Is It Safe to Eat Vodka Sauce While Pregnant?

To keep their baby safe and healthy, women are advised not to drink alcohol during pregnancy. But what about alcoholic sauces? For example, is it safe to eat vodka sauce while pregnant? Vodka sauce can make a tasty accompaniment to pasta dishes and other meals, but is it safe to eat it during pregnancy? Let’s find out!

Is It Safe to Eat Vodka Sauce While Pregnant?

Vodka sauce can add a kick to penne pasta, but can pregnant women eat vodka sauce? The answer is yes! It is safe to eat vodka sauce when you are expecting a baby, as long as it is in moderation. There is only a low alcohol content in vodka sauce and eating it occasionally during pregnancy is not a problem.

Can Pregnant Ladies Eat Vodka Sauce?

Yes, eating vodka sauce during pregnancy won’t put your unborn baby in danger. When you are expecting, drinking vodka is absolutely not recommended but vodka sauce should not be harmful.

Of course, the safety of the vodka sauce will depend on the amount of alcohol used in the recipe. Not all chefs and home cooks make vodka sauce in the same way, but the amount of alcohol used is usually minimal.

If you plan on eating vodka sauce when pregnant, it would be best to use a recipe that only needs a small amount of the spirit to enhance the flavor. The more alcohol you add to the sauce, the bigger the risk you are taking.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASDs) has been found to affect 1 in 1,000 live births. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause FASD and the risk increases the more alcohol an expectant mom consumes.

There is no amount of alcohol that is 100% safe during pregnancy, but cooking with alcohol is thought to have fewer risks than drinking it.

If you are wondering, can pregnant women eat vodka sauce? Yes, they can but not too much, too often. The amount of alcohol in vodka sauce is unlikely to be harmful to pregnant women and moms-to-be can enjoy the popular pasta dish with peace of mind.

How To Cook With Alcohol When Pregnant

It is often said that alcohol can be ‘cooked out’ of meals but is this true? The reality is, alcohol can never be 100% removed during the cooking process. While alcohol can be reduced, there is always going to be a certain level left over in your food.

Different cooking methods will reduce alcoholic ingredients at different rates. During pregnancy, it is best to remove as much alcohol as possible and not use too much in your recipe, to begin with.

Here are different ways to cook with alcohol and how much alcohol content can be reduced with each method:

Simmering for 15 minutes can remove 60% of the alcohol.
Simmering for 1 hour will remove 80% of the alcohol.
Simmering for 2 hours can reduce the alcohol in the food by 90%.
Rigorously boiling for 30 minutes will leave just 10% of the alcohol in your food.

Of course, the strength of the alcohol will influence how ‘safe’ a dish is to eat during pregnancy. Spirits have a higher concentration than wine, for example. It is also important to note that the overall alcohol content is spread throughout the whole recipe, not per serving.

If you just can’t resist penne pasta mixed with a tasty vodka sauce, there is unlikely going to be enough alcohol to cause any concerns. You don’t have to give up on this yummy dish during pregnancy, but the less vodka you use in the recipe the better.

Here is a tip for you, if you want to cook a vodka sauce, leave a loose lid over the saucepan. When you place a lid over a cooking sauce, the alcohol will evaporate much quicker.

Can You Eat Sauces With Alcohol When Pregnant?

Is it safe to eat vodka sauce while pregnant? So, yes you can dig into vodka sauce dishes when pregnant but what about other dishes made with alcohol? As we mentioned earlier, different cooking methods will remove varying amounts of alcohol and the alcoholic concentration will also vary.

Here is a list of foods cooked with alcohol that are considered to be safe to eat during pregnancy:

White wine sauce
Red wine sauce
Vodka sauce
Coq au Vin
Whiskey infused custard
Bourbon whiskey bbq sauce
Rum/brandy chocolate sauce
Steak and ale stew/pie
Beer-battered foods
Alcohol-based marinades
Risotto dishes with champagne sauce
Cognac/brandy braised foods (lobster etc)

Of course, if you are pregnant and want to avoid alcohol completely, you may want to stay away from cooking with wine, spirits, and beer altogether.

Foods Containing Alcohol To Avoid When Pregnant

Moderate amounts of vodka sauce during pregnancy should not cause moms-to-be any anxiety. However, there are foods containing alcohol that should be avoided during pregnancy.

If you have a baby on the way, it is recommended that you avoid the following alcohol-based foods:

Rum Baba cakes
Rum truffles/balls
Brandy-soaked Christmas pudding
No-bake pies/cakes
Maraschino cherries
Brandy peaches
Alcoholic sorbet
Liquor chocolates
Bombe Alaska
Crepes Suzette

This is not an extensive list of alcohol-based foods and you should always check the alcohol content of meals if you are concerned. Desserts soaked in alcohol are a problem as the alcohol often isn’t cooked out at all.

If you are eating out at a restaurant during your pregnancy, there is no need to feel embarrassed about asking your server to check the alcohol content of your food.

Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can lead to premature birth, FASDs, and birth defects. Many moms-to-be remove alcohol from their diet completely for nine months, but eating vodka sauce occasionally is not thought to carry much of a risk.

Wrapping Up

Is it safe to eat vodka sauce while pregnant? Well, the answer is yes – in moderation. There is no amount of alcohol that can be considered to be safe during pregnancy, but small amounts cooked into food are not thought to be too risky.

Is It Safe to Eat Vodka Sauce While Pregnant? | The Risks & Safety