Can I cook with wine as a Muslim if the alcohol burns off?

The alcohol doesn't really burn off

Many people believe cooking removes all the alcohol. Food science says otherwise. Widely cited USDA data shows that a dish baked or simmered for 15 minutes still keeps around 40% of the alcohol. After one hour, about 25% remains, and even after two and a half hours, around 5% is still there. A quick flambé leaves most of it behind.

Wine itself is the problem

Even if every drop of alcohol disappeared, Islam forbids dealing with wine itself. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Allah has cursed wine, its drinker, its server, its seller, its buyer, its presser, the one for whom it is pressed, the one who conveys it, and the one to whom it is conveyed" (Sunan Abi Dawud 3674).

When he was asked about turning wine into vinegar on purpose, he said no (Sahih Muslim 1983). So buying a bottle to pour into the pot isn't allowed.

What about wine vinegar?

Vinegar is a different thing. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Vinegar is a good condiment" (Sahih Muslim 2052). Most scholars allow red and white wine vinegar bought from a store, because it has fully turned into vinegar. Some are stricter, so if you're unsure, apple cider or rice vinegar avoid the question.

Easy substitutes

• Red wine in stews or sauces: red grape juice plus a splash of vinegar, or beef stock.
• White wine in risotto or seafood: chicken or vegetable stock with lemon juice.
• Deglazing a pan: stock, water or a little vinegar.
• Mirin or cooking sake: rice vinegar with a pinch of sugar.
• Desserts: fruit juice or vanilla instead of liqueur.

Eating out and at family dinners

In restaurants, dishes like coq au vin, beef bourguignon, risotto and many pasta sauces often contain wine. Just ask the server. At family meals, kindly explain that you can't eat dishes made with alcohol, and offer to bring a dish yourself. See also Can I eat food my non-Muslim mom cooked? and Is vanilla extract haram because it has alcohol?