Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with soda

Worried about drain cleaner

cellphone — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 23:25:02 -0800

Am I being too paranoid about drain cleaner? I poured a whole bottle of Works drain opener down my kitchen sink and it didn't work. I didn't want to let a bunch of HCl sit in a steel sink overnight so I poured 2 pounds of baking soda into the sink (slowly, wearing rubber gloves, mixing it up gently), and it looks like it's stopped reacting. Can I go to bed not worrying about damage to my sink or fumes from the drain cleaner? I had the window open for the last hour or so.

Soda Popinski

meadowlark lime — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:31:10 -0800

When you pour soda into a glass, is the head / froth / bubbly stuff at the top actual soda that is being turned into froth and then wasted? I have a debate with my girlfriend. I say that when she pours soda into a glass without tipping it, the head / froth / bubbly stuff that fills half the glass and then disappears downward is actual soda that is somehow combining with air and being wasted when it disappears.

She says that it's not soda, it's just something that comes out of the soda when you pour it that way.

Who's right?

can I substitute baking powder for baking soda?

hollyanderbody — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:44:14 -0800

the recipe calls for baking soda. I only have baking powder. can I substitute? If so, whats the conversion math? Thanks for helping!

Where can I find Dr. Brown's Cel-Rey in Vancouver?

csjc — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:17:51 -0800

Where can I get Dr. Brown's Cel-Rey soda in Vancouver? I've looked everywhere!

How do I get bigger bubbles from my SodaStream?

csimpkins — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 12:02:18 -0800

Why are the bubbles in my homemade sparkling water smaller than commercial alternatives? I purchased a SodaStream home sparkling water/soda maker after the glowing reviews on this thread. Totally worth every penny. However, I've had a few friends remark that the bubbles seemed smaller than commercial sparkling water. Personally, I don't care. But it did get me thinking about why that might be.

Is it something in my tap water? Is it something NOT in my tap water? Is it the syrup/flavor additives afterwards?

I know nothing about chemistry. If there were a layman's answer that could satisfy my curiosity - and perhaps some ideas for bigger bubbles - I'd be grateful.

Bringin' home the seltzer

sio42 — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:52:48 -0800

DIY Seltzer: We love seltzer/sparkling water at my house. We buy lots of it from the store. This seems wasteful. I've seen other questions asking about CO2 etc, but I'm interested in knowing what your experience has been with certain vendors/equipment. I've heard of soda stream usa and soda club. Please tell me about others if they exist.

Have you used them? Have you instead made your own contraption? Do you use glass or plastic bottles? Big or small?

How did you flavor them if you just like the berry/citrus flavors? We're not interested in it tasting like coke or sprite.

Did you save money by DIY or was it just making you feel better about less trash?

Thanks!

No Sugar, No Caffeine Nowhere to be found.

Jezztek — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 12:30:44 -0800

Where can I find sugar and caffeine free fountain drinks? I crave the occasional fountain soda. It is an itch that just can't be scratched by bottled/canned or non-carbonated beverages. The problem is my doctor recently pulled me off caffeine, ending my twenty year love affair with that sweet stimulant, and I hate sugary sodas (ugh, so thick and sticky).

So now it is much harder to find a fountain drink that meets my needs (diet versions of clear sodas, grape/orange flavors or rootbeers tend to be good). The two places I've found are Panera Bread (diet-caffeine free coke) Sonic Drive through (Diet Sprite). Anyone else know of any others I may have missed here this part of the country (I'm in central Ohio) especially a convenience store-gas station chain open late?

Thanks much!

Help me remember something truly trivial

crush-onastick — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:58:42 -0800

Trying to remember a carbonated ginseng beverage sold between 1988 and 1994 at Whole Foods in Austin (and eventually sold at the incredibly fancy flagship HEB). I seem to recall that it came in a purple can and tasted vaguely like dirt. I haven't seen it since and it's driving me crazy that I can't remember what it was called. And no, it was not Ginseng Up.

Why can't I find Cherry Coke Zero?

ChrisLSU — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:32:51 -0800

Who decides what flavors of Coca-Cola are available for sale in different areas? For the recent Memorial Day weekend, my wife and I drove to her parents, about 5 hours away. We've made this trip a hundred times, and routinely stop at the same gas stations at various points during the trip. While at one for a bathroom break and soda restock, I noticed they had Cherry Coke Zero available. I've always loved Cherry Coke, but stopped drinking it when I switched to Diet Cokes (to cut down on the amount of sugar I was consuming). So I grabbed one, and stopped at the same place on the way back and bought another one. Now I'm at home, and I can't find anybody who stocks them.
One a related note, a few years ago I decided I wanted to cut down on the amount of caffeine I was getting, so I started buying caffeine-free Diet Cokes whenever I could find then. But I've noticed I can only find them in certain areas of town (none within a 20-minutes drive). One day I asked the manager of the nearby gas station if he could order some, and he said he'd find out. A few days later, he told me he couldn't. I didn't bother asking why.
But now I'm wondering why. Who decides this stuff? Was the store manager BSing me? Does the Coca-Cola corporation or the bottlers or distributors set restrictions on what flavors can be sold in what areas? Or is it just a simple matter of supply-and-demand?
Thanks for the help with this nagging question.

