Cooking pasta with vodka

[PandaBear]

Not exactly the "vodka sauce" with cream, just trying to use vodka to extra tomato's flavor without using wine (not able to finish a bottle before it goes bad, no space in the fridge, neutral flavor, etc). So I'm wondering, between the cheap $6 Trader Joe to those $15 better stuff, does it make sense to use the cheap one for cooking? How does vodka taste different than say, brandy or other distilled alcohol that won't go bad once open?

Also can you taste the difference between say, potato, or grape based vodka? or for cooking vodka is vodka is vodka?

 

[wag123]

Not exactly the "vodka sauce" with cream, just trying to use vodka to extra tomato's flavor without using wine (not able to finish a bottle before it goes bad, no space in the fridge, neutral flavor, etc). So I'm wondering, between the cheap $6 Trader Joe to those $15 better stuff, does it make sense to use the cheap one for cooking? How does vodka taste different than say, brandy or other distilled alcohol that won't go bad once open?

Also can you taste the difference between say, potato, or grape based vodka? or for cooking vodka is vodka is vodka?

Vodka does not go bad, but after opening the bottle the flavor can be a little "off" after 20-30 years. Vodka is ethanol and water. The difference in flavor is due to the water, not the ethanol, and the water makes a big difference because 80 proof vodka is 40% alcohol and 60% water. For cooking, vodka is vodka, and for mixed drinks like screwdrivers, vodka is vodka.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Waste of good vodka. Drink the vodka, boil the noodles in water.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Not exactly the "vodka sauce" with cream, just trying to use vodka to extra tomato's flavor without using wine (not able to finish a bottle before it goes bad, no space in the fridge, neutral flavor, etc). So I'm wondering, between the cheap $6 Trader Joe to those $15 better stuff, does it make sense to use the cheap one for cooking? How does vodka taste different than say, brandy or other distilled alcohol that won't go bad once open?

Also can you taste the difference between say, potato, or grape based vodka? or for cooking vodka is vodka is vodka?

There's a difference in smoothness and taste depending on whether it's grain or potato, the number of time it has been distilled, and filtered as well as the filter media of choice.

For cooking i'd say vodka is vodka.

 

[benjy]

pasta aka grains-modern grains are very UNHEALTHY + skyrocket your blood sugars REQUIRING your body to secrete insulin, a fat storage hormone thats mostly why so many health issues-diabetes etc is rampant today says many nutritionally savy people, your bod your choice!!

 

[vavavroom]

When do we get a show called Cooking with Panda Bear? On the job I have encountered alcoholic coworkers who drink vodka because it doesn't leave an odor. We have a zero-habit policy. What I'm trying to say is, vodka isn't added to the sauce for its flavor but for its ability to carry the flavor of other ingredients like that of tomato in the case of pasta sauce. I'd rather use riper tomatoes than vodka in my sauce but that's me. My old girlfriend Nadia* was always cooking with vodka. I think she may have been brushing her teeth with it.

*She wasn't much of a cook but a great table dancer!

 

[PandaBear]

pasta aka grains-modern grains are very UNHEALTHY + skyrocket your blood sugars REQUIRING your body to secrete insulin, a fat storage hormone thats mostly why so many health issues-diabetes etc is rampant today says many nutritionally savy people, your bod your choice!!

I consider 1 lb of dry pasta for a family of 4 eating over 3 days negligible. We do eat other stuff not ONLY pasta.

Waste of good vodka. Drink the vodka, boil the noodles in water.

I am only buying the $10 stuff, to replace wine in cooking. Sure I can use wine but if I am forced to finish a bottle in 2 weeks it is sort of a waste. I think I would likely finish a bottle of vodka in 4 months if I am cooking with it.

 

[PWMDMD]

I worked in a NY pizzeria for 6 years in high school and college and I cooked a lot of penne vodka, chicken/veal marsala, and chicken/veal francese. In general, I would never cook with anything that I don't think is delicious on its own. If you're going to cook with wine, then I would only cook with wine I'd drink by the glass and not cheap wine. That said, I drink a fair amount of vodka and to be honest I can't really tell the difference between most decent vodkas. If you gave me a taste test with Tito's vs Grey Goose I'd be hard-pressed to even know there's a difference even though there is a big price difference. If you compared those to Smirnoff, I could probably tell you they aren't the same, but that's it. So, in conclusion, I'd cook with Tito's.

