Is Cooking Wine Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated April 13, 2026
The Answer
No - cooking wine should be avoided during pregnancy. While some alcohol evaporates during cooking, significant amounts remain even after extended cooking times, and no safe level of alcohol exposure exists for a developing baby.
Alcohol in any form poses serious risks during pregnancy, including fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) with lifelong physical and cognitive effects. Contrary to popular belief, cooking does not remove all alcohol from food - studies show 5-85% can remain depending on cooking method and time. The CDC and medical organizations agree there is no known safe amount of alcohol during pregnancy.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
✓ What's Safe
- • Alcohol free wine substitutes specifically labeled 0.0% ABV
- • Grape juice or white grape juice for white wine recipes
- • Chicken or vegetable broth with a splash of vinegar for savory dishes
- • Apple cider vinegar diluted with water for acidity
- • Non alcoholic cooking stocks designed for deglazing
- • Pomegranate or cranberry juice for red wine substitutes
✗ What to Avoid
- • All cooking wines (red, white, sherry, marsala, rice wine) - they contain 12-17% alcohol
- • Dishes where wine is added late in cooking or not heated (sauces, marinades)
- • Flambéed dishes - flame burns off only about 25% of alcohol
- • Recipes with short cooking times under 30 minutes
- • Assuming 'cooking wine' is different from regular wine - it still contains alcohol
- • Mirin and rice cooking wine - these contain alcohol despite being labeled for cooking
Most Common Ingredients in Cooking Wine Products
We analyzed 67 cooking wine products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Cooking Wine
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 67 cooking wine products we analyzed.
wine
CAUTION
Wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 31 of 67 products (46%)
alcohol
CAUTION
Alcohol is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 4 of 67 products (6%)
sherry wine
AVOID
Sherry wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 4 of 67 products (6%)
white wine
AVOID
White wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 4 of 67 products (6%)
neutral spirits
AVOID
Neutral spirits is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 3 of 67 products (4%)
red wine
AVOID
Red wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 3 of 67 products (4%)
high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch and widely used in processed foods and beverages. Has been associated with placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, and metabolic programming of offspring in animal studies, and with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in epidemiological studies of humans.
Found in 2 of 67 products (3%)
marsala wine
AVOID
Marsala wine is an intoxicating substance in beverages. Causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorder with lifelong physical and cognitive problems. No safe level exists.
Found in 2 of 67 products (3%)
Cooking Wine Products We've Analyzed
We graded 67 cooking wine products for pregnancy safety.
Your Questions Answered
Can pregnant women eat food cooked with wine?
Medical experts recommend avoiding food cooked with wine during pregnancy. While cooking reduces alcohol content, it doesn't eliminate it completely. Research shows that even after 2.5 hours of simmering, about 5% of alcohol remains. Since no safe level of alcohol has been established for pregnancy, the safest approach is to use alcohol free substitutes in recipes.
What are the risks of cooking wine during pregnancy?
The primary risk is fetal alcohol exposure, which can cause fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). FASD includes a range of lifelong effects such as physical abnormalities, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, and developmental delays. Because alcohol crosses the placenta freely, even small amounts can potentially affect fetal development. The developing brain is particularly vulnerable throughout pregnancy.
Does alcohol really cook off when you cook with wine?
No, alcohol does not fully cook off. Studies from the USDA show that alcohol retention varies significantly: flambéing retains about 75%, simmering for 15 minutes retains about 40%, and even after 2.5 hours of cooking, approximately 5% remains. The amount retained depends on cooking temperature, time, whether the dish is covered, and the surface area of the cooking vessel.
How long does it take for alcohol to cook out of food?
Alcohol never completely cooks out of food. After 15 minutes of cooking, about 40% remains. After 1 hour, approximately 25% remains. After 2 hours, about 10% remains. Even after 2.5 hours of simmering, roughly 5% of the original alcohol content is still present. For pregnant women, any residual alcohol is a concern since no safe threshold has been established.
What can I substitute for cooking wine while pregnant?
Several safe alternatives work well in recipes. For white wine, use white grape juice, chicken broth with lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar diluted with water. For red wine, try grape juice, pomegranate juice, or beef broth with a splash of red wine vinegar. For sherry or marsala, use apple juice with a small amount of vanilla extract. These substitutes provide similar acidity and flavor depth without any alcohol risk.
Is cooking wine different from regular wine for pregnancy safety?
No, cooking wine is not safer than regular wine during pregnancy. Cooking wine typically contains 12-17% alcohol by volume, similar to table wine. It also contains added salt and preservatives. The alcohol content poses the same risks to fetal development regardless of whether the wine is labeled for cooking or drinking. Both should be avoided during pregnancy.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains ingredients with established risks during pregnancy. Research shows these can cause birth defects, developmental harm, or serious maternal complications.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
People Also Checked
See our full guide to wine during pregnancy.
References
- https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol pregnancy/about/index.html
- https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/keeping well/drinking alcohol while pregnant/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7061927/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7807528/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetal_alcohol_spectrum_disorder
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3297711/
- https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcohol/risks effects dangers/pregnancy
- https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF Guide/Drinking Alcohol in Pregnancy Fetal Alcohol Effects-093.aspx
- https://www.nature.com/articles/pr200789
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases conditions/fetal alcohol syndrome/symptoms causes/syc-20352901
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15677-fetal alcohol syndrome
- https://thrivemarket.com/blog/heres a-convincing reason to avoid high fructose corn syrup during pregnancy
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1203063/full
- https://www.nature.com/articles/srep25091
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286322000225
- https://www.orlandohealth.com/content hub/why you should not consume high fructose corn syrup if you are pregnant/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7441786/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35123000/
- https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/32/12/2314/25900/Dietary Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522034220
