How to Use a Whipping Siphon
I don't use it on a daily basis but I love how versatile it is and it makes some really easy dishes that impress the heck out of my friends when they come over.
The whipping siphon is one of my favorite pieces of modernist equipment. It can create a wide variety of foams as well as infuse liquids and foods and carbonate anything with water in it. It works by pressurizing a canister filled with liquid or food with nitrous oxide (N2O) or carbon dioxide (CO2) and then either dispensing it out a nozzle or venting the gas and using the liquid by itself.
Table of Contents
How Does a Whipping Siphon Work?Top
At its most basic, a whipping siphon is a metal container used to pressurize liquids, typically with nitrous oxide (N2O). This pressurization can be used for many different effects from foams and froths to carbonated foods and liquid infusions.
When a pressurized liquid is forced out the nozzle of the whipping siphon, the gas escapes from the liquid, aerating the liquid and turning it into a foam. The foam can range from a quickly dissolving froth to a heavy duty, dense foam through the addition of thickeners and stabilizers.
This same pressurization can also be used to infuse liquids with flavors or to marinate ingredients. Carbon dioxide (CO2) can also be used in place of N2O to carbonate liquids, sauces, or even fruits and vegetables.
Where to Buy a Whipping SiphonTop
There are many different kinds of whipping siphons but I prefer the iSi Gourmet brand siphons, they come in both a pint-size siphon and a quart size. The unit also has decorator tips with durable stainless steel threads, a silicon banded head for heat protection during hot applications, and an ergonomic charger holder with a non-slip silicon grip. The entire unit is dishwasher safe and comes with a 2-year warranty. Don't forget to purchase N2O chargers as well!
The links above go to Amazon but Modernist Pantry carries the iSi whipping siphons and accessories and you can find a wide variety of whipping siphons on the Cream Right website. It is usually worth shopping around to see who has the lowest prices at any one time.
There are also some less expensive whipping siphons such as the Mosa brand. I have heard good things about the Mosa and if you are looking forward to trying out a whipping siphon without spending much money, it can be a good place to start.
What Can You Do with a Whipping Siphon?Top
It is surprisingly easy to use a whipping siphon. Place a liquid or fat into the whipping siphon. Seal the siphon by screwing the lid on, making sure all the pieces needed, such as the gasket, are in place.
Charge the siphon by screwing in a gas cartridge or "charger". The charger holder can be left on or removed, whatever you prefer. Shake the siphon to help distribute the gas in the liquid.
The final step depends on the preparation you are making. For foams you turn the whipping siphon upside down, with the nozzle facing directly down, and pull the trigger to dispense the liquid through the nozzle for a foam or froth.
When making foams, some foam stabilizers will need to be heated or chilled before they are ready to be dispensed. This is covered in more detail later on this page.
For infusions and carbonation you vent the gas from the whipping siphon and strain the liquid remaining. To vent the whipping siphon, place the siphon upright, with the nozzle facing up, and place a towel over the top. Slowly pull the trigger and the gas should escape with a minimal amount of liquid.
Once you are finished with the whipping siphon make sure to clean it thoroughly. Most siphons come with good directions for how they should be cleaned. In general, take the siphon apart, wash the siphon and its parts in warm, soapy water, and use the scrubbing brush on the nozzle. Once the parts are clean, dry them well.
Troubleshooting a Whipping SiphonTop
There are several minor things that can go wrong when using a whipping siphon. I've tried to put the most common ones in my guide to troubleshooting a whipping siphon. Most of these issues are easy to correct. If you run into other issues please let me know and I'd be happy to address them!
How to Foam with a Whipping SiphonTop
Whipping siphons were originally developed to quickly and easily create foams. The main components of a foam are a flavored liquid and a stabilizer. The stabilizer can be anything from cream or cheese to modernist ingredients like xanthan gum or gelatin. The stabilizer often takes the form of a thickened liquid or a fluid gel.
Cream Based Whipping Siphon FoamsTop
The easiest foams to make with a whipping siphon, cream based foams, use the fat and proteins in cream to create thick, rich foams. For a basic whipped cream just add a pint of heavy or whipping cream to your siphon, add a tablespoon of fine or powdered sugar then seal and charge the siphon. Give it a few shakes and then the foam is ready to dispense.
