Does the alcohol burn off when cooking?  This is a question that seems to pop up again and again. And with reason. You want to bring out the flavors of the food you're cooking, not make it taste like it's been swimming in a bowl of chardonnay. But, contrary to popular belief, the alcohol does not burn off during cooking. However, the percentage of alcohol can be reduced in a dish, but by how much depends on cooking time and the method of used. The USDA has a handy a chart that breaks it all down: