A cooking one

[HopeontheHorizon]

Hi all,

I feel like such a dummy for posting this. I found a recipe online for the slow cooker. It says to add wine to the stock.

I'm hoping my 4 year old and 22 month old will have some tonight. I've added the wine now and it's cooking away. Will it be safe? I believe the alcohol content boils off but I'm still bothered about it now. I lifted the lid off the slow cooker, it smells wine-y as hell!

I feel like such a fool. Can someone reassure me or tell me i shouldn't be giving my kids this food?

Scientifically the answer's not that simple because it depends on how long you are cooking the stew for, how much alcohol you put it in in the first place, how hot it gets etc etc.

But I wouldn't worry at all personally! I gave both my children similar things from very early on. The actual amount of any alcohol remaining that they ingest will be vanishingly small. Definitely go for it - what would be the actual harm it could do?

Simmering it for hours (around 2-3) will reduce the alcohol content to around 5% if the original amount so it should be fine. I've certainly never managed to get tipsy on stew.

It's 300ml of wine, not sure what alcohol content, but it's got a good 5 hours in the slow cooker.

At least if they suffer a hangover it's the weekend I jest, I jest!

The alcohol will almost completely boil off, don't worry. Although if you can get them to like the taste, that's a result! DD likes red wine in food, but not white wine.

If you are worried, in future you can always add non-alcoholic wine or grape juice. It actually tastes exactly the same. I'm sure it's fine though.

It's supposed to smell (and taste) winey! That's the whole point of sloshing a jollop in there! Chill, I have a veeeeeeery close relationship with my slow cooker, best invention since the sausage. By the time it's done the alcohol content will be next to nothing, even on the low setting.