We all know the powers of booze…it helps alleviate stress after a crazy day, facilitates conversation in awkward situations and even encourages dancing/displays of public nudity when consumed at large. But, it turns out that alcohol also plays a legitimate role in the kitchen because it enhances the flavor in food, according to a recent article in Fine Cooking. (If you just thought “duh, what’s your point?”, keep reading – it’s really interesting!)
According to the article, alcohol improves the flavor of food in two key ways: through evaporation and “molecular bonding.”
Evaporation
Have you noticed when you open a bottle of scotch or port, you can catch a whiff of the alcohol almost instantly? That’s because alcohol molecules evaporate very quickly. So, if you add a splash of booze to a fruit salad, for example, it helps enhance carry the smell of the fruit to your nose more quickly and intensely – which ultimately contributes to a more satisfying dish. Just be careful how much you add. You don’t want the alcohol to make up more than 5% of the dish, otherwise it will tasty boozy.
Molecular Bonding
Another reason alcohol is so amazing in the kitchen is because it “bonds with both fat and water”. Remarkably, some seasonings (like garlic, herbs) only dissolve in fat and other flavors (like sweet, sour, salty) are only soluble with water. So in other words, alcohol is sort of like the bridge between certain flavors and food. A good example of this is when you marinate meat. By adding just a splash of neutral-tasting vodka to a marinade, it will “noticeably improve the flavor penetration of the marinade.”
The article also debunked a common myth: alcohol doesn’t actually “burn off” during cooking. Depending upon how you cook it, the amount of alcohol retained can be as much as 75% – which may explain why best friend used to get giddy after eating Bananas Foster!!
All in all, it looks like we finally have justification for cracking open another bottle of wine or opting in for the 2-for-1 vodka deal at Safeway. So, honor culinary excellence and drink on people!
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