Dousing food in rubbing alcohol to cook it?

27-08-2019 05:58PM #1

I've eaten loads of dried squid over the years, and it's often done by throwing rubbing alcohol on a plate with some squid and lighting it on fire. The process takes less than a minute.

I'm eating it right now. I assume everything burns off so it's no bother? Delicious. I'm in Asia.

L1011 · 27-08-2019 06:46PM

I wouldn't assume that at all. Its unlikely to be pure isopropyl alcohol and anything else - or impeded combustion - is going to leave you with something other than CO2 and water vapour.

Faith · 27-08-2019 07:38PM

Nope, the vast majority of the alcohol will remain present. It's a common misconception that alcohol is "burned off".

rubadub · 28-08-2019 11:55AM

Some rubbing alcohols / denatured alcohols will have horrible tasting unpalatable additives to stop desparate alcoholics drinking them.

Just use regular drinking alcohol, high strength vodkas can be got in specialist off licences.

Ronanc1 · 05-09-2019 12:47AM

Faith wrote: »

Nope, the vast majority of the alcohol will remain present. It's a common misconception that alcohol is "burned off".

While this maybe true when discussing cooking with wine, vodka and beer. I'd imagine its a different case with rubbing alcohol it is usually at least 70% and would likely vaporise easier and to a great completion. Though as rubadub says you never know what additives your source of alcohol could contain.

05-09-2019 06:25AM

It happens rarely nowadays. Like once a year. So I'm not gonna worry about it.

Dousing food in rubbing alcohol to cook it?

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