dry ice safe to eat?

ok, so the fizzy fruit looks really cool to make and eat obviously.,, but is the gas that is released safe to eat? Also, i saw the soft serve ice cream recipe and it has crushed dry ice in it?? how is that ok to eat? not being a hater , i totally want to make it , but want to make sure its safe for consumption. thanks!!

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tshewman

yes it is CO2.

stenehjemj

As Todd says, it's CO2 which you breathe out and it's what carbonates things like sparkling water and beer. It's perfectly safe to eat and breathe.

Don't eat solid dry ice. Read that recipe again where it says to wait 20-30 minutes for the dry ice to sublimate. Don't mean this to be an ass, but if you don't know what sublimate means you should probably at least read the Wikipedia page about "dry ice" before you use it. It's safe if used with an understanding of how cold −109.3 °F is and what it can do to exposed skin--or if you trap expanding CO2 in a container it can't get out of.

It's a great tool and lots of fun, but like all tools you should know what can go wrong so it doesn't.

tshewman

Hi Micaela, finally have a moment. Jeff outlines things nicely. You're not "eating" the gas as it were (well you are sort of), but consider carbonatd water (pellegrino) same idea. It's carbon(as in CO2)ated. I can attest to it working well if you infuse fruits with cocktails as well. Did it with watermelon and pineapple this weekend and it was a big hit. The non-alcoholic versions that went over well, were (in addition to non-alcohol versions of the above); strawberries, raspberries, blueberriesand grapes. So if one has a vacuum chamber you can combine flavors (e.g. juice infused fruits) and carbonate (fizzy) them.

Jack_Mayer_85396

Hi Todd, can you walk me through the procedure to carbonate fruits (with and without booze)? I have the VP-215 chamber vacuum. Thanks!

tshewman

Hi Jack, pour your favorite (or booze-I used margarita and lemon drops as that was a favorite of guests, or both) into a vacuum bag and pull the vacuum (maybe 2-3 times depends on how thin your fruit is). See http://www.chefsteps.com/activities/vacuum-compression-of-plant-foods

Once that is done, place 1-2 pounds of dry ice in the cooler, place a cloth over the dry ice and place your infused fruit inside. wrap it in plastic - see http://www.chefsteps.com/activities/tips-tricks-fizzy-fruit

Come back 12-24 hours later (depends on how much dry ice you have in your cooler) and that's it. It's that easy. :-)

Jack_Mayer_85396

Thanks Todd! I have done the fruit compression many times just that way by not laying the bag over the seal bar until the third cycle. Do you seal the bag before going into the cooler with the dry ice? I would think not.

lfmichaud

I usually carbonate my liquids with a CO2 tank/regulator and a ball lock connection to the bottle. To carbonate solids I use a ISI syphon and CO2 cartridges. (Dry ice is a little bit hard to get) Does someone know of an adapter to connect an IS syphon ot a gas line or something else with a large opening that coulb be used? I know the pressure will be much lower but that's not a problem for my uses.

Jack_Mayer_85396

For a test, I think I'll use the 1L iSi siphon. 1 or 2 CO2 charges? For how long? Thanks!

stenehjemj

I've wanted to give something like this a go.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/reviews/B00007JXR7

Just photos but looks simple enough.

Brandon_Byrd_40557

For things like fruit, use 2 but vent the gas after you charge the first one. This purges the canister of any air (which isn't CO2). Then charge with the second one and move it to the fridge to hang out for at least an hour. The colder (above freezing), the better since CO2 is more soluble in colder liquids. The longer you let it sit, the fizzier it will get (within limits).

Jack_Mayer_85396

Thanks for the tip on venting after the first charge! So maybe do it in the morning and let the siphon hang out in the fridge until dinner time?

lfmichaud

I've seen that Amazon review but I was hoping that somebody on CS did know what was the exact adapter. I'll update that post if I find the answer.

lfmichaud

Haven't found an adapter for the ISI but I found this DIY carbonator that I could probably be even better. Time to start working...