8 Surprising Foods You Didn’t Know Contain Alcohol

You might be surprised to learn that some common foods contain alcohol, even if you don’t typically associate them with it.

From ingredients used in cooking to fermented products, alcohol can sneak into your diet in unexpected ways.

Here are 8 foods you didn’t know may contain alcohol:

1. Vanilla Extract

• Alcohol Content: Around 35% alcohol by volume (ABV).
• Why?: Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol, usually vodka. While it’s used in small amounts in baking and cooking, it still contains alcohol.

2. Ripe Fruit (Especially Overripe Bananas)

• Alcohol Content: Trace amounts.
• Why?: As fruit ripens, natural sugars ferment, producing small amounts of alcohol. This process is usually harmless, but overripe or fermented fruit can have a slightly noticeable alcohol content.

3. Sauces (e.g., Soy Sauce, Worcestershire Sauce)

• Alcohol Content: Varies, but can contain up to 2% alcohol.
• Why?: Some condiments, particularly soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce, are fermented and can contain trace amounts of alcohol. These are usually low, but they may be significant if consumed in large quantities.

4. Cooked Foods (Alcohol in Recipes)

• Alcohol Content: Varies.
• Why?: Alcohol used in cooking (such as wine, beer, or liquor) may not completely evaporate during cooking, especially if the cooking time is short. Dishes like coq au vin, beef stew, and pasta sauces may still contain trace alcohol after cooking.

5. Kefir and Kombucha

• Alcohol Content: Typically 0.5-2% ABV.
• Why?: Both kefir (a fermented milk drink) and kombucha (a fermented tea) are made through fermentation processes. While the alcohol content is generally low, it can be higher in homemade versions.

6. Bread (Especially Sourdough)

• Alcohol Content: Trace amounts (usually less than 0.5% ABV).
• Why?: During the fermentation of bread dough, yeast produces small amounts of alcohol. While most of it evaporates during baking, some traces may remain, particularly in homemade or sourdough bread.

7. Canned or Preserved Fruits

• Alcohol Content: Trace amounts.
• Why?: Some canned or preserved fruits are packed in alcohol, like cherries soaked in brandy or rum. Even if the alcohol content is low, it is still present in the preserved fruit.

8. Mouthwash

• Alcohol Content: Around 20-30% ABV.
• Why?: Many mouthwashes contain alcohol as a primary ingredient to help with antiseptic properties and to keep the mouth feeling fresh. Although it’s not food, it’s often inadvertently ingested, especially by children.