"Cooked Alcohol?" HARAM?

Sub: "Cooked Alcohol?" HARAM?
Date: 01/10/2001 20:47:12 EST

To: AskIslam@aol.com
From: <name deleted for privacy>

Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Raheem
Questions & Answers for ISLAM TODAY
Question:
Is it permissible to eat dishes cooked with alcohol? It is well-known that alcohol evaporates with heat?"

Thank you so much for your Email and your question regarding Islam. It is wonderful to see people like yourself taking the time and interest to learn more about the correct teachings of Islam. This in itself is a sign of guidance from the Almighty Above. May He grant us the wisdom to know the right knowledge and the ability to put it into practice, ameen.

For answers to all of your questions about Islam - visit our newest addition to our website family at: http://www.islamtomorrow.com/everything/index.html

Now as regards your question:

Your Question:
" Is it permissible to eat dishes cooked with alcohol? It is well-known that alcohol evaporates with heat."

First of all, as in many questions these days, there is a comment or statement lying underneath the question in an effort to perhaps influence the answer. Let us ask the question as a question should be asked.

"Does alcohol totally evaporate while heating, cooking or flaming?"

The answer, according to the United States Federal Department of Agriculture is, "No. It does not all evaporate."

Some, but not ALL of the alcohol evaporates during cooking. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has published the following table of alcohol content in cooked foods.
Amount of Alcohol Retained During Cooking
Source: USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)
Process Used
Evaporation
Retention
Alcohol added to boiling liquid,
then removed from heat
85%
15%
Alcohol flamed
70%
30%
No heat, stored overnight
75%
25%
Many people believe that because alcohol is sensitive to heat, it is eliminated with cooking. However, not all the alcohol content of alcoholic drinks is removed with heat; it depends on the type and time of cooking.

For instance if you add beer or wine to boiling liquid, then immediately remove it from the heat, 85 per cent of the alcohol content will remain. If you light the alcohol, as in flambé dishes, 75 per cent will remain. Even after simmering the dish for one and a half hours, it will still have 20 per cent of the original alcohol content.

It is only if you simmer the mixture for two or more hours, (as you would with a wine-based beef casserole), that as much as five to 10 per cent of the original alcohol content still remains.
Alcohol Retention During Cooking
Source: USDA
Process Used
Time
Evaporated
Amount Retained
Baked - not stirred into mixture
25 min
55%
45%

Baked, simmered or stirred into mixture:
15 min
60%
40%
"
30 min
65%
35%
"
1 hour
75%
25%
"
1.5 hours
80%
20%
"
2 hours
90%
10%
"
2.5 hours
95%
5%
Now as regards the status of this in Islam according to the Quran and the accurate hadeeths (sayings and teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him); Any and all alcohol is totally haram (forbidden).

The proof lies in the verses of the Quran where Allah tells us that

Again, it is only Allah who has All Knowledge. May He forgive me my mistakes and guide us all to the right way, ameen.

You can find a lot of answers by researching on our website. Both Quran and Sunnah (Hadeeths) are word searchable:

http://www.islamalways.com/

Try it. You'll like it, inshallah.
Jazakalah khair and may Allah continue to guide you, ameen. Wa As-Salam alaykum wa rahmatulah wa barakatah,

Salam alaykum,
Yusuf Estes
http://www.islamtomorrow.com/index.asp