Everything to Know About Food Grade Ethanol

Culinary Solvent is pure 200 proof food grade ethanol.  Ethanol and "ethyl alcohol" are the same.  While ethanol is an "alcohol", not all alcohols offer the food safe properties of ethyl alcohol.  Use the information on this page to understand more about food grade ethanol terms, varieties, raw material considerations, and other important components to when making a decision on where to buy 200 proof food grade ethanol for your next project or recipe.

Food Grade Ethanol vs "Beverage" Alcohol

Food grade ethanol and beverage alcohol both contain only ethyl alcohol.

Proof: Food Grade Ethanol is available up to 200 proof.  Beverage alcohol is available up to 190 proof.  Some states limit beverage alcohol to 151 proof.

Additives:  Food Grade Ethanol contains only ethyl alcohol.  With the exception of "vodka" or "neutral grain spirits", beverage alcohol always contains other ingredients also called congeners, natural or otherwise, which provide flavor, aroma, color, and character.  

Available Sizes: Food Grade Ethanol is available in pints, quarts, gallons, and bulk jugs up to 55 gallon drums.  Beverage alcohol is limited to a maximum size of 1.75liters.

What is Food Grade Ethanol? Understanding "undenatured" or non-denatured ethyl alcohol.

Undenatured Food Grade Ethanol is ethyl alcohol that contains zero additives (denaturants), and which has been processed using systems and recipes that maintain food safe conditions for use in products that are consumed or applied directly to the skin.  Ethyl alcohol is also known as "Ethanol" and is one of many types alcohols, but only ethyl alcohol is regarded as safe for consumption and topical application.  Undenatured and "non-denatured" are synonymous.

The Significance of "Food Grade" Ethanol

Ethanol labeled as "food grade" is produced and processed under strict regulations to ensure it's safe for human consumption. This designation means it contains no harmful impurities or additives and is suitable for use in food products, tinctures, and personal care items. 

Denatured Alcohol is not Food Grade Ethanol

Denatured alcohol and food grade ethanol are both forms of ethyl alcohol, but they serve vastly different purposes due to their composition and safety profiles. Denatured alcohol, as the name suggests, is ethanol that has been mixed with additives to render it poisonous, bad-tasting, foul-smelling, or nauseating, deliberately making it unsuitable for human consumption. These additives, which can include methanol, isopropanol, and other synthetic chemicals, are added to prevent the misuse of the ethanol in beverages, and allowing it to be sold without the alcohol taxes that apply to drinking alcohol. This makes denatured alcohol a common choice for industrial, cleaning, and fuel applications where the toxic additives do not interfere with the intended use.

Takeaway: Denatured alcohol is not food grade ethanol.  Learn more about denatured alcohol suppliers and denatured alcohol alternatives on our About denatured and non-denatured alcohol page.

How to confirm your alcohol is "Food Grade Ethanol"

Read the Listings and the Labels

• Look for the words "ethyl alcohol" or "ethanol".  Only ethyl alcohol should be used in applications that will be consumed or applied to the skin.
• Look for the words "200 proof" or 100% ABV.  Look for other words that are not "ethyl alcohol" followed by a number and a % sign, as an indication that the alcohol is not pure ethyl alcohol.
• Look for the mention of "denatured".  If you see this word listed anywhere in the title or the product description, then additives have been added to the alcohol.  If making a final product that will be consumed or applied to the skin, do not use denatured alcohol.

Consider the Source of the Ethanol

If you are shopping purely by price, be aware of scammers that can offer regulated products listed as pure or additive free on ecommerce platforms that sell "everything" to everyone.  Specifically, people that buy food grade ethanol on eBay or amazon in the name of finding the best deal possible should do extra due diligence into the supplier of the alcohol to ensure purity and quality standards are met.   

Look up the Brand, and Read the Reviews.

The internet and social media platforms make looking up the reputation of a brand instantaneous.  Visit the homepage of the brand, check the last time they updated their social media accounts, search reddit or Quora for firsthand experiences with the product and ordering process, and lastly read the reviews of customers who have made purchases from the supplier.

Ask for a Certificate of Analysis (COA)

• Request a Certificate of Analysis for the product which states the components contained within the product down to the parts per billion. 
• Ensure that your product contains only "Ethyl Alcohol".  If 200 Proof the ABV of ethyl alcohol should read between 99.96% and 99.98%.
• Seek percentages of other impurities or other alcohols listed such as methanol, benzene and ensure that amounts listed, if any, fall into the specs.
• Look for the batch designation and ensure that the certificate connects to the product you received.

How Alcohol is Measured: Understanding ABV and Proof

When purchasing food grade ethanol online or exploring various alcoholic products, you'll encounter several terms that describe the alcohol content and quantity. Understanding these measurements is crucial to making informed decisions, especially for applications requiring precise concentrations.

ABV (Alcohol by Volume): ABV stands for "Alcohol by Volume," a standard measurement used worldwide to quantify the amount of alcohol (ethanol) in an alcoholic beverage. Expressed as a percentage, ABV describes how much of the liquid, in a given volume, is alcohol. For example, an ethanol solution with 95% ABV contains 95% alcohol and 5% other components by volume. Food grade ethanol, especially for culinary and medicinal uses, often has a high ABV to ensure purity and effectiveness.

