My husband and I are wanting to eat healthier and we're trying new recipes. The problem is when some of the recipes call for a little red or white wine, we have no clue what to use.
Standing in front of any wine display is like standing in front of a pain reliever counter. There are dozens and dozens to choose from? Which one do you choose? We know nothing about wine.
By SusanLee from Waynesville, GA
I use wine in some my cooking recipes. Don't use the cooking wine that is sold in the grocery stores, they are laden with salt.
Purchase regular table wine that can be purchased from liquor stores.
I borrowed a paperback book from the library entitled "Wine Tasting for Dummies." It might not be the exact title, but it's pretty close. It explained the different types of wines and what they are used for.
Wines are based on ones taste pallet. White is fruity while red is dry. I use red when cooking beef & white when I cook pastas, white meat & seafood. Realize that the alcohol will evaporate and so the flavor left behind will enhances the flavor of the dish. There is also red & white wine vinegars. I would buy small bottles and just experiment. But what ever you do, do not buy "cooking" wine. It has additives and high levels of salt.
Honestly, pick one appropriate to the meat (white wines for white meats and seafood, red wines for red meats), and I get one that's not sweet, not too dry, and is cheap. There's no use in buying an expensive wine to cook. I never use a blush or rose' wine to cook.
You know, sometimes I get the little four-pack tiny bottles of red or white wine for cooking. That way, I don't have to worry about leftover wine, or storage space, or drinking the stuff. :D
If I want to drink wine, I'll buy a better wine of which I like the taste.
By the way, when I say "four packs of wines", they're small four packs of little bottles intended for drinking; I just *use* them for cooking only. To clarify, I never use "cooking wine".
Here are some links that will give you detailed information:
www.globalgourmet.com/
www.examiner.com/
The inputs are good however I am new at using wine too and I want to know the name of a good brands. I have tried different kinds but they don't taste good to me.
Check this site out, it may help with your questions.
www.easy-wine.net/
I have always used with excellent results: White-Tisdale, Red-Marsella.
Yes stay away from the cooking wines! A good rule of thumb is red wines for red meats and white wines for white meat. Keep it simple and moderately priced. The only wines you need to really worry about quality-wise is Marsala and Port.
THANK YOU FOR THE LINKS Deeli Sorry I forgot to type in lower case, I was
not yelling.
eg: Sauvignon Blanc (white wine) for chicken dishes, such as Chicken Piccata, white chicken caccitori, etc..
Merlot (red wine) is excellent in beef dishes, such as Beef Stew, Pot Roast. We also put some in the sauce we make for pasta. It is a basic Italian tomato sauce with meatballs and pork in the sauce. You would put the wine in after you saute your onions and garlic let it cook down a bit and then add the tomatoes etc.
Enjoy!
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
What is the least expensive, and best tasting, white wine to cook with?
Sharon from Florida
White Rhine. I use this nearly all the time in anything I cook from turkey to soups. Its the cheapest when bought in gal size, it keeps well in refrig and use as you need.
Apple Juice. An equal amount works great for taste, color and texture.
I don't know if it's the least expensive, but it's definitely in the lower category of expense.
L'Epayrie french table wine.
Pronounced "L'Perrier" - but if I were you, I'd write it on a piece of paper and show it to the clerk because no one here knows how to pronounce it.
Cook only with a wine that you would enjoy drinking from a glass, avoid "cooking wines" They taste NASTY. $3 Chuck (Charles Shaw) or we have Matthew Fox in our area, both are about $3.00 bottle are are very nice to drink or cook with. Choose a varietal you enjoy.
Like bargains? Love freebies? Me too! To find our more: www.freebiesforever.nocashever.com and take the free tour.
Get the free toolbar for freebies delivered to your desktop for no cost ever.
I don't drink wine (it always tastes like vinegar to me, no matter how good it's supposed to be) but I do cook with it. I just ask in the liquor store. I tell them I want something good to cook with and they are very helpful without over-selling.
White grape juice - Enjoy!
If you have a recipe calling for red wine will any red wine do or are they different? I have never cooked using wine before.
Any kind but don't use "cooking wine". All chefs say not to.
I use L'Epayrie. Reasonably priced, comes in red or white, and has certainly improved the flavor of my cooking!
Known as 'French Table Wine," it can also be drunk as is. Not made specifically for cooking, so does not have the high sodium problem. Frankly, I don't like the taste of most wines straight out of the bottle, but when I cook with this one, something magical happens. I started using it when a friend recommended it, and she's been using it for years.
A couple of weeks ago, the newspaper featured it as a "Best Bet". "
This information if from www.dallasnews.com:
L'Epayrie Red Table Wine, NV, France (Panel pick)
"1.5 liter bottle is equivalent to two bottles. $9.99; widely available.
This easy-drinking wine was the clear favorite of the tasting, offering good quality for the price. It's neither too subtle nor too bold. It's a reliable, good value red that many guests will enjoy, with or without food."
If it's something drinkable, any red will do. Even a cheaper sangria is fine ( on chicken and fish, I even prefer that because as it reduces and carmelizes, there's a fruity kick).
Heartily agree with Lilac, stay away from the "cooking" wines. They're loaded with salt and taste that way right out of the bottle; when they're cooked that saltiness is even more intensified and can overpower whatever seasonings your dish has, not to mention blowing your daily sodium requirements (maybe even a couple of days' worth!) all to Hades.
Any full bodied red wine will do. And, in a pinch, even fine chefs will use cooking wine and simply not add the salt the recipe calls for to compensate for the cooking wine saltiness. ;-)
