Hello Everyone,
So I just wanted to know what you guys think about using ingredients that contain minimal alcohol levels in them? What is the general consensus , is it something you try to avoid or something that is not given much thought because the alcohol is killed off by the heat while cooking? I’m talking about ingredients like vanilla extract that is used in almost every baking item, ice cream etc. Opinions?
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
I avoid it if it contains any alcohol but I admit I havent really done any research on the matter. I do not know if its permissible to eat something if the alcohol has been cooked off.
If it says alkyhaal...I stays away from it.
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
Thanks Reha. I am a little confused as well since I haven't done much research and didnt even know till recently that vanilla extract specifically is mixed with alcohol. I guess I never read the labels but I'm a little confused because vanilla extract can be found in a lot of things we may not even realize like the cookies and ice cream we buy from the grocery store. Even the simplest things like mouthwash. It was brought to my attention recently but its never even been discussed in front of me. My husband and I have our general thoughts on it but I wanted to know other peoples takes on it because it will probably vary from person to person. Any more thoughts?
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
I think we should avoid alcohol...as much as we can..but many ingredients use alcohol which is burnt off (but we shud totally avoid flambe)so they may be permissible..I totally stay away from alcoholic drinks but in food ingredients,sauces,ketchups and medicines its sometimes difficult
I would like to say ppl(sum family members) in west who are so fussy abt halal stuff, then come to pakistan and consume any biscuits sweets,drinks sauces without reading labels is so annoying...HELLO!lea n perrins is the same here as there as are many of the groceries..they dont. do halal. esp for us...we have to read labels while there plz u ppl read labels when u come here...:)
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
I think we should avoid alcohol...as much as we can..but many ingredients use alcohol which is burnt off (but we shud totally avoid flambe)so they may be permissible..I totally stay away from alcoholic drinks but in food ingredients,sauces,ketchups and medicines its sometimes difficult
I would like to say ppl(sum family members) in west who are so fussy abt halal stuff, then come to pakistan and consume any biscuits sweets,drinks sauces without reading labels is so annoying...HELLO!lea n perrins is the same here as there as are many of the groceries..they dont. do halal. esp for us...we have to read labels while there plz u ppl read labels when u come here...:)
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
salaam all, vanilla extract in particular is haram as it contain 35% of alcohol in it…so it is quite concentrated…on the other hand, vanillin which is also used for the vanilla flavoring too is halal(Vanillin is a flavorant made from synthetic or artificial vanilla which can be plant lignin or synthetically mad e from guaiacol and eugenol.)…natural and artificial flavors might have alcohol in them too but the amounts are negligible. While near some scholars these minute amounts are considered haram, majority of the scholars suggest to avoid them but at the same time say you cannot declare it haram to consume such items that have natural and artificial flavors with such small traces of alcohol…it basically depends upon a person’s own taqwa whether or not to consume such items…but again vanilla extract is out and out haram and there is no doubt about it.
There is this authentic website called muslimconsumergroup.com which has the list of most halal,haram and mushbooh items in United States(…they also have a hala/haram/mushbooh ingredient section which details on the name of the ingredients, also if they are halal or not and also what makes certain ingredients halal (for example if an item contains mono and di glycerides with a U,K,or KD sign then it is halaal if not it is derived from haraam sources …the link to the list is http://muslimconsumergroup.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=222&Itemid=119&resetfilters=0&clearordering=0&clearfilters=0&&limitstart26=0 )
Since the statuses of the products are always changing ..meaning an item which was halal until last month might be no more halal as the company might have made changes to their ingredients used etc…so the best thing is to always carry a copy of the halal/haram/ mushbooh list in your bag and if you are purchasing a new item and come across any doubtful ingredients, you just look it up in the list and be certain about the item being halal or haram 
It is very important for us muslims to make sure that every single thing we consume is halal, and it is such a shame to see that today a lot of muslim are very liberal about their eating.If a person eats haram knowingly(or without trying to inquire about it), he is destined to Allah Subhanawatala’s wrath and the person who has consumed a haram item unknowingly, his prayers wont be accepted until a period of 40 days…which makes it so important for us inquire about the foods we are eating and feeding our children.
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
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Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
I follow the opinion of a sheikh i highly respect. HIs stance is that alcohol in small quantities like in vanilla extract is ok when you cook it off. I mean, how much of it do you really use in baking?1 tsp for the whole cake?
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
Ira are you sure about vaniall extract being O.K ???? vanilla extract it haram as it is highly concentrated (35% alcohol)....vanilla extract is differant from vanilla bean powder and vanillin which are halal....you might have got confused :)
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
talkfashion, how much of vanilla do you really use in recipes? its certainly not a cup. Its barely a tsp or 2 tsp max for the whole recipe and then its baked off. Like i said, i i follow the opinion of a sheikh that i highly respect and i am content with that, Alhamd. You should also do what feels right to YOU.
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
i read somewhere .. it was a good article.. about how its a myth that alchol gets burned off during the cooking process.. it doesnt
must look it up..
Re: Cooking Ingredients that contain Alcohal ..What is your opinion about using them?
hmmm we can use vanilla essence instead