Plain old seltzer water is a lot cooler than you think. There’s a lot more to do with the fizzy stuff than just enjoying it as a drink. It’s lesser known as a fantastic addition to enhance many recipes. Cooking with seltzer is as fun as cooking with beer, wine, or champagne for a whole lot cheaper.
The secret is all in the bubbles. The fizzy bubbles in seltzer water expand when heated, and foods have a lighter and fluffier texture as a result. So pop open a bottle and see how your favorite foods can benefit from a bit of bubbly.
1. Cake
Photo by Emma Delaney
Adding a few splashes of seltzer water to your cake batter at the end will give you the fluffiest cake. The tiny bubbles of air expand while baking giving the finished product a very light and moist texture.
2. Boiling Vegetables
Photo by Kai Huang
Cooking vegetables in boiling seltzer water decreases cooking time and helps them stay crunchy and retain their original, vibrant color.
3. Waffles
Photo by Sarah Wu
Substitute one part milk for one part seltzer water in your favorite waffle recipe. Get ready for the most ridiculously delicious and crunchy waffles you’ve ever had.
4. Scrambled Eggs
Photo by Stephanie Schoenster
Tired of constantly making rubbery and stiff scrambled eggs? Seltzer water is your answer. Add 1 tablespoon of seltzer water to every 2 eggs cooked for some eggs-tra fluffy eggs.
5. Pancakes
Photo by Kristine Mahan
Sub seltzer for tap water or milk with your favorite pancake recipe (or even crepes) resulting in an even lighter, airier texture. Perfect for Sunday brunch in bed.
6. Dumplings
Photo by Monica Cheng
Get your dumpling dough fluffier and light with a boost of seltzer. This will give you the perfect bouncy, chewy dumpling texture you always wanted to achieve.