Wine is not just a beverage that we enjoy with our meals. Wine can be used in cooking too. The key is to choose the right type of wine for your meal. Just like pairing wine with your food, the same can be said for cooking with wine. Here are some essential white wine cooking tips.

What makes a dry white wine?

As you most likely know, there are many different types of wine. There are even different types of white wine. Dry white wine is ideal for cooking because it is not sweet. When selecting wine for cooking, make sure that you choose one that is on the crisp side. Some of the top options include Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio. Fuller wines like Chardonnays are not ideal for cooking because they are not quite as acidic.

Tips for choosing

Some might think that cooking with white wine will help conceal any bad qualities of the wine. Unfortunately, it’s actually the opposite which is true. As the wine is reduced, any poor qualities will be accentuated. If you wouldn’t serve the bottle to your guests, don’t cook with it. That said, if you have a bottle of wine that is particularly special and complex, you should save it for drinking rather than cooking. This is because those finer nuances will evaporate as the wine reduces and blends with the other flavours.

Possible substitutes

If you are looking for a substitute for white wine in your favourite recipe, there are a few options. These include dry Vermouth, lemon juice or even wine vinegar. When using vinegar, however, make sure that you take it easy. You will not need the same amount as you would if you were to use wine. If you want to deglaze a pan, you can use white grape juice. It will add some sweetness too.

Remember, you will not need a lot of white wine to make a big difference. In other words, once the bottle is opened, you will need to store it properly so that you can use it again another time. Make sure that you store unopened bottles in a dark, cool place. Opened bottles should be refrigerated.