Dousing food in rubbing alcohol to cook it?

I've eaten loads of dried squid over the years, and it's often done by throwing rubbing alcohol on a plate with some squid and lighting it on fire. The process takes less than a minute.

I'm eating it right now. I assume everything burns off so it's no bother? Delicious. I'm in Asia.

L1011

I wouldn't assume that at all. Its unlikely to be pure isopropyl alcohol and anything else - or impeded combustion - is going to leave you with something other than CO2 and water vapour.

Faith

Nope, the vast majority of the alcohol will remain present. It's a common misconception that alcohol is "burned off".

rubadub

Some rubbing alcohols / denatured alcohols will have horrible tasting unpalatable additives to stop desparate alcoholics drinking them.

Just use regular drinking alcohol, high strength vodkas can be got in specialist off licences.

Ronanc1

Faith wrote: »

Nope, the vast majority of the alcohol will remain present. It's a common misconception that alcohol is "burned off".

While this maybe true when discussing cooking with wine, vodka and beer. I'd imagine its a different case with rubbing alcohol it is usually at least 70% and would likely vaporise easier and to a great completion. Though as rubadub says you never know what additives your source of alcohol could contain.

It happens rarely nowadays. Like once a year. So I'm not gonna worry about it.