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Original poster

If you're alcoholic...

141 replies

HangingOver · 14/03/2025 20:41

Do you cook with alcohol? I'm nearly 5 years sober and just started using red wine in a certain recipe (the little stock pot things aren't as good). Being so near the sight and smell of it is pretty strange. I buy a tiny bottle just for the recipe and put it all in.

Just curious.

OP posts:
Ahwig · 14/03/2025 20:48

My husband is 15 years in recovery and is rigid about no alcohol anywhere. For him this means, no sherry trifle, no beer batter on fish , no steak and ale pie etc . He will always ask in a restaurant if an item includes alcohol and won’t have it if it does. His thinking is if he has it in something, his brain will process the thought and the cravings will start again.

Smokeyblueblack · 14/03/2025 20:51

I always thought the perceived wisdom was that an alcoholic couldn't have alcohol as an ingredient of a recipe or dish. I mean alcoholics couldn't even have communion wine that was actually wine with alcoholic content.
Personally, as someone who has life long issues with alcohol although has never identified or perceived myself as an alcoholic I would be very wary of introducing alcohol as an ingredient.

PollyCreo · 14/03/2025 20:52

I gave up alcohol for a year during cancer treatment. One day I bought tiramisu from Lidl and my head started spinning after a mouthful - didn't realise it contained alcohol.

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General food
Original poster
HangingOver · 14/03/2025 20:54

Sorry I should have added the dish is cooked for over an hour so no alcohol remaining. I wouldn't eat a sherry trifle either.

OP posts:
LSGXX · 14/03/2025 20:55

I’ll happily put a splash of wine in a bolognese and make trifle or tiramisu with alcohol.
I’m over five years sober.
It’s personal choice though. I’d totally respect someone’s wish to stay super-strictly AF.

Original poster
HangingOver · 14/03/2025 20:55

I'm texting my sponsor to see what she thinks lol

OP posts:
PersonIrresponsible · 14/03/2025 20:56

No.

I lost the privilege and there's soooo much yummy food to enjoy anyway. Cooking with alcohol would be the first step backwards.

8 years sober. Well done on 5! Amazing accomplishment.

LuckyLuchi · 14/03/2025 20:56

No I couldn’t do it. Even though I am 5 years sober, the smell can still be triggering to me.

Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 20:57

Listen to "group thinking" podcast on Spotify .I think you'll relate and have your eyes opened.

You don't have to live like this- believing you're an "alcoholic" and have a "disease" and can't cook with a 100ml bottle of alcohol.

You can still stay away from alcohol forever and live your life 100% sober. But you don't need to live your life in that "disease/alcoholic" mindset.

Most female "alcoholics" are actually women with trauma who found alcohol a coping mechanism.

I honestly believe it'd help you to view yourself differently. It's empowering.

Original poster
HangingOver · 14/03/2025 20:57

Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 20:57

Listen to "group thinking" podcast on Spotify .I think you'll relate and have your eyes opened.

You don't have to live like this- believing you're an "alcoholic" and have a "disease" and can't cook with a 100ml bottle of alcohol.

You can still stay away from alcohol forever and live your life 100% sober. But you don't need to live your life in that "disease/alcoholic" mindset.

Most female "alcoholics" are actually women with trauma who found alcohol a coping mechanism.

I honestly believe it'd help you to view yourself differently. It's empowering.

Not what I asked.

OP posts:
Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 20:58

This reply has been deleted

Deleted at OPs request

Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 20:59

This reply has been deleted

Deleted at OP's request

Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
HangingOver · 14/03/2025 21:04

Is it your Podcast by any chance?

OP posts:
Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 21:05

HangingOver · 14/03/2025 21:04

Is it your Podcast by any chance?

Oh wow. I'm sorry I didn't realise you would react quite so rudely.

No.... They're not my podcasts !?

Look, I was actually trying to be supportive and helpful.

I'll ask Mumsnet to remove my posts

Thewalrusandthecarpenter · 14/03/2025 21:07

I’ve been in AA many years and I’d say no. I’m pretty sure most people I know in the rooms wouldn’t want to risk it either. I tend to avoid any vague taste that might remind me of those days - and I appreciate that it’s burned off in cooking. It’s the association. But I live alone so never need to have alcohol in the house at all.

PersonIrresponsible · 14/03/2025 21:07

You got shares @Jalapenosplease ?

No one asked you to choose their method for recovery. Glad you found something that works for you but it helps no one to turn sobriety into a league table.

BlackStrayCat · 14/03/2025 21:07

Gosh. How rude OP.

LadyWiddiothethird · 14/03/2025 21:09

@Jalapenosplease ,go away!

I am 22years sober,I don’t cook with alcohol,but I occasionally eat shop bought peppercorn sauce or a pie proclaiming to have alcohol in it.It has never started a craving.

If you were a sponsee of mine I would say don’t do it.I use balsamic vinegar in my cooking.

LadyWiddiothethird · 14/03/2025 21:10

PS I am an active member of AA.

Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 21:11

LadyWiddiothethird · 14/03/2025 21:09

@Jalapenosplease ,go away!

I am 22years sober,I don’t cook with alcohol,but I occasionally eat shop bought peppercorn sauce or a pie proclaiming to have alcohol in it.It has never started a craving.

If you were a sponsee of mine I would say don’t do it.I use balsamic vinegar in my cooking.

Ok I will go away.

I'll ask Mumsnet to remove my posts.

Original poster
HangingOver · 14/03/2025 21:14

LadyWiddiothethird · 14/03/2025 21:09

@Jalapenosplease ,go away!

I am 22years sober,I don’t cook with alcohol,but I occasionally eat shop bought peppercorn sauce or a pie proclaiming to have alcohol in it.It has never started a craving.

If you were a sponsee of mine I would say don’t do it.I use balsamic vinegar in my cooking.

Yeah the glaze stuff is good for this.

I'm not sure what the answer is which usually means no lol

OP posts:
ejmog · 14/03/2025 21:22

As a publican just curious why wouldn't you use a alcohol free red of the same calibre taste the same costs less and as you said there is no alcohol after the cooking anyway

Ritzybitzy · 14/03/2025 21:25

Jalapenosplease · 14/03/2025 20:57

Listen to "group thinking" podcast on Spotify .I think you'll relate and have your eyes opened.

You don't have to live like this- believing you're an "alcoholic" and have a "disease" and can't cook with a 100ml bottle of alcohol.

You can still stay away from alcohol forever and live your life 100% sober. But you don't need to live your life in that "disease/alcoholic" mindset.

Most female "alcoholics" are actually women with trauma who found alcohol a coping mechanism.

I honestly believe it'd help you to view yourself differently. It's empowering.

What a load of nonsense that’s nothing to do with anything.

CoolNoMore · 14/03/2025 21:27

Time Cooked at Boiling point of alcohol /Approximate Amount of Alcohol Remaining

15 minutes: 40 percent
30 minutes: 35 percent
One hour: 25 percent
Two hours: 10 percent
Two and one-half hours: 5 percent

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