As an expert sommelier and brewer, I can provide you with a detailed answer to the question of whether alcohol evaporates when heated. When alcohol is heated, some of it does indeed evaporate. However, it is important to note that not all of the alcohol will burn off during the cooking process.
Alcohol, such as wine, contains ethanol, which has a lower boiling point than water. This means that when you heat a dish containing alcohol, the alcohol will start to evaporate before the water does. The exact boiling point of ethanol is around 173 degrees Fahrenheit (78 degrees Celsius), whereas water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius).
During cooking, as the temperature rises, the alcohol begins to evaporate gradually. The longer you cook a dish, the more time the alcohol has to evaporate. However, it is essential to understand that even after hours of cooking, some residual alcohol will remain in the dish.
Several studies have been conducted to measure the amount of alcohol that remains after cooking. One study found that after 2-1/2 hours of simmering, approximately 5% of the original alcohol content remained. Another study showed that after flambéing a dish, about 75% of the alcohol content remained.
It is important to remember that alcohol does not evaporate instantly or completely when heated. The evaporation process is gradual and depends on factors such as cooking time, temperature, and surface area exposed. If you are aiming to completely remove alcohol from a dish, you would need to cook it for an extended period of time or use techniques such as flambéing to aid in the evaporation process.
Additionally, the type of dish and cooking method can also affect the evaporation of alcohol. For example, when alcohol is used in baking, much of it evaporates during the cooking process due to the longer exposure to heat. On the other hand, when alcohol is used in sauces or stews, it may take longer for the alcohol to evaporate completely.
Personal experiences have also shown me that not all alcohol evaporates when heated. I have encountered situations where I have cooked dishes with wine or beer for several hours, and there was still a noticeable alcohol aroma and taste remaining. This highlights the fact that some alcohol will not evaporate entirely, even with prolonged cooking.
While alcohol does evaporate when heated, it does not completely burn off during the cooking process. Even after hours of cooking, a small percentage of the original alcohol content will remain in the dish. The evaporation rate depends on various factors, including cooking time, temperature, and cooking method.