Root Beer!

serazin — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 21:02:44 -0800

We're makin' root beer! (Help?) Me and my buddy want to make our own root beer, and possibly also ginger beer or other soda-type beverages. I would love any suggestions you have to offer: books we should check out, relevant websites, favorite recipes, particular products we need, etc. Please share your home root beer brewing stories, warnings, advice, etc below. Thank you!

Am I shining my teeth right back to stubbly knubs?

lottie — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 02:32:55 -0800

Can I scratch or otherwise harm my teeth by occasionally polishing them with bicarb soda? About once a week I dip my toothbrush into a mouth wash with peroxide in it (1.5% w/v), and then into bicarb soda, and give my teeth a polish with the gritty moosh this makes. I do this because it makes them shiny, gives a wonderful cleaned-by-a-dentist feel, and I've heard it's a good, cheap way to whiten them.

My questions are should I stop? Am I doing them any harm? Am I scratching my teeth, or doing something else I don't know about?

For what it's worth, I haven't noticed any problems, and I keep the stuff well away from my gums, because I know it may be too abrasive for that area.

I've googled around, and have only managed to find glowing endorsements for the practise by folksy sites, or references to bicarb soda being safe because it's not a deadly poison - the rationale being that we use it in cooking), but I haven't found any comment about whether it's safe for teeth.

I asked my dentist, but he only gave me a vague reply that it's probably not the best thing to do because it's untested. When I asked him why it wouldn't be safe when many toothpastes have bicarb soda added, he suggested that it may be a different grade or type of baking soda. Any truth?

what to do with all this cream soda?

Meg_Murry — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 19:06:00 -0800

I meant to buy root beer, but grabbed the wrong thing and came home with cream soda. What can I do with it? It's too sweet and bland for my taste. Can I add something to it to make it more drinkable? Or, can I cook with it somehow? Or am I better off just finding someone who likes cream soda and giving it to them?

Is too much Diet Coke bad for you?

JPowers — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:50:48 -0800

I drink 8-10 diet cokes per day. Should I quit? Plenty of people tell me this is bad for me, but I can't find any evidence from reputable sources that prove this is true. Can you provide this evidence? I'm specfically looking for the exact ingredients that are bad (the caffeine, the artficial sweetener, etc.) and the negative effects.

Do all London fridges stink?

almostwitty — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:14:00 -0800

I've searched supermarkets all over West London for something that'll de-stink my fridge. Bicarbonate of soda, branded products, I just can't seem to find it any more. Do you know where I can find some bicarbonate of soda or a similar fridge de-stinking product?

What's this part of a plastic bottle cap called?

bofe — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 07:59:09 -0800

Plastic Bottle cap anatomy: See this picture. What's the blue part called? Does it have a name?

Seltzer + Exercise = Do Not Want?

ostranenie — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:04:13 -0800

Will drinking seltzer water before exercise hurt me? According to my wife's friend, soda water slows down your metabolism. And this quick Google search says seltzer water is bad before exercise. Really? I've seen the MeFi thread on hydration and it doesn't really apply to me - I don't necessarily feel dehydrated after drinking seltzer - but is there anything else I don't know that I should? What about the dreaded carbonic acid? Is that a myth (according to the sometimes-questionably-accurate Wikipedia, it is mythical) or what?

Homemade Soda Fountain?

Coolcan2 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 02:17:30 -0800

Where does one buy bag-in-box coke syrup for a soda fountain in australia? I'm looking at making a soda fountain for my kitchin, and while I was able to find the equipment, I was completely unable to find any place to order syrup from in australia.

Where does one buy bag-in-box coke syrup for a soda fountain in australia?

Why do my eyes burn when drinking soda?

drezdn — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 10:21:32 -0800

Why do my eyes sometimes feel like they're burning when I drink sodas high in caffeine?

I'm forever blowing bubbles... and wishing I wasn't

taff — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:36:28 -0800

How do I reduce the amount of bubbles in soft drinks?.... um, you might call them sodas or pop or aerated beverages.... Heavens to Betsy, the morning sickness!

