# A way to carbonate at home? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 2, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824 "2010-10-02T05:49:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/1 "2010-10-02T05:49:46Z")
Is there something I can use at home to add carbonation to a beverage? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/2 "2010-10-02T06:08:48Z")
Google “home carbonation systems” and you’ll get a ton of ads selling such products. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/3 "2010-10-02T06:09:08Z")
Have you seriously not tried typing “home carbonation” into an Internet search engine? That would have actually taken less effort than writing your post, and would have offered you an immediate answer to your question. Stranger ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/4 "2010-10-02T06:29:20Z")
You don’t even need a system. Get some brewers yeast and some bottling sugar from the brewer store. Use about 1/8 cup per case of soda, then bottle it. It will take a few weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/5 "2010-10-02T15:50:16Z")
Get [one of these](http://morebeer.com/view_product/18250/). Some hose, and a 5 lb. or 20 lb. CO2 tank, with a CO2 regulator. You can find use, certified tanks on Craigslist or eBay, or maybe at your welding or gas supplier. A full 20 lb. of CO2 will cost about $20, and will last virtually forever. Once you have all that setup, you’re not too far away from a home beer dispensing system, if you have an extra fridge handy. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/6 "2010-10-02T15:56:13Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Google “home carbonation systems” and you’ll get a ton of ads selling such products. Or “seltzer dispenser”. ---
**Author:** ![SeldomSeen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ba0ec/32.png) [@SeldomSeen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeldomSeen)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/7 "2010-10-02T16:16:43Z")
The old-fashioned method - from the days of homemade root beer, etc. was to pour the beverage into a large bowl or kettle and drop in a big chunk of dry ice. Dry ice, of course is just frozen carbon dioxide. As it melts into gaseous CO2 it bubbles up through the beverage and adds the carbonation effect. Also serves the added benefit of chilling the beverage. SS ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/8 "2010-10-02T16:36:58Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > You don’t even need a system. Get some brewers yeast and some bottling sugar from the brewer store. Use about 1/8 cup per case of soda, then bottle it. It will take a few weeks. The problem with that method is (besides the alcohol produced) you’ll get exploding bottles unless you refrigerate after you get to the level of carbonation you want. And even then, refrigeration might not be a complete guarantee. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/9 "2010-10-02T16:55:21Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > A way to carbonate at home? Roses or chocolates, followed by wine, is usually a good way to start. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/10 "2010-10-02T18:00:30Z")
Maybe the o.p. meant [carbonite](http://www.flickr.com/photos/macensteph/342044675/lightbox/). Stranger ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/11 "2010-10-02T19:06:52Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > > [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > > > You don’t even need a system. Get some brewers yeast and some bottling sugar from the brewer store. Use about 1/8 cup per case of soda, then bottle it. It will take a few weeks. > > The problem with that method is (besides the alcohol produced) you’ll get exploding bottles unless you refrigerate after you get to the level of carbonation you want. And even then, refrigeration might not be a complete guarantee. I carbonate my beer at home this way all the time. We have also made Ginger beer this way. What you are saying here is entirely false unless you add way too much sugar. Also, the alcohol produced will be minute. The resulting beverage is essentially non-alcoholic. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/12 "2010-10-02T19:43:50Z")
Then there’s the old tried and true methinzation method rather than carbonization – all it requires is a beverage bottle, a tube, and participants. Great way to keep the fizzy beverages flowing at parties. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/13 "2010-10-02T19:59:19Z")
> [@WarmNPrickly](#): > > I carbonate my beer at home this way all the time. We have also made Ginger beer this way. What you are saying here is entirely false unless you add way too much sugar. Also, the alcohol produced will be minute. The resulting beverage is essentially non-alcoholic. Well, it really depends on what you’re carbonating. Most beverages I would think of carbonating (juices, lemonade, etc.) are sweet and such a method would, indeed, result in exploding bottles if you’re not careful. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/14 "2010-10-02T20:03:38Z")
I certainly think there is a danger from exploding bottles with yeast carbonation. Beer is one thing - the fermentable sugars are all used up, you only add enough sugar for carbonation when you bottle. Ginger beer is meant to drank before all the sugar is consumed by yeast, and there are plenty of tales of exploding ginger beer. I know some ginger beer is made very dry and there might not be much sugar left in it. However if you use yeast to carbonate something with as much sugar in it as a typical soft drink you better consume it quickly because after a few days those bottles will be up to a lot of pressure. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/15 "2010-10-02T20:19:28Z")
I see what you mean. I was taught that the carbonic acid would build up enough to shut down fermentation. It may depend on the strain of yeast. Also, I can see that if the bottle cap isn’t perfect or the temperature is too high, this is a problem with soda that I hadn’t considered. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/16 "2010-10-02T20:25:17Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > The old-fashioned method - from the days of homemade root beer, etc. was to pour the beverage into a large bowl or kettle and drop in a big chunk of dry ice. Dry ice, of course is just frozen carbon dioxide. As it melts into gaseous CO2 it bubbles up through the beverage and adds the carbonation effect. Also serves the added benefit of chilling the beverage. > SS You can use N[sub]2[/sub]O as well (if you want a milk-based fizzy drink). A case of going from the sublime to the ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/17 "2010-10-02T21:01:48Z")
beer is made to consume the sugar. root beer is intended to remain sweet so if the fermentation continues it will break the bottle. putting the bottles in a cool place slows the fermentation to give some time to consume your batch. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/18 "2010-10-02T23:15:12Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > You can use N[sub]2[/sub]O as well (if you want a milk-based fizzy drink). A case of going from the sublime to the ridiculous. There are several types of beer that are N2 dispensed, but I’ve never heard of anything – even milk based – that’s N[sub]2[/sub]O based. Do tell us more! ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/19 "2010-10-02T23:21:45Z")
When I was a kid my dad made seltzer water at home all the time. The system we used involved cartridges of carbon dioxide that would be injected into the water. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824/20 "2010-10-02T23:51:42Z")
> [@SeldomSeen](#): > > The old-fashioned method - from the days of homemade root beer, etc. was to pour the beverage into a large bowl or kettle and drop in a big chunk of dry ice. Dry ice, of course is just frozen carbon dioxide. As it melts into gaseous CO2 it bubbles up through the beverage and adds the carbonation effect. Also serves the added benefit of chilling the beverage. > SS That’s the method that seems to be used in punch bowls, and the first one I thought of. The second I thought of was adding baking soda to orange juice, which was touted in an old science experiment book. I wonder if it’s actually safe. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-way-to-carbonate-at-home/555824.md?page=2)