 

[kschachn]

I worked in a NY pizzeria for 6 years in high school and college and I cooked a lot of penne vodka, chicken/veal marsala, and chicken/veal francese. In general, I would never cook with anything that I don't think is delicious on its own. If you're going to cook with wine, then I would only cook with wine I'd drink by the glass and not cheap wine. That said, I drink a fair amount of vodka and to be honest I can't really tell the difference between most decent vodkas. If you gave me a taste test with Tito's vs Grey Goose I'd be hard-pressed to even know there's a difference even though there is a big price difference. If you compared those to Smirnoff, I could probably tell you they aren't the same, but that's it. So, in conclusion, I'd cook with Tito's.

Yes, vodka is only alcohol and water with very little carry-over from the distillation, and it is not aged in a barrel nor is anything added for flavor. Basically watered-down white lightning. So unless the distillery is particularly poor then all vodka will taste very similar - especially if you are using it as a mixer or in cooking.

Costco is a good place to buy vodka.

 

[Analog-1]

Bunch of drunks out here..

 

[Oillover]

pasta aka grains-modern grains are very UNHEALTHY + skyrocket your blood sugars REQUIRING your body to secrete insulin, a fat storage hormone thats mostly why so many health issues-diabetes etc is rampant today says many nutritionally savy people, your bod your choice!!

+1
better to eat a potato!



...or is it?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Sure I can use wine but if I am forced to finish a bottle in 2 weeks it is sort of a waste.

Don't they sell cooking wine in smaller bottles for $3 at most grocery stores?

 

[Vercingetorix]

All vodka is the same just like motor oil is all the same.

 

[Kira]

Don't they sell cooking wine in smaller bottles for $3 at most grocery stores?

Cooking wine is extremely salted.
You risk oversalting when you use "cooking wine".

PandaBear: Cook with a mid-range wine. If you want to repeat your dish, you have wine!
If you don't want it around, try giving it to a neighbor. "Have a glass of wine on me", you can say.

 

[JayhawkRoy]

You can also get 187-250 ml small bottles of wine. I know Sutter Home sells several types in our liquor stores. That way you are closer to using it up in one serving without have much left over.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

pasta aka grains-modern grains are very UNHEALTHY + skyrocket your blood sugars REQUIRING your body to secrete insulin, a fat storage hormone thats mostly why so many health issues-diabetes etc is rampant today says many nutritionally savy people, your bod your choice!!

It's only unhealthy if you don't know how to cook pasta. Pasta only falls on the high glycemic index when it's overcooked and it's all about portion control.

Quick cooking pastas like Kraft Macaroni and Cheese will fall on the high side because people always overcook it. Just like instant oatmeal.


https://glycemic-index.net/pasta/

 

[vavavroom]

it's all about portion control.

The allowable portion depends on the metabolic health of the individual, for example, non-diabetic vs diabetic, on the metabolic state, current blood glucose level, level of activity, timing of food consumption, and personal goals. Do you want gains, reduce body mass, stay the same, your goal is longevity, health, etc? A person with a normally functioning metabolism certainly can and should eat some carbs. A diabetic may need to severely cut down on carbs to the point of near exclusion. Then again, diabetics also tend to suffer from bouts of hypoglycemia and they need carbs at that moment. But you are absolutely right, many people do not understand portion size. "I'm gonna have a whole garbage can-sized bag of chips now!"

 

[Brian123]

Don't they sell cooking wine in smaller bottles for $3 at most grocery stores?

They sure do, it does not taste as good as real wine. My Mom makes Shrimp Scampi and uses this Cooking Wine, there was 1 time where she did not use it, I could not tell a difference. Does Cooking Wine have less alcohol than regular Wine? If the Cooking Wine is only 3 bucks it probably has very little alcohol.

 

[Analog-1]

Why does alcohol matter if it's just cooked off anyway. In the case of Vodka. Water and alcohol once the alcohol is gone is it not just water?

 

[Quattro Pete]

If the Cooking Wine is only 3 bucks it probably has very little alcohol.

It's $3 because it's only a 16 oz bottle. It has the same amount of alcohol as regular wine. But as you and others noted, it is not a good tasting wine due to added salt and lower quality grapes used. So yeah, getting one of those small 4-packs of actual drinking wine for $6 may be a better way to go.