You can easily flavor the cream by adding flavored extracts like vanilla or maple, citrus juices, or essential oils. The cream can also be infused ahead of time with herbs, spices, or chile peppers.
Examples of Whipping Siphon Cream Foams
View more whipping siphon cream foam recipes, read my guide to modernist foams to learn about foams in general, or how to measure modernist ingredients for more information on ratios.
Gelatin Based Whipping Siphon FoamsTop
Gelatin foams range from light and airy to heavy and dense. All gelatin foams have fine, evenly distributed bubbles. Gelatin foams must be served cold or they will break down and melt. The addition of agar can help strengthen gelatin foams.
For light foams, powdered gelatin in a 0.4% to 1.0% ratio work well. For denser foams, using powdered gelatin in a 1.0% to 1.7% ratio is typical. Sometimes you will see even higher ratios.
If you are using sheet gelatin you would normally use 0.2 to 0.55 sheets per 100 grams of liquid for light foams or 0.55 to 0.9 sheets per 100 grams of liquid for dense foams.
To make a gelatin foam, first hydrate the gelatin then disperse it into the liquid you want to foam. Pour the mixture into the whipping siphon and refrigerate it for several hours so the gelatin can set before dispensing it.
Examples of Whipping Siphon Gelatin Foams
For additional information about hydrating, dispersing, and converting between types of gelatin please see my guide on how to use gelatin. View more whipping siphon gelatin foam recipes, read my guide to modernist foams to learn about foams in general, or how to measure modernist ingredients for more information on ratios.
Agar Whipping Siphon FoamsTop
Agar foams are made from an agar fluid gel. They typically range from light, coarse foams to dense, fine foams. One big benefit of agar foams is that they can be used in hot or cold preparations so you will often see them on savory, hot dishes.
To make an agar foam, combine a liquid with agar using an immersion or standing blender, bring it to a boil for 3 to 5 minutes, then let it cool into a gel. Blending that gel turns it into a fluid gel. This fluid gel is added to the whipping siphon which is sealed and charged.
The more agar you use the denser the resulting foam will be. For light foams, a ratio of 0.3% to 1.0% works well. For denser foams 1.0% to 2.0% is recommended. You can also add gelatin, locust bean gum, or xanthan gum to change the density and coarseness of the foam.
For additional information about hydrating, dispersing, and using agar my guide on how to use agar.
Xanthan Gum Whipping Siphon FoamsTop
Xanthan gum is a very common foam stabilizer. It works by thickening the liquid being foamed which helps to trap the bubbles. Most xanthan gum foams are light and frothy, though xanthan gum is also often used for denser foams in conjunction with another ingredient such as gelatin or agar.
Making a xanthan gum foam is very easy. Simply blend the xanthan gum into the liquid you want to foam. Place the liquid into a whipping siphon, seal, and charge. Xanthan gum foams can be used hot or cold, though they are a little firmer when cold.
For xanthan gum foams, a ratio between 0.2% and 0.8% is typically used. The more xanthan gum you use the denser the foam will be.
Examples of Whipping Siphon Xanthan Foams
For additional information about hydrating, dispersing, and using xanthan gum my guide on how to use xanthan. View more whipping siphon xanthan gum foam recipes, read my guide to modernist foams to learn about foams in general, or how to measure modernist ingredients for more information on ratios.
How to Infuse Liquid with a Whipping SiphonTop
Using the whipping siphon to infuse liquids is one of my most common uses for it. It can infuse any liquid but the big 3 I normally infuse are vinegar, alcohol, and oil. Many infusions can be accomplished through traditional, time-based infusions but using the whipping siphon speeds this process up from several days (or even months) to just a few minutes.
To infuse a liquid, add it to a whipping siphon along with a strongly flavored herb, spice, or hot pepper. Seal the siphon and fully charge it with N2O. Let it sit for 1 to 2 minutes then vent the air and open the siphon. Let the liquid sit for 5 to 10 minutes to finish infusing then strain it. It's now ready to serve.
