when a recipe calls for white wine what do you use

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So many of our favorite recipes call for a splash of white wine: pasta sauces, soups, chicken dinners. Were not wine snobs around here, so we dont usually get too crazy about picking the perfect bottle—but some wines are better in recipes than others. So how do you know which are the best white wines for cooking?

As a general rule, go with a dry white wine unless your recipe says otherwise. You want the wine to add acidity—not sweetness. Super sweet wines like Moscato or sweet rieslings can caramelize too quickly when youre cooking, especially if you use them to deglaze a pan. Its also best to stay away from fuller-bodied wines like oaked Chardonnays—they can lend too strong a flavor to your food.

Don’t feel like you need to spend too much on any wine that you use for cooking either. An inexpensive bottle is just fine. (Just make sure you get something you dont mind drinking so you can have a glass!) Check out our favorite picks—then try our Creamy Pasta Primavera, Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Shells, Instant Pot Chicken Cacciatore, or Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Soup.

Broth. Chicken or vegetable broth is a great white wine substitute, as it adds both liquid and flavor.
when a recipe calls for white wine what do you use

What are the best white wines for cooking?

We love dry sherry for quick pan sauces, cream sauces, and seafood dishes—it adds great flavor and really stands out. Just dont use cream sherries—theyre too sweet for most dishes.

This is a good go-to for any recipe where you want a nice, mellow flavor. Its crisp, neutral, and generally not too sweet.

Sauvignon Blanc is another all-purpose dry white wine, but it tends to be a little more acidic than Pinot Grigio. Pick something with less than 13 percent alcohol—anything higher than that will take longer to reduce and have a lower acidity.

Unlike the above types of wine, which are made from fermented grapes, Chinese rice wine is made from fermenting and distilling rice. It has a high alcohol content (between 18 and 25 percent!) so just a splash is enough in most recipes. Its great in dishes like Kung Pao Chicken.

Dry Vermouth is a fortified wine thats great to have on hand in the kitchen for risotto, pasta dishes, and more. It has a nice sweet-yet-tart flavor. Bonus: Once opened, dry vermouth can be stored in the fridge for months.

This classic cooking wine comes in both red and white varieties. Its the defining ingredient in one of our all-time favorite Italian dishes, Chicken Marsala.

Beginner’s Guide To Cooking Wines

FAQ

When a recipe calls for white wine what do I buy?

Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and dry sparkling wines labeled “brut” are especially good choices. Fuller whites with strong, oaky flavors, like some Chardonnays, don’t work as well for cooking because they are lower in acidity and don’t provide as much punch as the crisper wines.

What does a recipe mean when it says white wine?

Typically, white wines are meant to add a touch of acidity to recipes containing poultry, fish, seafood, dairy products, and they are perfect for deglazing a pan after cooking meat or onions, garlic, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

What can I use for white wine in cooking?

A good substitute for a cup of white wine is a cup of broth or vegetable stock, with a splash of vinegar or lemon juice for acidity. The general rule is to add one tablespoon of vinegar for every cup of broth used. For recipes requiring ¼ cup of white wine or less, it’s generally safe to omit the wine altogether.

When a recipe calls for white wine can I use Moscato?

Avoid white wines like moscato or riesling, which may include words like sweet, auslese or demi-sec on their labels. Sweet wines like these dessert wines or ice wines should be reserved only for post-dinner sipping, as they are likely to add unintended sweetness to a recipe.

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