcohol, which is why excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver disease. 2 Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause weight gain, as alcohol has 7 calories per gram.3
Moderate alcohol consumption, on the other hand, has been shown to have health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and stroke. Moderate alcohol consumption is considered by the USDA to be one standard drink per day for women and two standard drinks per day for men. 4
Some people say that most of the alcohol "burns off" when you cook with it. In reality, the amount of alcohol evaporating could be less than you think. Researchers have found that anywhere between 4 and 49 percent of the alcohol added to a dish might be left in the final product depending on the cooking method, length of cooking, etc.5 If you're concerned about the amount of alcohol you're consuming, keep an eye on how much wine, beer, etc. is going into your dish!
Alcohol-rich Foods
| Ingredient | g of Alcohol per 100g | g of Alcohol per 100 calories |
|---|---|---|
| angostura bitters | 45.0 | 9.5 |
| cinnamon Schnapps | 43.5 | 11.9 |
| grappa | 40.4 | 13.3 |
| cachaca | 39.0 | 13.8 |
| pernod | 37.9 | 14.4 |
| whiskey | 36.0 | 14.4 |
| vanilla extract | 34.4 | 11.9 |
| vodka | 33.4 | 14.5 |
| brandy | 33.4 | 14.5 |
| galliano | 31.7 | 9.5 |
| cr?me de menthe liqueur | 29.8 | 8.0 |
| grand marnier | 26.0 | 8.4 |
| southern comfort | 26.0 | 11.8 |
| banana liqueur | 25.4 | 6.9 |
| campari | 22.7 | 8.5 |
| coffee liqueur | 21.7 | 6.3 |
| white creme de cacao | 19.0 | 5.5 |
| lillet blanc | 17.0 | 10.7 |
| midori melon liqueur | 16.7 | 6.3 |
| sake | 16.1 | 12.0 |
| port | 15.3 | 9.6 |
| baileys irish cream | 13.5 | 4.1 |
| Chardonnay | 10.7 | 12.7 |
| Pinot Grigio | 10.7 | 12.9 |
| merlot | 10.6 | 12.5 |
| Syrah wine | 10.5 | 12.7 |
| Sauvignon Blanc | 10.5 | 13.0 |
| wine | 10.4 | 12.5 |
| dry white wine | 10.3 | 12.6 |
| mirin | 10.0 | 6.8 |
| dry vermouth | 9.5 | 11.9 |
| champagne | 6.4 | 13.1 |
| dry cider | 5.0 | 12.2 |
| lager | 3.9 | 9.1 |
| cooking sherry | 3.3 | 6.6 |
| beer | 3.1 | 10.7 |
| framboise lambic | 2.5 | 4.6 |
