# Why can't we store Kool-Aid in metal containers?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 9, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507 "2004-06-09T19:00:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![smootman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4af34b/32.png) [@smootman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smootman)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507/1 "2004-06-09T19:00:31Z")

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Why does the packet of kool-aid advise against storing this nectar in metal containers in fridges?

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507/2 "2004-06-09T19:06:12Z")

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Because Kool-Aid, and other drinks like it, have a LOT of acids in them. The acids eat through metal over time.

When I was in the Navy, we used unsweetened Kool-Aid to eat the rust off metal. The specific item being cleaned determined which flavor of Kool-Aid we used, because of the varying acid content.

Robin

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**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507/3 "2004-06-09T19:19:14Z")

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While **MsRobyn** is right that it is because of the acid content, the reason is not that Kool-Aid will eat through the container (think how long that would take) but rather than the Kool-Aid will taste metallic. Stainless steel doesn’t have this leeching problem, but some metal containers do. Same reason you don’t want to make up a batch of tomato sauce in just any old metal pot.

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507/4 "2004-06-09T19:40:49Z")

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When I wsa in the Boy Scouts, one of my fellow Scouts showed up for a hike with an aluminum canteen full of Kool-Aid. The Scoutmaster made him dump it all out.

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**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\
**Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-we-store-kool-aid-in-metal-containers/249507/5 "2004-06-09T20:01:49Z")

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> [@JeffB](#):
>
> While **MsRobyn** is right that it is because of the acid content, the reason is not that Kool-Aid will eat through the container (think how long that would take) but rather than the Kool-Aid will taste metallic. Stainless steel doesn’t have this leeching problem, but some metal containers do. Same reason you don’t want to make up a batch of tomato sauce in just any old metal pot.

If it’s an aluminum container, it’ll be pretty unpleasant. See [Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_121a.html) on the subject of aluminum and acidic foods.

Robin