Proof: Originally, "proof" was a British term from a test for the alcohol content of spirits, but it has evolved into a measure of the alcohol content, especially in the United States. In the U.S., proof is calculated as twice the ABV.

Wine Gallons vs. Proof Gallons

Both wine gallons and proof gallons are used for a variety of purposes and are closely connected to one another.  Wine gallons can be used to help measure proof gallons and vice versa.  

Quick Summary

Wine Gallon 

A wine gallon is a measurement of any liquid's total volume.  One wine gallon is equal to 128 fl. oz. or 3.78 liters (L).  Wine gallons are not used to exclusively measure wine.  The term originated in England in the 14th century and was used to measure wine, cooking oils, honey, and more. 

Proof Gallon 

A proof gallon is a measurement of only the ethanol contained in a given volume of liquid.  One proof gallon is equal to one wine gallon of liquid containing only 50% ethanol.  The other 50% is typically water but can technically be any liquid so long as it is not ethanol.

To better understand a proof gallon and how it is used, look at how the proof of a container alcohol is calculated.  ABV refers to alcohol by volume, which is a percentage that, essentially, reflects how much a container of alcohol has been diluted.  For example, 100% ABV means the alcohol has not been diluted at all -- it's 100% alcohol or ethanol; 95% ABV means the alcohol has been diluted with 5% water (or other diluting liquid that is not alcohol) -- the container holds 95% alcohol and 5% water; and 50% ABV is a container of 50% water (diluting liquid) and 50% alcohol.  To identify the proof of a liquid, multiply the ABV by two. 

100 (100% ABV) x 2 = 200 proof

95 (95% ABV) x 2 = 190 proof

50 (50% ABV) x 2 = 100 proof

Thinking back to the proof gallon, it makes sense that a container that is 100 proof is equal to one proof gallon (50% water, 50% alcohol).  Similarly, a 200-proof container of alcohol is equal to two proof gallons, and a 190-proof container of alcohol is 1.9 proof gallons.

One proof gallon is equal to...

One wine gallon at 50% ABV

Two wine gallons at 25% ABV

One half wine gallon at 100% ABV

Why Use Proof Gallons

Because proof gallons measure the amount of ethanol present in a contained volume of liquid, federal excise taxes are calculated based on proof gallons.

Quick Reference for Common Volumes of Liquid as Proof Gallons 

Food Grade Ethanol Begins with Food Ingredients

Food grade ethanol, revered for its purity and versatility, is meticulously crafted from real food ingredients. The source of these ingredients significantly influences both the quality and the characteristics of the final product. Commonly derived from corn, grapes, cane, or wheat, food grade ethanol's origins are as diverse as they are natural. Each source imparts a unique profile to the ethanol, making the transparency of these ingredients crucial for consumers, especially those with specific dietary preferences or restrictions.

Practical Applications of 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol

Pure, 200 proof ethanol is indispensable in a diverse range of applications, each tapping into the chemical's unique characteristics and androgenous-level safety. 

In the cosmetics and beauty industry, it is a vital solvent and preservative, essential for blending ingredients in products like perfumes and lotions and acting as an antiseptic in mouthwashes, surface disinfectant sprays, and hand sanitizers. In the food sector, it enhances flavors and aromas as a solvent in extracts, extends shelf life as a preservative in baked goods, and is used in producing certain food colorings.

Herbal Tinctures for Foragers and Apothecaries

Preserve, concentrate, and increase bioavailability by tincturing your wild sourced botanicals, herbs, roots, stems, seeds, bark, or sap.  Some extractions require water... by starting with pure 200 proof ethanol, diluting your alcohol solution to different lower concentrations (ABV) is a snap. 
Read More: Guide to Alcohol for Herbalists and Apothecaries

Cannabis Tinctures and Extracts

Food grade alcohol makes cannabis tinctures quickly and efficiently.  Leave the alcohol in as a tincture, or evaporate the alcohol away to yield a potent concentrate. 
Read More: Guide to Alcohol Cannabis Tinctures

Cooking, Baking, Confections

Food grade alcohol makes custom flavor extractions, all natural food coloring, and edible paints and decorations. Unlock advanced baking techniques made possible with 200 proof food grade alcohol.

Read More: Chef's Guide to Alcohol for Cooking

Perfume, Cologne, and Body Products

Pure ethyl alcohol is the best alcohol for perfume making, hands down.  Safe for skin and body, natural sustainable organic recipe, simply the best.
Read More: Perfumer's Guide to Perfumers Alcohol

In the pharmaceutical industry, it dissolves active ingredients in medications, serves as a preservative, and disinfects medical equipment and surfaces. 

Artisans and Craftsmen

Artisans and specialists from luthiers seeking the cleanest French polish possible, to additive manufacturers seeking consistent results when handling precision components.  The high purity of 200 proof alcohol offers efficiency and adherence to stringent quality standards across these diverse applications over 190 proof grain alcohol alternatives.