Brew Better Soda at Home

Article Tools

Image Gallery

Print

E-mail

Comments

RSS

To start brewing, you'll need to collect and sanitize a few pls tic bottles, or the single-serving size. Many people prefer to use and reuse glass bottles as an eco-friendly option, but plastic bottles can be a good choice for beginning s soda makers because they're safer. If soda gets' over-carbonated, the bottles could explode, and bursting plastic bottles are less dangerous than shattering glass containers. (Keep reading for more about how to avoid making overly fizzy soda.) If you decide to use glass bottles, make sure you choose those with thick glass and sturdy caps. Swing-top bot tles , are a convenient choice for storing soda. Another good option is to buy glass bottles from a home-brew supply store because you can ask for containers strong enough to hold carbonated beverages.

When using plastic bottles, replace the caps after a few uses because the seals will begin to wear out. Also, never use plastic bottles from your recycling outlet because there's no way to know what the bottles previously held, and plastic can absorb toxic substances.

Sanitizing all your bottles and equipment is important because any bacteria unintentionally introduced to the soda can spoil the taste. An easy way to sanitize your equipment is to soak everything in chlorinated water (1 tablespoon of chlorine bleach to I gallon of water) for at least 20 minutes. Then, wash and rinse thoroughly because any leftover bleach particles can kill the yeast. If you prefer not to use bleach, one alternative sanitizes is Straight-A Cleanser, which does not contain chlorine or phosphates. In addition to bottles, a few must-have root beer supplies include measuring cups and spoons; a large stockpot made of stainless steel or some other non-reactive material; a large spoon for stirring and a funnel with a built-in strainer for bottling the soda .

Although not absolutely necessary, it's also helpful to have a candy thermometer, for measuring the temperature of the water, and bottle labels, for recording the date the soda was brewed. Another handy tool is a bottle brush for cleaning the insides of your bottles. A baby bottle brush will work, or you can buy a beer-bottle brush from a brewing-supply store for about $5.

SPECIAL INGREDIENTS

Most of the herbs and spices for homemade soda are available in natural food stores. For brewing yeast and root beer extract, you'll find the widest selection from home-brew supply stores or by mail order.

Sassafras and Root Beer Extract. The true taste of root beer changed forever in 1960, when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned sassafras from food products because of the suspected carcinogenic properties of safrole, which is present in small amounts in sassafras (as well as in basil, nutmeg and black pepper). Sassafras is the dried bark of the sassafras tree, Sassafras albidum, which is native to North America. Sassafras has been used in folk medicine for centuries, but tests done on laboratory animals found that rats given large doses of safrole developed tumors. As a result, the FDA restricts the sale of sassafras, which makes it difficult to find commercially. It is not included in any of the recipes here.

RSS | Comments | E-mail | Print