What do beer battered seafood, Apple Vinegar  and tiramisu have in common? The answer is their recipes contain alcohol.  We believe that most of #InsanHalal know that alcohol is  Haram for Muslims to consume.  Is there any hadist or story of Nabi Muhammad SAW about this? What is the Halal Status of cooking with alcohol and ingredients that include alcohol?

Food Recipes Containing Alcohol

During the pandemic, cookbook sales skyrocketed, and millions of people turned to food networks and online videos to learn how to cook or to expand their cooking abilities. Youtube, Tiktok, Instagram, and other social media are full of cooking content. This resulted in higher sales of cooking supplies, equipment, ingredients, ethnic foods, and even alcohol for cooking.

Then, more and more people were asking “What do I do when a recipe calls for alcohol?”

There are many answers to that question. One option would be to avoid the recipe entirely. Another is to simply ignore the alcohol component of the recipe. Thankfully, there are better options out there.  There are very good substitutes for alcohol in cooking. Here are some examples:

• For tequila substitute cactus or aloe juice.
• For beer substitute chicken broth, tomato juice or apple juice
• For champagne substitute sparkling apple juice
• For Kahlua and coffee liqueurs substitute strong coffee
• For brandy substitute apple juice
• For white wine substitute white grape juice mixed with ginger ale or chicken broth.
• For rum substitute molasses with pineapple juice and almond extract.
• For red wine substitute chicken broth or beef broth or grape juice or even tomato juice. Cooks can also combine grape juice with chicken or beef broth.

Fatwa MUI of Products Containing Alcohol

Ethanol is widely used in production processes such as a solvent and extractor as well as a sanitizing agent. The latest MUI fatwa No. 10 of 2018 concerning Food and Beverage Products Containing Alcohol/Ethanol states that only ethanol derived from khamr cannot be used for halal products because it is unclean and unclean. If it does not come from the khamr industry, other types of ethanol may be used with the limits set in the fatwa. For example, synthetic ethanol or non-khamr fermented industrial products.

In addition to the Fatwa stated above, at least there are several new things contained in this fatwa. First, the ethanol content in the final food product is not limited as long as it is medically harmless. Second, the ethanol content in the final beverage product is tolerated less than 0.5% as long as it is not medically harmful. Third, the ethanol content for intermediate products such as flavors and seasonings is not limited, as long as its use in the final product is in accordance with the first and second provisions. Of course, this non-harmful requirement for retail products has been evaluated by the BPOM granting product distribution permits. This latest regulation changes the previous MUI fatwa directive which does not tolerate ethanol content in ready-to-consume food and drinks. This Regulation may differ from other Fatwa Commissions. Because each country may have different standard and different way of researching.

The Myth, Cook Busting – Alcohol will Off

To flambé, douses a dish in alcohol, lights a match, the flames spread and rise quickly and burn the alcohol off the food. It’s often used when cooking fish, lobster, meat, and desserts.

Unfortunately, the flambé process does not remove all the alcohol and neither does long time cooking.  According to a 1992 study by the USDA, after flaming, about 75% of the alcohol remains in the pan.  Studies that have been conducted by ISU and other organizations found that alcohol burns off after hours of cooking.  See the chart below:

Time Cooked at Boiling Point of Alcohol	Approximate Amount of Alcohol Remaining
15 minutes	40 percent
30 minutes	35 percent
One hour	25 percent
Two hours	10 percent
Two and one-half hours	5 percent

Research of Nabidh (Fruit Juice)

There is a hadith of the prophet H.R. Muslim from Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. in Sahih Muslim Book 23 No. 4971 regarding Nabidz which states that Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. said that nabidz was prepared for the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. in the evening, then in the morning he drank it, then drank it again in the morning and the next night (the second day). Likewise in the morning and evening the next day (third day), namely at Asr. If there was any left over, he gave it to the servant, or ordered him to throw it away.

A study conducted by Arintawati (2015) showed that grapes, apples and dates which were fermented for 5 days at 29°C respectively produced 0.76% (v/v), 0.32% (v/v) ethanol. ), and 0.33% (v/v) on the third day. When the storage time was extended to 5 days, the ethanol concentration was still below 1% (v/v). Another study reported by Rizqiyah (2007) reported that Nabidh from dates on the third day contained 0.51% (w/w) ethanol.

Halal consumers should simply not cook with alcohol. In addition, for multiple reasons, it’s not advised for Muslims to bring alcohol into their homes for cooking. When eating in restaurants, Halal consumers are advised to ask if the food contains alcohol and to avoid it.  The server may say “yes but it’s burnt off or cooked off” because they are not aware of the above studies.

Halal consumers should simply not cook with alcohol. In addition, for multiple reasons, it’s not advised for Muslims to bring alcohol into their homes for cooking. When eating in restaurants, Halal consumers are advised to ask if the food contains alcohol and to avoid it. The server may say “yes but it’s burnt off or cooked off” because they are not aware of the above studies.

Article by : Atsirudy Wibowo – IHATEC