If you’re wondering if you can use sparkling water to make tea, coffee, or other hot beverages that require boiling water – the answer is yes. You can safely boil carbonated water and use it as a replacement for flat water in almost any recipe, including coffee and tea.
However, there are some important things you should know about making hot beverages and cooking with sparkling water. For instance, sparkling water with added flavoring, artificial sweeteners, or caffeine may negatively impact the flavor of the food or drink you make.
What Happens if You Boil Sparkling Water?
You might be concerned about the carbon dioxide gas in sparkling water creating a dangerous chemical reaction after you heat the water. Fortunately, there’s nothing to worry about.
When you boil carbonated water, the beverage will simply go flat and lose its carbonation entirely. The CO2 gas will be released from the liquid and into the air, with no explosion or surprising consequences of any kind. The resulting liquid is simply still water.
If you were to cool the water after boiling, you’d notice a few things. For one, there would be no bubbles. The heat will have removed any carbon dioxide from the water, which is what gives it its fizz.
The water may also taste just a tiny bit sour or bitter. This flavor is a remnant of the CO2 that has remained dissolved in the water as carbonic acid. All carbonated beverages contain carbonic acid. It is a harmless result of a chemical reaction between water and carbon dioxide. The longer you boil sparkling water, the more concentrated and noticeable this carbonic acid flavor may be.
Additionally, any minerals or dissolved solids in the water may become more concentrated as well. Minerals such as calcium carbonate, magnesium sulfate, potassium, and sodium sulfate are common in sparkling water.
Can You Use Carbonated Water to Make Tea?
You can absolutely boil sparkling water to make tea. If you use unflavored and unsweetened sparkling water, it’s unlikely you’ll notice any difference in flavor. The tea will likely mask any carbonic acid or mineral taste that you may be concerned about.
However, there is no real benefit to using sparkling water for making tea. Sparkling water tends to be significantly more expensive than flat water, and it offers no significant health benefits over clean, flat drinking water.
Can You Make Coffee with Sparkling Water?
Like tea, you can make coffee with sparkling water with no issue. But, if you’re expecting coffee made with carbonated water to remain carbonated, you’re in for a surprise. Your coffee maker boils the water before pouring it over the coffee grounds. This is how the flavor and caffeine are extracted from the coffee before it percolates into the carafe. The boiled sparkling water will no longer be carbonated.
But there is some good news if you have a strange urge to drink carbonated coffee – it does exist. While it isn’t common on supermarket shelves in the US, you can purchase it online.
Additionally, you can technically carbonate your own brewed coffee. Simply put it into a home carbonation device like a SodaStream and pump it with bubbles like you would with water. Does it actually taste good? That’s for you to decide.
Can You Cook with Sparkling Water?
Carbonated water does have some useful applications in cooking. You can use it to add a light airiness to baked goods and frying batters.
For instance, carbonated water is sometimes used in Japanese tempura batter for frying vegetables and fish. Tempura is known for its airy crunch, which can be further amplified by the carbon dioxide dissolved in sparkling water.
Cake, crepes and even waffles are other foods that might benefit from the addition of carbonated water to their recipes. The result is a lighter, fluffier product after baking or frying.
What to Avoid When Boiling Sparkling Water
If you find yourself in a situation where you do not have access to potable water and you would like to make tea, coffee, or boil food, sparkling water will work just fine. But, there are some things you should avoid to ensure safety and good flavor:
- Avoid boiling sparkling water in the can or bottle; Use a pot or kettle instead. Boiling water in improper vessels can be dangerous and may cause harmful chemicals to leach into your water.
- Do not boil water that contains artificial sweeteners, caffeine, dyes, natural flavoring, or artificial flavoring. These additives can negatively impact flavor and may ruin your hot beverage.
What is the Boiling Point of Carbonated Water?
Carbonated water boils at a slightly lower temperature than flat water. The actual temperature at which it boils will depend upon how carbonated the water is. With a greater amount of carbon dioxide, the boiling temperature will be lower.
The logical next question to ask would be, “can you freeze carbonated water?” The answer is yes, however, you should know that freezing carbonated water will also result in flat water.