⚠️CautionCurated
Rice Wine (Cooking / Postpartum)
Rice wine is a traditional ingredient in many Chinese postpartum dishes, added for flavor and warmth. When used in cooking, a significant portion of the alcohol evaporates — but not all of it.
Alcohol does pass into breast milk in proportion to your blood alcohol level, and slow-braised dishes retain more alcohol than quickly stir-fried ones. The safest approach is to breastfeed before eating rather than right after, allow 2–3 hours per serving before nursing, and favor dishes where the wine has cooked for a long time. Dishes served with substantial residual wine (e.g., "drunken" preparations) carry higher risk.
Always confirm with your doctor or lactation consultant before making dietary changes while breastfeeding.
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