Wine in recipies.
Author
Discussion

Davi

Original Poster:

17,153 posts

244 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Probably a really stupid question, but is there a reasonable substitute for white wine in recipes? I don't drink much wine and the wife hardly drinks anything, so opening a bottle every time I need to add a splash is rather expensive / wasteful.

brum

5,892 posts

230 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Noilly Prat. It keeps ages

shirt

25,074 posts

225 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
buy it in 1/3 bottles smile

dougc

8,240 posts

289 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Get the 25cl (17.5cl sometimes) bottles from the supermarket. Sainsburys do a few at a couple of quid.

Chim Girl

6,268 posts

283 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Nigella advocates freezing it in plastic bags.

prand

6,230 posts

220 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
I'm not sure if you can still buy cooking wine in small bottles, but I would imagine it's probably just as cheap to use normal wine.

My suggestions are:

Sherry is a good alternative to wine as it lasts for ages once opened - and is relatively cheap, especially if you use some supermarket own brand. If I'm out of wine (red or white) I usually splash whatever sherry I have to hand in, though ideally you should use a drier lighter Fino type to replace white wine (for a risotto, sauce or gravy for chicken etc) and darker, sweeter cream or amontilllado to replace red wine (for beef stew/bolognaise gravy etc).

A can of cider is a good replacement for white wine too, as is a nice can of ale/guinness to replace red in stews or casseroles etc. These come in handy tins, last for ages and you can also swig down any you don't use!

Also, red or white vermouth can also be substituted for wine.Again, it lasts for ages. Don't forget that as with sherry, you can use much less quantity compared to wine.

Another alternative to wine, depending on the dish is to use red or white wine vinegar. But use only half a capful as it can overpower a sauce if to much is used.

Edited by prand on Monday 19th January 13:04


Edited by prand on Monday 19th January 13:06

Davi

Original Poster:

17,153 posts

244 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Lovely job, plenty of things to try cheers smile

captainzep

13,306 posts

216 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Davi said:
Probably a really stupid question, but is there a reasonable substitute for white wine in recipes? I don't drink much wine and the wife hardly drinks anything, so opening a bottle every time I need to add a splash is rather expensive / wasteful.
What sort of dishes Davi?


Don

28,378 posts

308 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Chim Girl said:
Nigella advocates freezing it in plastic bags.
Wouldn't that crack out the alcohol? Maybe it doesn't matter if it's going into a recipe...

Davi

Original Poster:

17,153 posts

244 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
captainzep said:
Davi said:
Probably a really stupid question, but is there a reasonable substitute for white wine in recipes? I don't drink much wine and the wife hardly drinks anything, so opening a bottle every time I need to add a splash is rather expensive / wasteful.
What sort of dishes Davi?
anything and everything really!

Last nights was Seared Salmon with a singapore noodles (I think) from the first book that fell off the shelf (might have been nigella's) but I do a lot of fish / chicken meals that require it - fisherman's pie, risotto etc.

captainzep

13,306 posts

216 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Davi said:
captainzep said:
Davi said:
Probably a really stupid question, but is there a reasonable substitute for white wine in recipes? I don't drink much wine and the wife hardly drinks anything, so opening a bottle every time I need to add a splash is rather expensive / wasteful.
What sort of dishes Davi?
anything and everything really!

Last nights was Seared Salmon with a singapore noodles (I think) from the first book that fell off the shelf (might have been nigella's) but I do a lot of fish / chicken meals that require it - fisherman's pie, risotto etc.
£3 bottle of white wine properly sealed will keep for 2-3 weeks (for cooking purposes) minus a glass or two drunk by your OH. Probably cheaper than purchasing the alternatives?

Otherwise I swear by wholegrain french mustard for adding some background interest & acidity in stews & sauces.

Dry cider is great with sausages & pork chops.

Sherry gives oriental dishes a really nice taste. Marsala works well too.

The juice of a lemon improves many dishes' flavour.

Davi

Original Poster:

17,153 posts

244 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
captainzep said:
Davi said:
captainzep said:
Davi said:
Probably a really stupid question, but is there a reasonable substitute for white wine in recipes? I don't drink much wine and the wife hardly drinks anything, so opening a bottle every time I need to add a splash is rather expensive / wasteful.
What sort of dishes Davi?
anything and everything really!

Last nights was Seared Salmon with a singapore noodles (I think) from the first book that fell off the shelf (might have been nigella's) but I do a lot of fish / chicken meals that require it - fisherman's pie, risotto etc.
£3 bottle of white wine properly sealed will keep for 2-3 weeks (for cooking purposes) minus a glass or two drunk by your OH. Probably cheaper than purchasing the alternatives?

Otherwise I swear by wholegrain french mustard for adding some background interest & acidity in stews & sauces.

Dry cider is great with sausages & pork chops.

Sherry gives oriental dishes a really nice taste. Marsala works well too.

The juice of a lemon improves many dishes' flavour.
Really? I'd always given it 5 days tops! Perhaps I'm not properly sealing it.

Mustard is a must have in our cupboard already biggrin

captainzep

13,306 posts

216 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Davi said:
Really? I'd always given it 5 days tops! Perhaps I'm not properly sealing it.
It won't necessarily taste as good as when it was opened but it will still do fine for cooking.

See here:

http://www.winereviewonline.com/leslie_sbrocco_on_...

Shaw Tarse

31,836 posts

227 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Davi said:
Really? I'd always given it 5 days tops! Perhaps I'm not properly sealing it.
Screw top bottle leave it in the fridge.
I like cooking with wine, sometimes I even add it to the dish wink

Davi

Original Poster:

17,153 posts

244 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
blimey, might actually get used up in that time frame - I'll stick to bottles of wine then biggrin

sherman

14,910 posts

239 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
You could also freeze the wine in an ice cube tray and then add a couple of cubes when you need them.

wobert

5,521 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
Aldi do 250ml bottles of wine for 1.29 a bottle - Red, Rose & White - I use the white, a chenin blanc in a chicken dish, and it's fine. I keep a selection on standby in the cupboard to avoid dipping into my "cellar" collection.

bazking69

8,620 posts

214 months

Tuesday 20th January 2009
quotequote all
I just open a cheap bottle for cooking, chuck in what I need, and quaff the rest of it while cooking. Very rarely does a bottle need to be sealed.

cramorra

1,687 posts

259 months

Friday 23rd January 2009
quotequote all
prand said:
Sherry is a good alternative to wine as it lasts for ages once opened - and is relatively cheap, especially if you use some supermarket own brand. If I'm out of wine (red or white) I usually splash whatever sherry I have to hand in, though ideally you should use a drier lighter Fino type to replace white wine (for a risotto, sauce or gravy for chicken etc) and darker, sweeter cream or amontilllado to replace red wine (for beef stew/bolognaise gravy etc).


Edited by prand on Monday 19th January 13:06
nono sherry - especially the sweeter versions should not be kept open for longer then two weeks or so otherwise they will oxidise and taste hurl
I always thought I do not like Sherry until I found out the stuff my parents kept (for that special day) was horribly aged and not ok at all