Who does not love to pop open a soda bottle every time you crave a fizzy drink? But getting your carbonated drinks always from stores is neither healthy nor feasible.
So why not make it at home? I know you might be thinking, “Who would want to invest in a soda maker when you can get an entire pack of soda cans for as cheap as 30 bucks?”
But what if I told you that you don’t need a soda maker to make a soda? Yes, that’s possible, and I’m here to tell you four DIY ways to make soda at home without a soda maker or any expensive tool.
Table of Contents
How To Make Soda Without A Soda Maker? Four Easy Ways
Here are the easiest and simple ways to make homemade soda without a machine.
1. The Dry Ice Method
Dry ice is a common culinary item that food companies have been using for years to freeze food, make ice creams, and so on. It is basically frozen carbon dioxide, which, when added to plain water, carbonates the water.
We’ll get to the recipe for making soda with dry ice but before that, let’s take a look at some important notes on using dry ice-
- Don’t cover the bottle or container after putting dry ice in beverages. It causes a pressure build-up, which may lead to an explosive mess. It can even be harmful.
- You shouldn’t touch dry ice with bare hands because it can cause freezer burns. Wear a glove or use a spoon.
- Also, never consume dry ice in a solid state. It’s not the same as normal ice and may cause serious freezer burns.
- Always ensure that dry ice is completely dissolved before consuming the soda.
- Always use dry ice in a well-ventilated room; else, the carbon dioxide build-up may cause serious breathing issues.
Now that you’re familiar with how to use dry ice, let’s see the recipe.
You’ll need just two main ingredients:
- water
- dry ice
- adding sugar, other flavorings, and kool-aid is optional
Method
- Add one pound of dry ice to 1 gallon of water and stir well and wait until no smoke comes out of the gallon. Once the vaporization stops, you can have your homemade dry ice soda without a soda maker.
Note: If you are adding flavors, sugar, or kool-aid, do so before adding the dry ice to the water.
2. The Baking Soda And Vinegar Method
The other DIY way to make soda water is using baking soda and vinegar. A combination of vinegar and baking soda produces CO2. When we add it to plain water, it carbonates the water, and we get our soda.
Similar to using dry ice, you need to be careful while using baking soda. Here are some of the precautions you must take-
- Never use a glass bottle while preparing soda with vinegar and baking soda. Only use soda bottles as glass bottles are unable to handle the pressure and may shatter during the process.
- This process also leads to a build-up of carbon dioxide, so always prepare it in an airy/well-ventilated room.
Ingredients
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Funnel
- Tubing that fits the bottle
- A drill
- Two soda bottles (plastic)
- Scissors (to cut the tube)
- Toilet paper
Method
- Drill holes in each soda bottle cap.
- Now you need to cut both ends of the tube in a way that you can easily insert them into the cap holes.
- Once you are done cutting, insert the tubes into the cap holes you just drilled.
- Fill one bottle with water and the other with vinegar.
- Take a double layer of toilet paper and put soda in it. Put the soda wrapped in toilet paper in the vinegar bottle.
- Screw the caps with the tubes and shake the bottles well. Now you have to wait for bubbles to form, and your soda will be ready.
3. Use Soda Siphons
A soda siphon is another easy way to make soda without a soda maker. Soda siphons replace the CO2 tanks to hold the water. But you must follow a few precautions while using soda siphons; here are a few things you must know-
- You should only carbonate cold water because CO2 dissolves faster in cold water.
- After inserting the CO2 cartridges, shake the soda siphons well to get more surface area, letting the CO2 dissolve faster.
- Let the soda sit in the refrigerator for 15 minutes once done. Don’t drink it immediately.
- Soda siphons are one of the most portable ways to make soda, but it is a bit costlier than other soda-making processes I have mentioned so far. Using soda siphons is best for occasional soda making.
Here is how a soda siphon works-
- A soda siphon has a container where it holds water. It has a head where the CO2 cartridges are inserted, and then the head is screwed to the container.
- The cartridges slowly release CO2 into the water container, and this is how you get your soda.
4. Make a DIY Soda Maker
This is a bit more complicated than the previous procedures I mentioned, but if you love trying your hands on creating new stuff, you’ll find this method quite interesting.
Here are a few things you need to be careful about while making your own soda maker-
- Use sturdy plastic bottles that can handle high pressure.
- Never set this up in an enclosed room. As I have repeatedly been saying, high CO2 concentration can cause breathing problems.
- This method is mainly for those who have some knowledge of handling the tools I listed below.
- And if you are someone who wants to save more costs by refilling your CO2 then make sure to read our step-by-step guide.
Here are the things you’ll need-
- CO2 tank
- A pipe or gas line (to connect the CO2 tank with the soda bottle)
- Gas regulator
- Soda bottle
- Carbonator cap
- Clams
- A quick-release bottle valve
Method
- Take the regulator and attach one end to the CO2 tank. Make sure to attach it tight.
- Now connect the gas line with the other end of the regular and tighten it with a clam. (make sure that the regulator is off)
- Attach the bottle valve to the other end of the pipe
- Now take the soda bottle, fill it with water and place the carbonator cap.
- Connect the pipe with the soda bottle and release CO2. That’s it; your soda is ready.
Here is a video tutorial you can check out to get a better idea-
Does Soda Made at Home Taste Different Than Soda Made Without A Soda Maker?
Yes, DIY soda may taste slightly different than machine soda. The main reason for the difference in taste is the making process.
Soda made with a soda maker has higher carbonation, and the CO2 gas changes the taste and makes it a bit better. On the other hand, if you make your DIY soda without a soda maker, it might not have similar carbonation, thus, the taste may be dull sometimes.
Other than that, there aren’t any significant factors creating taste differences. The flavors and the fizz all depend on how you prefer to drink your soda. Adding ice and other ready-to-use flavors also make a difference in how the two drinks taste.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How Can I Make Fizzy Water Without SodaStream?
A: You can make fizzy water without a SodaStream by simply adding carbon dioxide/ dry ice to the water. Take some plain water, add some dry ice, and your sparkling/ fizzy water is ready.
Q: Is Soda From SodaStream Healthier Than Other Carbonated Drinks Like Coke?
A: Yes, SodaStream soda is healthier than other carbonated drinks like coke. SodaStream is healthier because it contains fewer calories and fewer calories compared to soft drinks.
Q: Is Buying A Soda Maker Worth It?
A: If you drink soda regularly, you can get a soda maker. Soda makers will actually be cheaper for long-term usage, and it’s good for the environment too.
One carbonating bottle lasts up to three years, reducing the use of single-use plastic bottles. Plus. Soda fresh out of a soda maker tastes more refreshing than canned/ bottled soda.
Q: How Long Does Homemade Soda Last?
A: Homemade soda remains fresh for up to four weeks. But it tastes the best in the first two weeks. The taste starts changing after two weeks due to the continuous fermentation.
Q: How To Store Homemade Soda?
A: The best way to store homemade soda is in a bottle with a lid to keep it fizzy and prevent the carbonation from leaking.
Conclusion
I hope you found these four DIY ways of making soda helpful. You don’t really need to invest in a soda maker to make yourself a good fizzy soda. Use the methods I mentioned and get your fresh soda ready in no time.
But don’t ignore the precautions I mentioned for each method to avoid any mishaps during the process. Do let me know if there is anything more you want to know about making soda; I’ll be happy to answer your questions.
