Most people don’t realize there’s a science to cooking with wine. It you adhere to the right formulas, your cooked dish can be enhanced by the wine. If you fail to watch certain specific steps, you could end up with a dish that was ruined by the addition of wine.
Which Cooking Wines To Use
It is not imperative to use cooking wine; a good quality wine can also be added to dishes. In fact, if using a cooking wine, which has added salt, reduce the salt you would normally add to the dish to compensate. Do not waste a premium wine in a cooked dish, instead, always serve it with the meal. Never use a wine you don’t enjoy drinking for cooking. The cooking process will only highlight the negative qualities you already dislike and destroy the dish’s flavor. If you would drink it, it’s OK to cook with it.
What Cookware To Use
If you’re planning to add wine to a dish as you cook it, do not use cast iron or aluminum cookware. Use enamel cookware so the flavors in the wine do not react to the materials that make up the cookware. If you’re learning to use cooking wine in food, follow the pairing suggestions listed below.
Wine Pairing Suggestions
•Full-bodied, Young Red Wine – use with red meat dishes and red sauces
• Earthy, Full-bodied Red Wine – use with soups containing root vegetables and beef stock
• Dry White Wine – use with cream sauces and seafood, poultry, pork and veal dishes
• Dry, Crisp White Wine – use with bouillabaisse and seafood soups
• Sweet White Wine – use with sweet desserts
• Sherry – use with consommé, vegetable soups and poultry
• Regional wines should be paired with regional foods
How to Cook with Wine
Cooking with wine is a process; do not rush it by adding wine and then bringing the mixture to a boil. Never boil wine, instead bring the mixture to a simmer and cook it for at least 10 minutes so the wine flavors can mix with the other ingredients. Wine takes time to impart its enhancing flavors, so don’t rush the dish or add the wine too late in its preparation and don’t forget to enjoy your meal!