suggestions for cooking

[jeffk]

I don't drink alcohol but I like to cook with it. What do I use when once or twice a month I need 1/2 cup of white wine for risotto? Do I need to buy a new bottle each time and pitch the rest? I'm looking for suggestions.
jeffk

[Innkeeper]

You might try using Dry Vermouth for your wine. It keeps longer after opening than white table wine.

[mrdutton]

IK's suggestion is spot on! But if you want to use white wine instead of Vermouth, then you'll use what you use for cooking and then pitch the rest.

Don't buy "cooking wine" cuz that stuff is rendered undrinkable by law and therefore should never be used for cooking. I'd rather you buy an inexpensive white wine, use some for cooking, and then chuck the rest.

Of course some dishes go better with red wine. You can get some relatively inexpensive reds as well. Use what you need for the dish and then chuck the rest if you must.

Happy New Years to you and have fun cooking.

[Drew]

I'd suggest buying a couple of the cheap Sutter Home or other cheap half bottles that you find next to the check out and either drink or dispose of the wine, you know the ones with the screw tops. Save the bottles and tops and then... buy a .750ml bottle of your fav. white and split the bottle into the halves ( all the way to the top) and replace the screw tops and store in the fridge. this way you're "guarunteed" at least two cooking ventures from 1 bottle.

Drew

[This message has been edited by Drew (edited 12-30-2001).]

[winedope]

Jeffk-
in regard to Drew's suggestion, for a risotto for 1-2 people, I will sometime grab one of these half bottles(like Luna d'Luna Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio blend) and use that. That way, you aren't using that garbage "cooking wine", but you aren't wasting the rest of a really good bottle of wine by leaving it to sit in the fridge. I've never thought to do what Drew ha suggested, but might try it next time. WD

[maggieg58]

I've found that you can buy tiny little quarter bottles of the most popular wine varieties--merlot, chardonnay, etc--in little four packs that look kind of like wine coolers. That way, you won't have much at all to throw away.

[Thomas]

You can also get those "bag in a box" wines. They are sealed in a vacuum so they last a rather long time. I have one I used last summer for a marinade before smoking salmon. There's still wine in it, and it is still usable for cooking--ONLY!