Saucy Sautéed Shrimp over Lemon Quinoa (Image credit: Faith Durand) Do you remember your first bite of linguine with white wine clam sauce, lobster bisque with sherry, or savory chicken Marsala? Cooking with white wine brings balance, fruit, and acidity to so many of our favorite recipes. Once you move past grocery store "cooking wine" (and I strongly advise you to do so!) and introduce even moderately priced white wine into the equation (leave that $40 Chardonnay in the wine fridge), your possibilities and cooking style expand exponentially. Here are five white wines that are each wonderful for cooking in their own way. By far, the most versatile style of wine to cook with is a dry, crisp white wine. Rich, oaky whites can become bitter during the cooking process, while sweeter whites may caramelize during deglazing or add unwanted sweetness to certain dishes. As wine cooks, it becomes an integrated part of the whole, and subtle nuances are almost always lost;

therefore, a high-quality wine is only appropriately used to finish a dish, where it will be the featured component. Unless that is the case, choose a moderately priced, quaffable white wine, and spend your extra money on quality ingredients instead. Scallops with White Wine Beurre Blanc & Lemon Orzo (Image credit: Nealey Dozier) 1. Crisp White Wine, Such as Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and Unoaked Chardonnay - This is your go-to category. If possible, choose a wine that has a moderate alcohol content (ideally between 10 and 13 percent) and generous acidity. Highly alcoholic wines may take longer to reduce and often do not have the necessary acidity, which adds brightness, while tenderizing. My three favorite grape varietals for cooking are Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, and unoaked Chardonnay. Pinot Grigio is the most neutral of the three, which makes it the most versatile. Sauvignon Blanc provides racy acidity, which is particularly delicious in seafood dishes or with sauces utilizing heavy cream.

Chardonnay contributes the most richness of the three. I know it seems counterintuitive, but avoid purchasing wines labeled, "cooking wines," for they often contain salt and other additives. In general, choose unoaked, dry, medium-bodied white wines. In a pinch, you can always substitute a dry vermouth. While slightly more expensive, the vermouth has a longer shelf life, which makes it a great option for those, who only imbibe occasionally. 6 Very Drinkable Crisp, Dry Whites to Cook With Duck Pond Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2013, $12 Gabbiano Pinot Grigio della Venezie IGT, Italy, 2012, $8 Black Box Sauvignon Blanc Valle Central, Chile, NV, $24 (this is a 3-liter box, which represents an average $6 per bottle) Anselmi Friulano, Collio DOC, Italy, 2012, $10 Toad Hollow, Chardonnay, Mendocino County, California, 2012, $13 Mouton Cadet, Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux, France, 2012, $10 2. Sherry - Like Faith, I have a bottle of this in my kitchen at all times.

Just this evening, I finished a pot of chicken and cauliflower soup with a dash of sherry, and it brightened the soup and added another layer of depth and dimension. best red wine 2013 canadaSherry is versatile: it is great for deglazing, brings depth to a cream sauce, and is brilliant alongside appetizers like oysters.best wine tours in long island My Pick for Sherry to Cook Withbest wine tour london Taylor Wine Company Dry Sherry, New York, NV, $6 3. Marsala - Although delicious in a classic chicken or veal Marsala, you should branch out and try incorporating this complex, dry wine in braised preparations. My personal favorite way to use Marsala wine is in the decadent Italian dessert, zabaglione. My Pick for Marsala to Cook With

Cantine Florio Fine Marsala Dry, Sicily, Italy, NV, $13 4. Sparkling Wine - Of course, sparkling wine is perfectly suited for a Champagne vinaigrette or a sorbet, but it is a great substitute for dry, white wine in beurre blanc. The bubbles dissipate when cooked, so this is a great opportunity to use up any leftover flat bubbly after a party (not that this is ever an issue at my house!). My Pick for Sparkling Wine to Cook With Poema Cava, Brut, Penedés, Spain, NV Scallops with Lime & Cilantro 5. Madeira - Produced in four distinct styles, Madeira is a Portuguese fortified wine from the islands of Madeira. Choose "Sercial," a dry style that doubles as a refreshing aperitif. Use Madeira in a sauce for classic Beef Wellington, as a savory addition to gravy, or as a substitute for Sherry in virtually any recipe. My Pick for Madeira to Cook With Blandy's, "Duke of Sussex," Dry Madeira, Portugal, NV, $15 What if I Don't Cook with Alcohol? Try verjus, the pressed juice of unripened grapes.

Use chicken or vegetable stock with a dash of lemon or vinegar. Opt for an alcohol-free option, like Vin Sante, made from unfermented grapes. Has anyone created or used a recipe using white Port other than a cocktail (I keep meaning to try a dessert reduction sauce this way)? I am particularly interested in finding new ways to cook with Madeira — any thoughts? Any other favorite white wines not mentioned here?Skip to main content Wine and Herb-basted Roast Turkey with White Wine Pan Gravy , cut into 1/2-inch thick rounds Crab apples or grape clusters and 3 bundles of rosemary FallMain DishesPoultryThanksgiving3-3/4 to 4 1/2 hours When it comes to cooking sausage, it's all about heat management "If you're going to grill, you can mark it first on a hotter part of the grill," says Chris Ying, editor in chief of Lucky Peach and co-author of The Wurst of Lucky Peach. "Then move it to the cooler, indirect heat to finish cooking gently and slowly, and let all of those fats and everything break down inside of the sausage."