Askville Posts #8: Defizzing

[I was stunned today to see a question on Askville on the best way to quickly defizz soda.]

Holy cow, I thought that I was the only one who liked defizzed coke! Heck, I didn’t think anyone else ever used the word "defizzed"! 

Here are some ways to defizz soda in various situations:

1. If you’re in a rush and are pouring a glass, fill it with as much ice as possible. That makes the soda fizz violently and gets rid of some of the carbonation. This isn’t a great choice, though; there will still be a lot of fizz.

2. Stirring it with a spoon works, but it’s really slow and tedious.

3. The best method I know works best with 2-liter plastic bottles. It requires a steady hand, and an empty 2-liter soda bottle. Pour about half of the contents of a new bottle into the old one (it should be clean, of course). Cap the old bottle tightly. Shake violently. Wait until the foaming subsides at least half-way. Then, open very carefully and slowly - being ready to tighten the cap back on if the bottle seems about to explode.

You should also be careful to aim the bottle and cap away from your face and anything breakable. One time I rushed the process and opened a bottle that had too much pressure in it, and as I was loosening it the bottle cap shot off like a bullet and hit me right between the eyes. It was a metal cap, and the pressure had deformed it so badly that the threads were completely flattened out!

I should also note that if you live with anyone who doesn’t like defizzed soda, and if you keep defizzed soda in the refrigerator, it would be thoughtful to mark your defizzing bottle with a Sharpie or something. And change your bottle pretty often; it's more hygenic. Obviously you should never drink directly from the bottle!

4. Almost forgot this one. It’s kind of weird, but I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. Use a straw, and blow air into the bottom of your glass - "bubble" your soda, in other words. It’s fun, and is definitely a good way to defizz.

It kind of embarrasses my wife when I do it in public, though.

I’ve found that blowing one big bubble of air at a time works best. Then pause a moment to let the soda foam up and subside. If you do too much too quickly, you can end up overflowing your glass.

Great question!

Askville Posts #8: Defizzing

[I was stunned today to see a question on Askville on the best way to quickly defizz soda.]

Holy cow, I thought that I was the only one who liked defizzed coke! Heck, I didn’t think anyone else ever used the word "defizzed"! 

Here are some ways to defizz soda in various situations:

1. If you’re in a rush and are pouring a glass, fill it with as much ice as possible. That makes the soda fizz violently and gets rid of some of the carbonation. This isn’t a great choice, though; there will still be a lot of fizz.

2. Stirring it with a spoon works, but it’s really slow and tedious.

3. The best method I know works best with 2-liter plastic bottles. It requires a steady hand, and an empty 2-liter soda bottle. Pour about half of the contents of a new bottle into the old one (it should be clean, of course). Cap the old bottle tightly. Shake violently. Wait until the foaming subsides at least half-way. Then, open very carefully and slowly - being ready to tighten the cap back on if the bottle seems about to explode.

You should also be careful to aim the bottle and cap away from your face and anything breakable. One time I rushed the process and opened a bottle that had too much pressure in it, and as I was loosening it the bottle cap shot off like a bullet and hit me right between the eyes. It was a metal cap, and the pressure had deformed it so badly that the threads were completely flattened out!

I should also note that if you live with anyone who doesn’t like defizzed soda, and if you keep defizzed soda in the refrigerator, it would be thoughtful to mark your defizzing bottle with a Sharpie or something. And change your bottle pretty often; it's more hygenic. Obviously you should never drink directly from the bottle!

4. Almost forgot this one. It’s kind of weird, but I’ve been doing it since I was a kid. Use a straw, and blow air into the bottom of your glass - "bubble" your soda, in other words. It’s fun, and is definitely a good way to defizz.

It kind of embarrasses my wife when I do it in public, though.

I’ve found that blowing one big bubble of air at a time works best. Then pause a moment to let the soda foam up and subside. If you do too much too quickly, you can end up overflowing your glass.

Great question!