Using a whipping siphon to create infusions is the fastest and most time efficient method. Infusing liquids usually takes only 1 to 5 minutes, with even the most intense infusions only taking up to an hour. That is several days or even weeks faster than most traditional infusions.
This technique uses the high pressures inside a whipping siphon to force the liquid into the solids, enabling it to extract the flavors. When the pressure is released, the liquid is removed from the solids, extracting more flavor, as well as leaving some of its flavor behind.
A whipping siphon infusion cannot fully duplicate the more complex flavors of a traditional infusion, but often it can be a great substitute. In addition, the quick extraction of flavors by the whipping siphon can accomplish some things that traditional infusions cannot. Whipping siphon infusions tend to be more delicate, herbal, and aromatic. This method also works well with ingredients that are normally hard to infuse like fragile herbs, nuts, lemon grass and ground spices like a pro.
For more in-depth material on How to Use a Whipping Siphon or What Type of Whipping Siphon Should I Buy check out these blog posts. If infusions in general peak your interest, check out my modernist techniques article on Infusing Liquids and Foods. Also my Infusions book would be a good option for a more thorough look into infusions, including sous vide, traditional and whipping siphon, along with more than 140 recipes. Check out our top recipes and articles for making interesting and unique whipping siphon infusions below!
Examples of Whipping Siphon Infusions
View more whipping siphon infusion recipes.
How to Infuse Food with a Whipping SiphonTop
The process of infusing liquids with a whipping siphon also transfers flavor to the food used in the infusions. With strong spices, herbs, and flavors the infused liquid isn't enough to overpower the original flavor, but with more mild foods the result can shine. The whipping siphon can be used to quick pickle cucumbers or onions, infuse raisins or dried cherries with rum, marinate meats, and create many other flavorful dishes.
Infusing foods with flavor is similar to infusing liquids, except you want the liquid to be more flavorful than the food. Place the food and liquid into the whipping siphon and seal it. Charge the siphon and let the food sit for around 15 to 30 minutes. Vent the siphon and then serve the food.
My favorite infusions are ones that both the liquid and the food can be used afterwards. For instance, my spiced rum-infused raisins recipe creates both boozy, flavorful raisins but also a wonderfully complex raisin-infused rum.
Examples of Whipping Siphon Infused Foods
View more whipping siphon infused food recipes.
How to Carbonate with a Whipping SiphonTop
When carbon dioxide is used instead of nitrous oxide in a whipping siphon it will carbonate any liquids in the siphon. This can be used to make homemade sodas, sparkling soups, or refreshing cocktails. However, it will also carbonate any liquid inside foods. This works especially well with watermelon and grapes, creating fizzy, bite-sized treats that are really fascinating.
Carbonating with a whipping siphon is a pretty simple process. The food or liquid is added to the siphon. The whipping siphon is then fully charged and left in the refrigerator for several hours. After the siphon is vented the food remains carbonated and can be served.
The exact amount of time needed will vary on the type of food you are trying to carbonate. Most liquids take one to two hours while fruits and vegetables can take up to twelve hours.
Carbonation works much better on cold foods and the food will stay carbonated for usually 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the type of food. When carbonating, make sure to use CO2 charges because the CO2 stays in foods longer. N2O escapes almost immediately, leaving a foam behind but no carbonation.
For faster carbonating you can clear out the air from the whipping siphon. To do this, after you seal the siphon, hold down the dispenser to vent the gas right away as you charge it with a CO2 cartridge. This will
take most of the air out of the siphon. You can then charge the siphon normally and the time needed to carbonate will be reduced.
Examples of Whipping Siphon Carbonation
View more whipping siphon carbonation recipes.
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Whipping Siphon
This article is by me, Jason Logsdon. I'm an adventurous home cook and professional blogger who loves to try new things, especially when it comes to cooking. I've explored everything from sous vide and whipping siphons to pressure cookers and blow torches; created foams, gels and spheres; made barrel aged cocktails and brewed beer. I have also written 10 cookbooks on modernist cooking and sous vide and I run the AmazingFoodMadeEasy.com website.
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