Substitutions

[caprocha]

It seems like a lot of Cooking Light's recipes have wine as an ingredient. Sometimes I don't have the time or inclination to go buy regular, drinking wine. Is there a way to substitute cooking wine instead? If so, what are the amounts/methods?

[SusanT]

Some cooking wines have a lot of added sodium. But here's a tip I learned from a friend - buy the small individual servings of wine. They usually come in four packs. That way you'll always have some on hand.

[Vanessa]

LIQUEOR:
1/2 CUP (RUM, BOURBON, WHISKEY)use:
1/4 cup Unsweetened Fruit Juice or Broth

RUM, DARK, 1 TBS use:
2 tbs. Rum Extract

RUM, LIGHT, 1 TBS use:
1 tbs. Rum Extract

SAKE OR RICE WINE can be replaced by:
Dry Sherry or Dry Vermouth

SHERRY, 1 TBS can be replaced by:
1 tbs. Sherry Extract
or 1 tbs. Vermouth
or 1 tbs. Apple Cider
or 1 tbs. White Grape Juice

[sneezles]

Vanessa,
Great list! Thanks for posting.

[makedah]

I haven't tried it, but some people here buy wine and freeze it in ice cubes for later use.

I avoided recipes that included wine because I don't drink much -- I saw it was a waste of a money. Besides, the dishes I'd made with it before were yucky. But I took the plunge and bought some wine to cook with -- I made sure that it was wine I liked the taste of -- and made a dish with the white wine. It was great. I bought these plastic stoppers that will help to keep the wine fresh until I need it again.

I saw on "Good Eats" on the Food Network that alcohol is important in recipes to bring out flavors that water, broth or juice will not (the extracts contain alcohol so they should work in this regard). So I won't skip the booze in future recipes.

[Gail]

Caprocha,

In addition to the wonderful list Vanessa provided, CL has its own information on substitutions which you can access by clicking:
http://www.cookinglight.com/articles/get_article.asp?aID=225

Hope this helps!

[caprocha]

Wow, thanks for all of the help you guys. I got even more good tips than I was looking for.

[Curleytop]

I buy some real cheap wine red and white just for cooking.