Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken is a popular menu item at Applebee’s restaurants. As the name implies, bourbon is used as an ingredient in the dish. However, many people wonder if the alcohol cooks off during preparation, or if the bourbon chicken still contains alcohol when served. Understanding if alcoholic beverages retain alcohol content after cooking requires analyzing how alcohol changes during the cooking process.
Quick Answer
While bourbon is used to flavor Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken, the alcohol content is mostly cooked off during preparation. Only trace amounts of alcohol remain in the dish. Many of the complex flavors and aromas of bourbon remain, but consuming the dish will not result in alcohol intoxication.
Does Cooking Remove All Alcohol from a Dish?
When alcoholic beverages are used for cooking, the alcohol content is greatly reduced, but not always fully eliminated. The amount of alcohol that remains depends on a few key factors:
- Cooking time – The longer a dish is cooked, the more alcohol evaporates.
- Cooking temperature – Higher heat increases evaporation of alcohol.
- Cooking method – Simmering, baking, sautéeing, or broiling food promotes evaporation of alcohol.
- Alcohol volume – The amount of alcohol used in the original dish.
- Enclosed container – Food cooked in a closed container limits evaporation.
Most cooked foods retain 5-15% of the original alcohol volume. However, the alcohol content can be as high as 40% if the food contains a large volume of alcohol and is prepared with little heat and minimal cooking time.
Why Does Alcohol Remain After Cooking?
Alcohol has a much lower boiling point temperature (173°F/78°C) compared to water (212°F/100°C). As food heats during cooking, the alcohol evaporates easier than water. However, evaporation slows down dramatically once a dish reaches the alcohol’s boiling point. This leaves trace amounts of alcohol behind in the food.
Additionally, alcohol can chemically bond with sugars and starches in ingredients through processes like de-glycation. This makes it more difficult for remaining alcohol to evaporate.
Applebee’s Cooking Process
To understand how much alcohol remains in Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken, we need to analyze the preparation steps:
- Chicken breast pieces are marinated in a bourbon sauce.
- The chicken is grilled over high heat reaching temperatures of 400°F+.
- After grilling, more bourbon sauce is added to the chicken.
- It is served warm directly to the customer.
The high heat grilling and minimal sauce after cooking suggest most alcohol evaporates from the dish. Applebee’s does not disclose the exact cooking times or temperatures used.
Alcohol Volume in Marinade
The bourbon marinade is also an important factor. The full ingredients and ratios are proprietary to Applebee’s. However, typical bourbon chicken marinades have 25-45% alcohol by volume. As a rough estimate, if the marinade is 30% alcohol to start, the grilled chicken could retain around 3-4% residual alcohol if allowed to evaporate for 8-10 minutes per side over high heat.
Testing Residual Alcohol in Food
To definitively determine the alcohol content remaining in cooked foods, laboratories can use gas chromatography techniques. This equipment separates and analyzes individual molecules in a sample. However, these tests are complex and costly.
For general guidance, home cooks can also apply alcohol flaming tests to estimate residual alcohol. This involves heating a small sample and attempting to ignite alcohol vapors. If vapors are still strong enough to visibly burn, significant alcohol remains. However, even a negative flame test does not guarantee a sample is completely alcohol-free.
Impact on Flavor
While most alcohol evaporates from Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken, this does not mean all bourbon flavor is lost. Key flavor compounds from whiskey such as vanilla, oak tannins, and phenols can remain even once alcohol dissipates. This gives the dish a recognizable bourbon aroma and taste.
Comparison to Beverages
For comparison, light beer can contain around 3-5% alcohol by volume. A shot of 40% ABV whiskey contains roughly the same total alcohol as a 12oz serving of 5% beer. Due to the higher alcohol concentration but smaller serving size, the shot impacts intoxication levels much quicker despite having similar overall alcohol content to a beer. Residual alcohol in cooked food is more comparable to light beer than concentrated spirits.
