Top Foods That Contain Alcohol What You Should Know

Are you on a diet or have specific health concerns that make alcohol a no-no? Well, then avoiding only alcoholic drinks won’t help! Why? Because there are foods that contain alcohol, even ones you wouldn’t expect from.

Common examples include meats marinated in alcohol, breads, fermented vegetables, soy sauce, kefir, vinegars, burger rolls, and drinks like kombucha. Even some fruit juices can have small traces of alcohol.

Now, you might wonder why they have alcohol. We’ll discuss why alcohol is present in these foods and provide tips on how you can minimize alcohol intake in your diet.

Key Takeaways

• Alcohol in Everyday Foods: Breads, fermented vegetables, kefir, soy sauce, cakes, and vinegar, contain small amounts of alcohol due to fermentation processes. Even some fruits and juices naturally have trace amounts of alcohol.
• Cooking with Alcohol: When alcohol is used in cooking, a significant amount can remain in the food, especially if added late in the process. Dishes like stews and marinated meats retain alcohol even after long cooking times.
• Fermented Drinks: Drinks like kombucha and must contain varying levels of alcohol due to natural fermentation, though they’re often labeled as non-alcoholic. Even juices like apple and grape juice can contain trace amounts.
• Avoiding Alcohol in Foods: To minimize alcohol in your diet, stick to fresh, unprocessed foods and avoid fermented or preserved items. Plus, choose whole grains, fresh meat, and drink plenty of clean water.

List of Foods That Contain Alcohol You Should Know

Many common foods have minor amounts of alcohol. This usually happens because of natural fermentation or the way they’re prepared. 

So, here’s a rundown of the major foods that contain alcohol.

1. Meats Prepared with Alcohol

The USDA says that when you add alcohol near the end of cooking, between 4% and 95% of it can still be in the food. For example, veal Marsala, where wine is added just before serving, has a lot of alcohol left. 

Other foods cooked with alcohol include meats that have been soaked in stews and marinade.

Now, if you simmer food for a long time, it can help to reduce the alcohol. But even after simmering, marinated meats still have about 70% of the alcohol in them. The USDA says that stews need to simmer for 150 minutes to get the alcohol level down to about 5%

2. Bread

The bacteria and yeast used in baking can make small amounts of alcohol, usually between 1.18% and 1.28% ABV. Some breads, like burger buns and rye bread, have a little bit more alcohol than others.

Plus, sweet milk rolls, especially those made in the French way, can have up to 1.30% ABV. This makes them some of the bread with the most alcohol. However, there’s no conclusive evidence of it.

That said, some breakfast foods that contain alcohol may include bread like sourdough, especially if they’re fermented for a long time. In terms of alcohol content, they’re a lot like fermented foods.

3. Fermented Vegetables

Fermented foods like sauerkraut, kimchi, and kombucha can have a small amount of alcohol. This is because they’re made by a process called fermentation. The amount of alcohol in these foods can change a lot. 

Sometimes it can be as high as 2%, but other times it might be lower than a ripe banana. When these foods are made at home, it’s harder to know how much alcohol they have. 

If you’re unsure about the fermented veggies, you can try raw vegetables instead. They provide sugar and fiber, which are vital carbohydrates that we all require.

4. Yogurt and Kefir

Yogurt, like other foods that are fermented, has a small amount of alcohol. Kefir, which is a fermented milk drink that is like thin yogurt or ayran, also has alcohol in it.

In the US, kefir must have less than 0.05% alcohol by volume (ABV). That’s why it’s called a non-alcoholic drink. So, it’s a food that you must avoid after cataract surgery.

Besides, most fermented dairy products have a very low level of alcohol.

5. Cakes and pies

Vanilla extract is often used in desserts like pies and cakes. So, it’s not surprising that these desserts can have a small amount of alcohol. Even after baking, about 40% of the alcohol can still be in the dessert.

But, the amount of vanilla extract used is so small that it’s not something to worry about. You can enjoy these sweets without thinking about the alcohol. 

6. Vinegars

Vinegar like balsamic, sherry, champagne, and wine have a slight alcohol content. This alcohol is usually between 0.1% and 0.4% ABV. During fermentation, some alcohol is left in the vinegar. It’s usually around 0.1% to 0.2%.

Wine vinegars are made similarly to wine. Yeast changes sugars into alcohol, so these vinegars have a slightly higher alcohol level than other vinegars.

7. Soy sauces

Soy sauce is a popular condiment. It’s made by mixing soybeans, salt, wheat, and water. The mixture is fermented. It means that the starches and sugars change into other things, like in beer-making. 

