Do I need to let wine breathe if I'm cooking with it?
Some red wines benefit from being allowed to breathe for some time before being drunk. If I'm using such a wine for cooking rather than drinking, do I still need to let it breathe?
Best Answer
Not really. Letting the wine breath is basically just allowing some of the phenolic components of the wine oxidize lightly, which can improve the wine in your mouth. However when you are cooking, you are beating the piss out of the wine anyway and loosing most of the gentler esters that are improved thusly. Additionally the wine is breathing plenty in the skillet.
Pictures about "Do I need to let wine breathe if I'm cooking with it?"
Do you really need to let wine breathe?
It unwinds the tightness of the wine to let more characteristics show through. If it is a young wine, a longer time exposed to air will help open it up to show more complexity and soften the tannins. If it is an older wine, a little time exposed to air will wake it up from its long slumber to revive its liveliness.Can you use an open bottle of wine for cooking?
The truth is that you can use old wine for cooking a variety of dishes. Whether you use red or white wine doesn't matter. You can cook with wine for up to two months or longer after the bottle has been opened.Does letting red wine breathe make a difference?
Aerating the wine can help disperse some of the initial odor, making the wine smell better. Letting a bit of the alcohol evaporate allows you to smell the wine, not just the alcohol. Sulfites in wine also disperse when you let the wine breathe.How long does wine need to breathe for?
Most red and white wines will improve when exposed to air for at least 30 minutes. The improvement, however, requires exposure to far more than the teaspoon or so exposed by simply uncorking the wine. To accomplish this, you have to decant the wine. This process aerates the wine in its entirety.Letting Wine Breathe: How it Works \u0026 Why it Matters
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov, Mikhail Nilov, August de Richelieu