[shoemant]

Hi
For a lab research project, I am interested in figuring out the concentration of alcohol in foods when cooking at varying cooking times, however, I am curious about how to do this at home. Studies that I have read used gas chromatography however I don't think I am able to use such equipment, so are there any other substitutes?

Thank you

[chenbeier]

No

[shoemant]

No

would using a hydrometer produce different results if the food is in liquid form (ex. sauce)?

[Borek]

Hydrometer doesn't check the alcohol content. It measures the density of the liquid, but the density is function of the concentration of everything that is dissolved - alcohol, sugars, salts and so on. No way to determine alcohol content from a single density measurement. At best, assuming everything else is kept constant you could do some comparison - this sample contains more, this sample contains less. But there is no way to keep everything else constant while cooking different foods.

Chromatography is IMHO the only viable option.