Wine in Shepherd's Pie

I asked a chef about this one once and he reassured me that any alcohol is cooked off. Love shepherd pie

Yes, the alcohol evaporates during cooking.

I also would hesitate to ask in case it highlights their problem. My gut reaction is that it will be fine and the tiny amount of wine they will have will not be a problem even if it has not been cooked out. Unless of course you put several bottles in!!!

There is quite a lot in Ann but they are happy to talk about the issue!

When I was talking to DN she said she would not cook with wine and would avoid the recipe or use a substitute!

Why is life never simple!

Cooking with alcohol is simple, kitty. You don't have to worry about it. The alcohol is not there after cooking, only the flavour of whatever be erage you used, which is why it's used—for the flavour, not for the alcohol.

It's only in uncooked things like trifle that the alcohol remains as alcohol.

beverage

I think the concensus is that it will be ok. Which is what I thought! Phew!! Crisis of confidence when I remembered what DN said! Thank you!

You could always rustle up a mini non-wine version if it helps you feel better!
I am glad I spotted this thread as I had completely forgotten to take the mince out of the freezer for the cottage pie I am making tonight ready for the troops arrival on friday - phew.

It will be 100% fine- the taste will be great.

Marmight 'rustle up' and the week before Christmas are contradictory terms! That's why I made them weeks ago. As it is, the one I had earmarked for us later in January will have to be eaten too. And, I've run out of freezer space! Just hope DH doesn't have any more good ideas!!

I know it will taste great charley I always put lots a splash of red wine in, but I didn't want to bring about their downfall. It has quite a bit of redcurrant jelly and Yorkshire Relish in too but I don't think they will do anyone any harm.

Don't mention the wine - just tell them the lovely taste is down to the redcurrant jelly and relish (and only if they ask )!

Part of me says Yes its Ok but another part wonders what AA would have to say about it. My ex is an ex- alcoholic (although now almost and ex everything I know he wouldn't eat it as strongly advised by the Liver Consultant not to as even a small amount of alcohol needs to be processed by the liver. Sorry!!

kitty I am sure you could find a 'window' for rustling purposes !

Doesn't the fact that the alcohol has burned off mean that it is just grape juice Teetime?

The alcohol will be harmless but the flavour will be evident so maybe it's a bit mean to give recovering alcoholics a meal that contains the flavour they used to love but are no longer allowed to have.

Somebody is bound to mention the ingredients so I'd err on the safe side and make a separate one that's flavoured with something strong like Bovril so it still has a bit of oomph.

I think there is such a thing as worrying too much. If the food is harmless, which it is, there is no need to worry. Any winey taste will be well blended with the meat juices so that you have an alcohol-free wine-enriched gravy. That is not the same as alcoholic gravy-enriched wine!!

Stop worrying. Serve the food. Enjoy your meal.

I don't think that all the alcohol is burned-off.

It would be easier if you just asked your DN in advance so that you would know whether to make another pie.

It could make a psychological difference to them.

@kittylester - There's no way to make it revert to its un-fermented state!
Which implies that much of the natural sugars will be gone (presumably into the now evaporated alcohol).

I think I would make a separate one for them, flavoured with redcurrant jelly or tomato paste.

It does take a lot of boiling for the alcohol to be boiled off (as I found when I was following a recipe for boeuf bourguignon which I was going to feed to children as well).

A BBC recipe says it dissipates in about a minute, but I heard it took about 20 minutes of boiling. However, this link suggests it is much longer:

www.ochef.com/165.htm

It wouldn't be fair to give them any alcohol, better safe than sorry.

If all that's true (no references, I noticed), then blimmin' 'eck, kitty, you're going to have to make another pie.

From this article, it looks as if you are fine as long as you don't know it is in there.

www.rehabs.com/how-can-you-avoid-the-dreaded-holiday-freelapse/

Because it generates a feeling of 'might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb'.

Looks like it bags, better safe than sorry, flipping gecko!