# Making my own fizzy water, or, Home carbonation? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835 "2008-08-21T19:45:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/1 "2008-08-21T19:45:27Z")
I’m getting sick of all the plastic bottles and metal cans that pass through my life. But I like my flavoured fizzy water. Is it possible to get a home carbonation unit so that I can take tap water and make my own pop/soda and flavour it to be cola or whatever? ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/2 "2008-08-21T19:55:33Z")
Yes you can make your own fizzy water. [http://www.sodaclubusa.com/Splash07.asp?redirectPage=seltzer\_lovers.asp&random=79911171](http://www.sodaclubusa.com/Splash07.asp?redirectPage=seltzer_lovers.asp&random=79911171) A previous thread that had some other less expensive ideas in it. > **[Why is it so difficult to buy carbonated water?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=470608)** > > Why is it so difficult to buy carbonated water? My entire household likes it and we want to buy about 20 to 30 liters a week, and for years I’ve been buying Canada Dry brand “Seltzer” at a local liquor store. But Canada Dry’s local salesman told the... ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/3 "2008-08-21T20:07:37Z")
Cool! And it seems to be available in Canada as well. I started thinking about this after I had mint-flavoured Italian soda at a Second Cup in Toronto… wonderful. Makes me wonder why Coke or Pepsi never came out with a mint flavour. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2008, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/4 "2008-08-21T20:23:07Z")
Dry ice. This recipe calls for 1-2 pounds per gallon, or 100-250g per liter. > [@](#): > > # Place the entire amount of beverage in a large container that has a tight lid or cover. > > # Get dressed in a long-sleeved shirt, pants, gloves, shoes, etc. The goal is get covered up since carbonation involves dry ice, which could burn your skin. > > # Punch several small holes in the lid of the container so that the extra carbon dioxide can escape the container. Make sure there is enough room in your container to accommodate the appropriate amount of ice. > > # Take the container outside, since the process could get messy. > > # Add 1–2 pounds of dry ice for every gallon of beverage, or 100–250 g of dry ice for every litre, in the container. > > # Allow the beverage and ice to sit for 50-60 minutes for every gallon of beverage, or 15 minutes for every litre. The ice will “melt” and the carbon dioxide will diffuse into the beverage—making the familiar bubbles seen in soda pop and some fruit juices. > > # Seal the container after the smoke-like gas has disappeared. > **[3 Ways to Carbonate a Beverage - wikiHow](https://www.wikihow.com/Carbonate-a-Beverage)** > > Carbonating your own beverages is a fun and cost-effective way to make your favorite drinks fizz! Many different drinks can be carbonated, including water, tonics, juices, tea, cocktails, and wine. Add dry ice to your favorite beverage for... ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/5 "2008-08-22T01:17:14Z")
What about an old-fashioned soda siphon with those CO2 cartridges? ---
**Author:** ![Kevbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@Kevbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kevbo)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/6 "2008-08-22T01:22:22Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] .. wonderful. Makes me wonder why Coke or Pepsi never came out with a mint flavour. [/QUOTE] I was raised in Denver, frequently used as a test market. One of them (can’t recall which) came out with an apple/mint soda called “Aspen” in the late 70’s. I liked it, but apparently not enough others agreed with me. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/7 "2008-08-22T01:28:41Z")
If you don’t mind some sweet, you can boil, add sugar, cool down, add yeast and bottle. That’s how I make ginger beer. Plain old Flieschmanns bread yeast works. ---
**Author:** ![masterofnone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@masterofnone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/masterofnone)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/8 "2008-08-22T02:28:27Z")
[QUOTE=WarmNPrickly] If you don’t mind some sweet, you can boil, add sugar, cool down, add yeast and bottle. That’s how I make ginger beer. Plain old Flieschmanns bread yeast works. [/QUOTE] This will work, but if you add too much fermentable sugar, the bottles could explode. IIRC from my brewing days, only a quarter cup of dextrose per 5 galon batch is required. Dextrose is available at any brewing supply shop. ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/9 "2008-08-22T04:27:15Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] What about an old-fashioned soda siphon with those CO2 cartridges? [/QUOTE] Those are great. I have a not quite old fashion one that I use all the time. They are a little expensive because the CO2 cartridge is only good for a liter or 2 of water. I also don’t think they would work that great for flavored soda, because the siphon would get a little sticky. They are probably great with a shot of syrup in the glass that you squirt the water into, but I don’t think I would fill the siphon with flavored water. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/10 "2008-08-22T13:31:16Z")
