You’ve heard of SodaStream. You know it’s a great alternative to buying commercial sodas because:
- It’s healthier, with a third of the calories, carbs and sugars of commercial drink brands, and half the caffeine. SodaStream flavors eliminate high fructose corn syrup and aspartame, and use no-calorie Splenda as a sweetener.
- It’s environmentally friendly, since it eliminates the need to buy beverages in plastic bottles and aluminum cans, reducing waste. The reusable bottles are PCB and BPA free, and fully recyclable. It doesn’t even use electricity to operate.
- It’s cheaper, costing as little as $0.25 a serving for fresh, gourmet soda.
- It’s flexible, offering over 60 flavors for you to choose from and customize your favorite beverages. Now everyone in the family can have their favorite.
But did you know how flexible the SodaStream home soda maker really is? While there are plenty of flavors to keep everyone happy, there’s no need to be limited by them.
Make Homemade SodaStream Flavors
Even though SodaStream flavors are about as natural as they come, they are still manufactured, and that means there are additives, sugars and ingredients that are maybe not so fresh.
But there’s no need to limit yourself to the pre-packaged syrups from the manufacturer. Create your own fresh soda flavors at home by mixing your own ingredients.
- For lime soda, mix 2/3 cup of lime juice, 2 tsp. lime zest, 2/3 cup of water, and 1 1/3 cup of sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes until it’s syrupy. Allow it to cool before adding to your SodaStream carbonated water.
- Make your own ginger ale by steeping ginger slices in a simple sugar solution to make your own syrup.
- Try chocolate soda by combining a few teaspoons of cocoa powder, your favorite sweetener, 1/3 cup of milk and dash of vanilla with 1 ½ cups of SodaStream soda water. (Make sure the milk and cocoa are well mixed before you add the soda water.)
- Add any fresh juice to your SodaStream bottle for a refreshing sparkling drink.
- Experiment with natural sweeteners such as agave, honey and brown rice syrup.
Recipes for traditional flavors like cola and root beer can be found online, along with dozens of other great tasting flavors you can try.
Beyond Soda – Cooking with SodaStream
If you’ve never tried cooking with soda, then you’re really missing out. Carbonated soda helps tenderize meat, while the sugars and flavorings add a unique, slightly sweet flavor to your favorites.
- Try mixing your favorite teriyaki marinade or barbecue sauce with an equal part of carbonated soda.
- Add a splash of soda to your slow cooker instead of water, pineapple juice or other liquid.
Try one of these mouthwatering recipes from SodaStream.com.
Cola Carmelized Strip Steaks – serves 4
4 strip steaks
2 cups SodaStream Cola (finished soda)
Package of dry onion soup mix
- Place 4 strip steaks in a deep baking dish
- Rub meat with onion soup mix and pour cola over top
- Allow to marinate 4 hours or overnight
- Grill over hot coals to desired doneness
- Hint from the chef: Marinated meat cooks faster than non-marinated meat so you should adjust your cooking time accordingly.
Ginger Salmon – serves 4
4 Salmon Filets
SodaStream Ginger Ale sodamix
1 small bunch of scallions
- Place salmon fillets skin side down in a baking pan
- Generously coat with Sodastream Ginger Ale sodamix
- Chop one bunch of scallions (white bulbs and some of
- green tops) into 1/2″ slices and sprinkle on top of salmon.
- Grill over medium-hot coals to your desired doneness.
- Note from the chef: “We eat ours at room temperature, or on salad greens. Also goes well with creamed potatoes, or cole slaw as accompanying vegetables. You can also use a whole side of salmon for an impressive presentation.
These are just a few ideas for how you can use the SodaStream home soda maker to go beyond soda. The possibilities are limitless!