Nutrition Facts
Here are the nutrition facts for Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken according to the Applebee’s website:
| Nutrition Facts | Serving Size 356g |
|---|---|
| Calories | 630 |
| Fat | 18g |
| Protein | 76g |
| Carbohydrates | 29g |
| Sodium | 3280mg |
The nutrition information does not include any values for alcohol content. Given the cooking process evaporates most alcohol, the residual levels would be negligible for nutritional purposes.
Can Minors Order Bourbon Chicken?
Since Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken contains only trace alcohol, it is legally permissible for customers of any age, including children, to order. The minute alcohol content meets guidelines for “non-alcoholic” status, generally defined as less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.
Applebee’s does not list or market this as an alcoholic menu item. There are no age restrictions and it does not need to be ordered by a legal guardian.
Driving After Consuming Bourbon Chicken
Due to the minimal alcohol in the dish, eating Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken will not make someone intoxicated or impair their ability to drive. There have been no cases of DUIs or related charges from consuming this menu item alone.
Estimated Blood Alcohol Level
A 140lb person would need to eat over 5 pounds of chicken within one hour to potentially reach the .08% blood alcohol limit for a DUI, assuming 5% residual alcohol in the dish. Realistically this small trace of alcohol will not accumulate in the blood or have physiological effects.
During Pregnancy
While no set alcohol threshold for fetal health risks has been established, there are potential concerns with heavy drinking during pregnancy. However, the tiny amount of alcohol in Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken is generally not considered dangerous.
As always, pregnant women should consult their doctor with any specific dietary concerns. But there are no special warnings or advisories against eating this dish while pregnant.
For Recovering Alcoholics
Recovering alcoholics are often counseled to avoid alcohol-containing foods as it could trigger cravings. However, because Applebee’s grilling process burns off most alcohol, many sources consider their bourbon chicken safe to eat during alcohol abstinence.
Those in early sobriety may want to exercise caution and ask their healthcare provider about moderate consumption of alcohol-cooked foods. But for most, the miniscule alcohol content should not present an obstacle to recovery.
Comparison to Other Menu Items
| Menu Item | Calories | Total Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bourbon Street Chicken | 630 | 18g | 29g | 76g |
| 6 oz Sirloin Steak | 270 | 12g | 7g | 36g |
| Crispy Orange Chicken | 1120 | 56g | 81g | 63g |
Compared to other popular entrees, the Bourbon Street Chicken provides a high amount of protein but is also higher in calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol due to being fried and served in a buttery sauce.
Low Calorie Options
For lighter fare lower in calories, Applebee’s offers grilled chicken entrees, salads, and other options under 500 calories. Those watching their sodium intake may also want to avoid their signature saucy dishes.
Applebee’s Food Safety
Applebee’s maintains strict food safety and preparation policies to prevent foodborne illness. As a large national chain, their kitchen standards are regulated for consistency.
Chicken dishes at Applebee’s reach safe minimum internal temperatures during cooking. Raw chicken is kept separated from other ingredients to avoid cross-contamination. HACCP plans and health inspections ensure proper protocols are followed.
There have been isolated food poisoning incidents at a small number of Applebee’s locations over the years. However, considering they serve millions of meals annually, their food safety record is generally very strong.
Third-Party Kitchen Audits
Applebee’s subjects its franchised restaurants to periodic third-party food safety audits. These evaluate compliance to FDA Model Food Code standards on cooking, storage, sanitization, and employee health policies. Franchisees must pass these audits to continue operating under the Applebee’s brand.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Applebee’s Bourbon Street Chicken contains bourbon as an ingredient, the high heat cooking process burns off most of the alcohol content. Only trace residual alcohol remains, allowing the dish to retain delicious bourbon flavor notes without imparting intoxicating effects or raising legal and health concerns. Those avoiding alcohol for personal reasons or pregnancy may also find it safe to consume in moderation.