What to do with bad wine?

For cooking:

1. Deglaze a pan: Use wine as a deglazing liquid to add flavor to meat, poultry, or vegetable dishes.

2. Marinade meats: Marinate meat, poultry, or seafood in a mixture of wine and herbs for added flavor and tenderness.

3. Cooking sauces and soups: Add a splash of wine to enhance the flavor of sauces and soups.

4. Braise meats and vegetables: Use wine to add moisture and flavor when braising meats, poultry, or vegetables.

5. Risotto and paella: Incorporate wine during the cooking process of risotto or paella dishes for depth of flavor.

Non-culinary uses:

1. Make vinegar: You can turn your bad wine into homemade vinegar by letting it sit in a warm, well-ventilated area for several weeks to several months.

2. Use it for cleaning: Wine can serve as an all-purpose cleaner for surfaces and even as a natural disinfectant.

3. Facial toner: Bad wine can be used as a facial toner, as the alcohol content can help cleanse and refresh the skin.

4. Freshen up plants: Add a bit of wine to a mixture of water for some plants, as the yeast content can be beneficial for some plant species.

5. Remove wine stains: Surprisingly, wine can be used to remove wine stains from fabrics and carpets. Dab a cloth moistened with wine onto the stain and rinse with water.

6. Wine slushies: If your wine is not completely undrinkable, consider creating a wine slushy. Blend frozen fruit, ice cubes, and your wine for a refreshing frozen drink.

7. Wine jelly: Create infused jelly by boiling your wine with sugar, pectin, and fruit pieces for a delectable wine-flavored treat.

8. Wine sorbet or popsicles: Take the fruit-wine mixture from the jelly recipe, strain it, and freeze into sorbet or popsicles for a summertime treat.

9. Give away: If you're genuinely unhappy with the wine, consider giving it away to a friend who may appreciate it or may have a better use for it.

Remember, it's best to avoid drinking bad wine, especially if it has an off odor or taste, as it may indicate spoilage or contamination.