After this, the soy sauce has a little bit of alcohol in it. The amount of alcohol is usually between 1.5% and 2%. Apart from the alcohol content, soy sauce can darken your teeth again after you whiten them.

8. Burger Rolls

Scientists recently conducted a study at the University of Kaiserslautern in Germany. They found that American-style burger buns can have about 1.28% alcohol. 

It’s one of the highest amounts of alcohol found in common foods.

Here, the alcohol comes from the way the buns are made. Yeast is used to make the dough rise. Then, yeast eats sugar in the dough and makes alcohol as a waste product. It’s normal in most foods made with yeast. 

Even though the alcohol level is interesting, it’s still just a small part of the baking process.

Top Drinks That Contain Alcohol You Probably Didn’t Know

Interestingly, natural food that contain alcohol are not limited to previously mentioned foods. Certain fruits and juices also contain small amounts of alcohol naturally.

And they’re —

1. Kombucha and Must

Kombucha is often called “non-alcoholic,” but it can actually contain a small amount of alcohol. When sugar and yeast are combined, fermentation happens, producing kombucha with up to 0.5% or more alcohol by volume.

Well, it’s not as strong as regular alcoholic drinks. However, kombucha’s alcohol content can still be important, especially for people who are sensitive to it.

Meanwhile, must is the freshly squeezed juice from grapes, with the skins and stems still on. It’s mostly used to make wine, but you can also drink it on its own.

However, must can naturally have up to 5% alcohol by volume, which is higher than most non-alcoholic drinks.

Other fermented drinks to be aware of include —

• Kvass
• Ginger beer
• Tepache

2. Fruit and Fruit Juices

Certain fruits and their juices, such as oranges, apples, and grapes, can have trace amounts of alcohol. This alcohol, usually less than 0.5%, isn’t from fermentation but from natural processes during harvesting and processing.

For instance, apple juice made from fresh apples typically has no alcohol. However, processed apple juice may have up to 0.4% alcohol. Plus, how long the juice sits before processing affects how much alcohol forms.

And orange juice has a middle ground of alcohol content. If you’re worried about the alcohol in fruit juices, dried fruits like figs or dates are a good choice. You can compare fig vs date to see which one is better for you.

Why Is There Alcohol in Many Foods and Drinks?

Alcohol in drinks like low-alcohol beer comes from a process called ethanol fermentation. In this process, yeast turns sugar into carbon dioxide and alcohol. 

For beers with very little around 5% alcohol, brewers either take most of the alcohol out or use ways to make less of it.

Fermentation is also used to make other things like bread, soy sauce, and vinegar. Yeast helps break down the sugar in these things too. Long ago, people let spontaneous fermentation, using wild yeasts that were already around. 

That’s why some foods that aren’t meant to be fermented can still have a little bit of alcohol.

How to Avoid Alcohol In Everyday Food And Drink

To avoid alcohol in your diet, focus on whole, unprocessed foods. Most fresh, natural foods are alcohol-free unless they’re fermented or preserved. 

Here are some tips to help you avoid alcohol in what you eat and drink —

• Choose fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables that aren’t overripe.
• Include sprouted seeds, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and fresh meat in your meals.
• Avoid fermented, preserved, or packaged foods.
• Drink clean water regularly to stay hydrated and help remove toxins from your body.
• Drink water 30 minutes before or one hour after meals to avoid diluting stomach acids.
• Sip small amounts of water during meals, but avoid drinking large quantities while eating.

Final Words

In summary, many everyday foods have small traces of alcohol, often because of fermentation or how they’re made. From meats with alcohol to bread, fermented veggies, and certain juices, you must know what’s in your food. 

While the alcohol levels are typically low, it’s worth considering if you’re avoiding it. As we look ahead, being aware of foods that contain alcohol helps you make better choices. 

Always read labels and pay attention to ingredients, especially with fermented or processed foods. Thus, you can stay aware of what you’re consuming.

FAQs

Do bananas contain alcohol?

Yes, ripe bananas can contain up to 0.2% alcohol by volume (ABV) due to natural fermentation as they age. While the amount of alcohol is very low, it still includes ethanol. Bananas become overripe gradually, producing minimal alcohol as they ripen.

Which one is the highest alcohol content fruit?

The fruit with the highest alcohol content is the hog plum (Spondias mombin), which can have over 1.5% alcohol. Research shows that many fruits, especially those spread by animals, naturally contain some alcohol.

Does mustard have alcohol?

Yes, some mustard can contain small amounts of alcohol. Wine or other alcohol is sometimes added for flavor, especially in gourmet mustard. Though the alcohol content is minimal, it’s wise for anyone avoiding alcohol entirely to carefully read the ingredients.