When I was a kid, [Sodastreams](http://www.sodastream.co.uk/gbretail/Home.asp) were the must-have trend - unlimited fizzy pop on tap! (Well, until the syrup ran out.) The fad seemed to die out pretty quickly, and my parents never bought one. ☹ Apparently they have been relaunched recently. ---
**Author:** ![lightingtool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/57b2e6/32.png) [@lightingtool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lightingtool)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/11 "2008-08-22T18:03:41Z")
[QUOTE=masterofnone] This will work, but if you add too much fermentable sugar, the bottles could explode. IIRC from my brewing days, only a quarter cup of dextrose per 5 galon batch is required. Dextrose is available at any brewing supply shop. [/QUOTE] I generally use 3/4 cup of dextrose per 5 gallons when I brew, but I’m not sure how the sugar would react to the bread yeast. Probably a good idea to start small and work your way up. Also keep in mind (with brewing yeast, at least) that it will take between 2 and 3 weeks in the bottle (stored at around 70F) for the yeast to do their thing. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/12 "2008-08-22T18:12:00Z")
I want a machine so I can carbonate grapes like they were talking about in that other carbonation thread. Also, I want to experiment with carbonating all my fruit. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/13 "2008-08-22T18:14:10Z")
If you’re playing with dry ice, try making carbonated fruit! Just put a bunch of fresh fruit (apple, cherries and peaches are awesome, but watermelon was…interesting) in a cooler with some dry ice. Put the lid on and come back in a few hours. The CO2 will work its way entirely through the fruit, making it carbonated! The really crazy part is that it doesn’t change the texture or appearance of the fruit, so you can sneak people fizzy cherries unawares! 😃 My goddaughter discovered this when she put the fruit in the meat (that is, dry ice) cooler while camping! Oops! Yum! ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/14 "2008-08-22T18:19:33Z")
Restaurants buy their CO2 in 5-10 pound gas tanks. You can probably get one for $50, and refill it for something like $10. Then you need a regulator, and a hose attached to the regulator. The tank & regulator might cost you $100, initially. We do the same thing in the aquarium fresh water plant hobby, so I know a bit about it, besides having worked in restaurants before. ---
**Author:** ![WarmNPrickly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d78d45/32.png) [@WarmNPrickly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WarmNPrickly)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/15 "2008-08-22T18:48:59Z")
[QUOTE=WhyNot] If you’re playing with dry ice, try making carbonated fruit! Just put a bunch of fresh fruit (apple, cherries and peaches are awesome, but watermelon was…interesting) in a cooler with some dry ice. Put the lid on and come back in a few hours. [/QUOTE] Doesn’t the fruit freeze? ---
**Author:** ![Level3Navigator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Level3Navigator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Level3Navigator)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/16 "2008-08-22T20:13:14Z")
Make your own: > **[Home Carbonation System...Cheap, Healthy, and Green.](https://www.instructables.com/DIY-Soda-Water-%26-Home-Carbonation---Pays-For-Itsel/)** > > Home Carbonation System...Cheap, Healthy, and Green.: The cost to convert water to soda water is less than $0.04 per 2-liter bottle, > and a single fill of a 20lb tank will charge over 500 bottles! Here's a quick demo of how it works... > > For... They claim it is $0.04 per 2-liters after construction cost of around $100. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2008, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/17 "2008-08-22T23:04:58Z")
[QUOTE=WarmNPrickly] Doesn’t the fruit freeze? [/QUOTE] No, oddly enough. At least, it wasn’t frozen when we opened the cooler (about 8 hours after packing) and it didn’t have the texture of frozen and thawed fruit. ---
**Author:** ![masterofnone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@masterofnone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/masterofnone)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/making-my-own-fizzy-water-or-home-carbonation/460835/18 "2008-08-24T01:34:04Z")
[QUOTE=lightingtool] I generally use 3/4 cup of dextrose per 5 gallons when I brew, but I’m not sure how the sugar would react to the bread yeast. Probably a good idea to start small and work your way up. Also keep in mind (with brewing yeast, at least) that it will take between 2 and 3 weeks in the bottle (stored at around 70F) for the yeast to do their thing. [/QUOTE] Thanks, **lightingtool**. I’m a little rusty on my brewing technique, and a little lazy in not looking it up! 🙂