Is the alcohol in things like vanilla extract, vinegar, and food flavourings haram?

Khamr — anything that intoxicates — is forbidden in any quantity, since the Prophet ﷺ said, "Every intoxicant is khamr, and every intoxicant is unlawful" (Sahih Muslim 2003), and "If a large amount of anything causes intoxication, a small amount of it is prohibited" (Sunan Abi Dawud 3681, graded sahih); so deliberately cooking with wine, beer or spirits is not made lawful merely because some alcohol evaporates. Industrial ethanol used as a solvent or preservative in items such as vanilla extract, some flavourings, mouthwash and perfumes is judged differently by many contemporary scholars: it is not khamr taken as a drink, it is present in a trace that cannot intoxicate, and it leaves no taste, colour or smell — a number of scholars therefore permit it, while others advise avoiding it out of wara' (scrupulousness), and this is a legitimate difference of opinion. Vinegar itself is clearly lawful and was praised by the Prophet ﷺ, who said, "The best of condiments is vinegar" (Sahih Muslim 2051), although scholars differ over wine that is deliberately converted into vinegar, while vinegar that turns of its own accord is agreed upon as lawful. The safest course where a product openly lists wine or liquor as an ingredient is to leave it, based on Allah's command to avoid khamr entirely (Quran 5:90).

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