A wine, red or white, is a highly beneficial liquor. Most wines come from fermented grapes, but some use other fruits and food products to create them. Each type has its own unique taste and benefits.
According to the experts from Village Warehouse Wines and Spirits, if you have an ample supply of wine or leftovers from the previous event you hosted, don’t worry about them because you can use them in several ways. Here are the best and unique ways to consume and use your favorite liquor:
1. Use the wine to marinate meats and fish.
Wine and other liquors are staples in cooking because they add flavor and texture to foods. However, did you know you can also marinate your meats and fish in it?
Marinating fresh ingredients in wine helps enhance the flavors and has health benefits. This process decreases carcinogenic compounds in red meats by about 90%. Ensure its effectiveness by marinating it for at least 6 hours. If you have great taste buds, you can quickly spot the enhanced flavor of meats and fish soaked in wine.
2. Use the wine to create a sauce.
One of wine’s best but underrated uses is turning it into a tasty sauce. The process of making a sauce out of it is called reducing or reduction.
If you want to make a reduced wine, pour a small amount of it on a used pan from cooking a steak or searing a salmon. As the wine is simmering, scrape the pan, and let the flavors left from the cooked dishes get incorporated into the liquor.
Use the flavored wine to create the sauce that matches your dishes. Don’t worry about its alcoholic taste because it gets removed together with proof while it is simmering or boiling.
3. Use the wine to clean fresh produce.
Similar to baking soda and vinegar, wine is a natural cleaner of fruits and vegetables.
According to a study conducted by experts at Oregon State University, the alcohol content of wine allows them to kill common bacteria in everyday fresh produce you get from a market, such as E. Coli and salmonella.
4. Use the wine to disinfect the kitchen and dining area.
Aside from cleaning fresh produce, you can also use wine to disinfect your kitchen and dining area.
Using a natural or food ingredient in cleaning these areas is better than utilizing commercially manufactured disinfectants because they contain harmful chemicals. The only downside to using wine as a disinfectant is that it can stain the covers of chairs and table mantels, so be careful around those fabrics.
5. Use the wine to make vinegar.
Vinegar gets produced from fermenting alcoholic beverages, so if you have leftover wines, check before throwing them into the trash bin. This way, you can save some money from buying vinegar in the grocery store.
6. Use the wine for arts and crafts.
Dyes and painting materials are highly accessible nowadays, but if you want to use other mediums, try doing arts and crafts with a wine. For instance, the deep color of red wine is an excellent coloring material for tie-dye shirts.
Also, wine bottles are a great addition to the aesthetics of your home. You can use them as a flower vase, water bottle on the counter, organizer of pens and other art materials, or even grow small plants.
You can also use wine to paint on paper or canvas. You must remember, though, that when you use this for painting, it lightens up when it gets dried. The effect is similar when you do arts with coffee, so avoid expecting pigmented results.
7. Use the wine to remove stains.
While colored wines are a common cause of stains on fabrics in the house, they can also remove them. When you spill red wine on your couch or your shirt, open a bottle of white wine and pour a small amount on the affected area. It can also help lighten stains from greasy foods, so when oil splatters onto your shirt while cooking, take it off immediately and apply white wine onto it. You can see the results after a few minutes of soaking.
The next time you receive or open a bottle of wine, try other methods of consuming it. You’ll see how versatile it is. Aside from its health benefits, when you drink it in moderation, it can also elevate the taste of your cooked meals. You can use it for cleaning and art projects too. Indeed, the use of wines in people’s daily lives is endless.