I'm finding myself with nothing to drink most of the time. I really want ever-so-lightly aerated soda water. I've no idea what that is called in your country.... it's basically fizzy water but isn't mineral water. You used to be able to make it in soda siphons. Maybe you do call it soda water in your country. I have no idea. God, I'm rambling. Sorry.

So... if I'm out and about and want to buy a small bottle of bubbly drink, how do I reduce the bubbles to almost nothing? If I'm in a cafe and don't have the bottle/lid... just a glass of said noxious gaseous fluid, how do I reduce the bubbles significantly.

And if I'm ever well enough to drink it with absolutely no bubbles, how do I remove all bubbles?

The quicker the solution is, the better.

Sorry if this is obvious... but I had no idea how to google this.... I promise I tried. And yes, I did do physics at school... .but that seemed to be largely about trucks and brick walls... more than bubbles. Thank you in advance possums!

p.s. if any of you want to suggest beverages for the heavily morning sicknessed, I'm desperate to hear those also. Bearing in mind, if it's a brand name... I'm in Australia... and I don't do caffeine.

mmm ... fizzy water.

the luke parker fiasco — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:47:20 -0800

Cool-lookin' soda siphons. Where to find? I've recently begun enjoying the wonder and deliciousness that is the homemade soda-water drink, and am now interested in purchasing a siphon. I've seen the iSi models, which are okay, but what I'm really looking for is a cool, interesting, retro-looking (to go with the retro-feel) yet still functional soda siphon.
I remember seeing a siphon companion to this years ago at (I believe) a Crate & Barrel, but no longer. It seems to have been made by a company called Kovočas, but aside from the pictured shaker and a siphon on eBay Österreich, I've not had much luck. (Found this, but alas, I don't read Czech.)

So, hivemind, any recommendations for where to find Kovočas siphons in particular, or siphons of interesting design in general (including vintage, if they take currently manufactured cartridges)? Bonus points for N. America, but willing to do some work to obtain if necessary.

Why do I hiccup after drinking soda?

carmelita — Wed, 21 May 2008 15:05:41 -0800

Why do I hiccup after drinking anything with carbonation? As an adult, I started hiccuping after drinking any kind of soda. Just one hiccup after the first drink and then my body seems to get acclimatized and relaxes. What's up with that? Does it happen to anyone else?

Which kills the earth quicker: cans or bottles

wheat — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 07:59:04 -0800

I drink a lot of diet soda. I tend to buy it in one of two formats: 12-packs of aluminum cans (which come in paperboard cartons), and individual two-liter bottles. If I were to buy one format exclusively and recycle the packaging, which would be the greener choice? I recycle all my cans, bottles, and paperboard. I know that reducing consumption of these things would be better all the way around. I get that. But, assuming consumption remains the same, would there be any environmental benefit to choosing one (exclusively) over the other. I'm assuming that 20-oz bottles (which are expensive anyway, so I don't buy them at the grocery store) are the worst of all possible worlds. Other thoughts on flavored water transportation methods are welcome, of course.

Diet soda is primarily a caffeine delivery method. Perhaps shifting to coffee or tea (brewed at home or work + my own cup) would be the best bet. Or, gasp, I could learn to like water. Stats would be great, but this isn't for a paper or anything. I'm just a curious consumer, trying to be a slightly less evil consumer.

Water water everywhere but way too boring to drink (all the time)

Deathalicious — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 00:48:47 -0800

As summer approaches, how about some nice suggestions for alternatives for cola/sodas? I want to save money, bottles, and empty calories. Here are the rules:

Caffeine free
Lower in Calories than sodas
Something relatively easy/fast to make or procure

Healthy, natural, and cheap is best but for excellent flavor I'm willing to be a bit more flexible. But no matter what, it has to be refreshing. Also, I'm mostly looking for recipes but if there's something inexpensive that I can purchase that stands on its own that works too.

I realize that "Ice tea" is going to be a popular answer and of course I will be making some of that. But details would be great. For example, is it possible to recreate a cola-ish flavor by mixing different herbal teas together?

Can I gain weight from soda alone?

destro — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:57:06 -0800

Based on calories alone and ignoring any other nutritional deficiencies, could I gain weight off of drinking just soda and nothing else? Since current nutritional science links calories to weight gain, shouldn't a high calorie soda made with HFCS cause weight gain even without any solid content? And a low calorie diet of something like celery would cause weight loss even though it does have solid content?

Do I have something misunderstood or is it all a vague science?

Cheerwine in DC?

l33tpolicywonk — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:42:39 -0800

Is there anywhere I can get Cheerwine in the Washington, DC area?