The most effective way to store open bottles of seltzer water to maintain its fizziness is to keep them in the coldest part of your fridge.
Keeping Your Seltzer Sparkling
Seltzer water, also known as sparkling water or club soda, gets its characteristic fizz from dissolved carbon dioxide gas. The primary challenge when storing seltzer after opening is preventing this gas from escaping, which causes the drink to go flat.
The Coldest Spot is Key
According to recent findings, a simple solution to keeping sparkling water, well, sparkling, is to store open bottles in the coldest part of your fridge. This is a direct application of the principle that gases are more soluble in liquids at lower temperatures. When seltzer is kept very cold, the CO2 gas remains dissolved in the water more readily, slowing down the rate at which it escapes.
- Reference Insight: Surprisingly, the solution to keeping sparkling water, well, sparkling is actually simple — start keeping open bottles in the coldest part of your fridge. (18-Mar-2024)
Best Practices for Storing Open Seltzer
Beyond just temperature, a few other simple practices can help preserve the carbonation in your opened seltzer:
- Tight Seal: Always ensure the cap is screwed on as tightly as possible after each use. A loose cap is the quickest way for the CO2 to escape.
- Small Bottles: If you frequently find large bottles going flat before you can finish them, consider buying smaller bottles or cans. This reduces the amount of time any single container is open.
- Avoid Shaking: Shaking an open or partially full bottle of seltzer will agitate the liquid and force the dissolved CO2 out of the solution faster.
Summary of Seltzer Storage Tips
| Storage Action | Benefit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Store in Coldest Area | Slows CO2 escape (based on reference) | Typically the back of the bottom shelf |
| Seal Tightly | Prevents gas leakage | Crucial for preserving fizz |
| Use Smaller Sizes | Reduces open time per container | Less risk of going flat |
| Handle Gently | Avoids agitation | Keeps CO2 dissolved longer |
By combining a tight seal with storage in the coldest part of your refrigerator, you can significantly extend the fizziness and enjoyment of your open seltzer water.
