Does cooking wine go bad like regular wine?
I bought some cooking wine last week and made a delicious meal with it. I only used half a bottle, so the other half is still in my pantry.
I know that regular wine goes bad after about a day where as regular alcohol (rum, scotch, etc) doesn't really go bad at all.
I looked on the bottle to see if it says "keep refrigerated", "expires after opening", etc... and there's nothing of the sort.
Will that wine go bad, and if so, how fast?
Thanks in advance!
Best Answer
Generally... not as quickly. The salt content of the wine is much higher than drinking wine, which will preserve it longer. It will still "go bad" eventually. (Going bad is more a decrease in quality. It will still be edible, but unpleasant. It won't make you sick, except by the bad taste!)
See this from a Wikipedia Article: "Cooking wine typically available in North America is treated with salt as a preservative and food coloring."
So, it's safer than normal wine, but I'd try and use it soon. The sooner, the better.
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Quick Answer about "Does cooking wine go bad like regular wine?"
Yes, cooking wine will go bad after enough time, even if left unopened. Cooking wine tends to have an expiration date of about one year. An unopened bottle of cooking wine is still good to use beyond that date.How long does cooking wine stay good for?
Given time, cooking wine will turn bad, even if it is stored un-open. A bottle of cooking wine tends to have an expiry date of around 12 months; although left unopened, it can still be okay to use some time after.How can you tell if cooking wine has gone bad?
The smell is off. If a wine's aroma is moldy or resembles a musty basement, wet cardboard, or vinegar, it's turned. A heavy raisin smell is another bad signal.What is the difference between cooking wine and regular wine?
The difference between the two wines is the quality of the drink. Regular wine is finer, more flavorful, and will have a stronger taste in your dishes. Cooking wine is a go-to wine that will add the flavor you need, but will not be enjoyable to drink, as the flavors it will bring won't be as potent.How long can cooking wine stay in the fridge?
One food blog says a tightly sealed bottle of white wine in the fridge should be fine to cook with for several months. Another one says 3-5 days max and after that its "if you wouldn't drink it, don't cook with it" which I personally don't believe is strictly true.A Fundamental Cooking Wine Vs Regular Wine Comparison
More answers regarding does cooking wine go bad like regular wine?
Answer 2
I've successfully frozen leftover wine and then later used it in stews. I've never tried it with "cooking wine" though, because, I prefer to only cook with wine that I'd actually drink.
Answer 3
I would question the assertion that "normal" wine goes off after "about a day".
About the only thing that can go wrong with it is for it to oxidize, and let's face it, the amount of oxygen that's going to get through the small opening of the bottle neck, is pretty tiny.
Here's an idea: experiment. Get a mid-range, drinkable red wine. Pour yourself a small glass and drink it. Leave the bottle open at room temperature. The next day, pour yourself another small glass from the same bottle and taste it. I promise it won't make you ill. Is it as good as the first day? Revolting?
From experience, I believe you'll find the wine still enjoyable after a week -- even if it's not in the peak condition it was in when you opened it. It will last even better if you cork it.
(For white wine, of course, you'd keep it in the fridge, because you want it cold when you drink it. You could keep red in the fridge, but then you'd want to bring it back to room temperature for drinking)
Perhaps you're thinking that your palate isn't sophisticated enough to notice the spoiling. I say, if you can't sense it, you shouldn't worry about it. (I also say, if you can sense it, and it's not a super high-end wine, you're being too fussy :) )
For cooking, chefs tend to recommend that you shouldn't cook with a wine you wouldn't drink. I go along with that, although there may be economic reasons, depending on how much wine costs where you live.
Answer 4
Cooking wines have extra preservatives added so they will stay good for longer, though you should probably put it into the refrigerator.
Related / duplicate question: How long can I store cooking wine?
Answer 5
I know it's not what you asked, but another way to get around this problem is to cook with drinking wine, and then drink the leftover with the meal. Since some of the wine is already in the meal it will go together perfectly.
Answer 6
Wine's "badness" is somewhat subjective. I once bought a cheap bottle of wine at Trader Joe's and was surprised to find that it tasted sour when I opened it. I didn't drink it, but rather than wasting it, I cooked with it since it was somewhere between wine and vinegar and adding acidity is a very common way to improve a dish.
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