Cooking Wine?!
Cooking Wine?
Many recipes call for cooking wines, however they don't usually recommend a brand or type. I would like to stock my pantry so I don't have to run out to the store everytime I try a new recipe. Could you kind folks recommend good tried and true cooking wines that don't break the bank?
Such as:
White wine
Sherry
Burgundy
Congac
Brandy
Whiskey
and more!
3 weeks ago
I KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY COOK WITH WINES THAT YOU WOULD DRINK.
I'm asking for specific types and brands of wines that are good to use in recipes.
Answers:
3 weeks ago
I KNOW THAT YOU SHOULD ONLY COOK WITH WINES THAT YOU WOULD DRINK.
I'm asking for specific types and brands of wines that are good to use in recipes.
Good cooks never use "cooking wine" found in the supermarket. It's a poor quality wine and full of salt. And WAY overpriced for a tiny bottle. The rule is to never cook with a wine that you wouldn't want to drink.
Chardonnay is a decent white, and the Australian brands are very low in price ($10 range). Taylor is a very cheap sherry and just fine for cooking. For burgundy, I usually just buy a decent brand under $10. E&J VSOP brandy is inexpensive, and fine for cooking. Jack Daniels in sauces and marinades is all the rage now, so go with that. I never cook with cognac, so I can't help you there. Marsala is also a good wine for cooking with; kind of sweet. Tequila is actually very good in a marinade for chicken fajitas; any brand should do.
Source(s):
used to cater in a former life
Isn't the general rule of thumb to cook with the wine that you would also enjoy drinking? That's what my mom does. If it tastes good, it must be good to cook with.
Really speaking , any wine you would drink, is the one to use for food, bad wine is just bad taste???
as far as spirits are concerned, they are usually burnt off, so not quite as important, even rice wine is great for a lot of cooking
Cidar is great for game, ie Rabbit,
red wine for heavier meats, and Champagne for desserts
good luck
you have to have:
riesling for fish, calf, duck, chicken
bordeaux for cattle, pork mushrooms
a good madeiera for tongue ( that is expensive)
rum, congnac for special cakes ( I do not cook)
Greetingd from Hamburg, Germany
Heinz
Just like Erin stated - you want something good - not just cheap. If it tastes bad on its own - it will taste worse when you cook it and the flavor concentrates.
Clean Slate is a line of good wine that is inexpensive (in the $8-10 range). Go in to you local wine/liquor stores. Ask the sales person what they recommend - if they hear your price range and immediately take you to the clearance rack - avoid that store. A store with knowledgable staff will be able to direct you to the best bang for your buck. For those of you in Williamson County TN - Check out Red Dog Wine and Spirits in Franklin. The guys there are the best!
I watch a lot of cooking shows on the food network
They all say to cook w/ wine that you would drink.
If its crappy w/ food it's going to be crappy in the food
Hopefully the answers you have received have shared that each wine offers different characteristics which will impart flavor into your food. As far as White Wine,, a Sauternes is going to be extremely different that a Chardonnay. Focus on the end results and work backwards. If you are serving a shellfish and want something aromatic, semi-sweet with slight undertones of aging,, use sherry. Trout Almandine, Sauternes. A Generic Wine for cooking is going to result in a Generic dish. Even with Whiskey you are looking at such a variety of tastes,,,, go backwards and you will do well!
Happy Cooking
If you yourself do not DRINK wines, you could use chicken stock, beef stock or fruit juices for flavoring, instead of the wines. But, yes, the wines you cook with should be something you would drink, same with liquors.
When it comes to cooking wines, you can either buy them straight from the cooking section in the supermarket or buy the clean skins from your local bottle shop. They are generally great wines but are what is left over following the usual bottling.....they are a great price and perfect to cook with. Even the ones for only a couple of dollars each. The cooking process changes the taste of the wine anyway so don't worry about the expensive ones.....the same with the spirits, just buy the cheaper ones, they all taste the same after the cooking process.