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200 Proof
Food Grade Ethanol

by Culinary Solvent

Culinary Solvent is pure, 200 proof, food grade ethanol.  Our 200 Proof USDA Certified Organic Alcohol is inspected and certified by MOFGA.org.

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What Is 200 Proof Food Grade Ethanol?

"200 proof food grade ethanol", also known as pure ethyl alcohol, represents the highest purity level of ethanol available, with a composition of 100% alcohol and no water content. This classification ensures that it meets stringent food safety and quality standards, making it safe for consumption and ideal for a wide range of applications from culinary uses like flavor extraction and food preservation to pharmaceutical and laboratory applications, food grade ethanol's versatility and utility is unsurpassed.

food grade ethanol molecule

200 Proof? Ethanol vs Ethyl Alcohol? Food Grade vs Undenatured?

  • 200 Proof: This term, always rounded up from not more than 0.04%, means "100% alcohol", however alone does not signify "100% ethanol".  Always read the label and online listing to ensure that your 200 proof product contains only "ethyl alcohol", and does not list any additives representing any other percentage in the solution. 
    Good to Know:  Culinary Solvent 200 Proof contains only ethyl alcohol (99.97%-99.9%) and zero additives.
  • Ethanol vs Ethyl Alcohol: Ethyl alcohol is the proper chemical term for the alcohol generally regarded as safe for consumption and topical application.  Ethanol is common term always representing "ethyl alcohol".  "Alcohol" is a term that can represent "ethanol", but also "isopropyl" (rubbing alcohol), "methanol", or blends of many different alcohols. 
    Good to Know:  Culinary Solvent contains only pure Ethyl Alcohol, and offers no varieties with additives or other alcohol blends for confidence every time.
  • Food Grade vs Undenatured:  Both terms mean "Contains zero additives" and is the opposite of "denatured" alcohol.  "Food Grade Ethanol" is always undenatured alcohol.  Alcohol labeled as "Food Grade" adheres to strict materials and food process steps. 
    Good to Know: Culinary Solvent 200 proof Food Grade Ethanol is safe for skin and body.

Alcohol terminology can be complex, and sometimes misleading, potentially resulting in dangerous outcomes. For a better understanding of the different terms used when buying pure alcohol for tinctures, baking, extracts, perfume, shellac, or more explore our "Everything to know about Food Grade Alcohol page to gain expert-level status on these various industry terms.

FAQs

Yes. 200 proof ethanol is safe for herbal tinctures so long as it is labeled as "food grade" and contains "zero additives" (ie "non-denatured"). Culinary Solvent's pure 200 proof food grade ethanol is perfect for herbal tinctures intended to be consumed orally or applied topically to the skin/body.

Yes. Pure, 200 proof ethanol from CulinarySolvent.com makes an excellent perfumers alcohol base. Say "goodbye" to toxic additives found in SDA-40b or other denatured alcohol blends.

Yes. Both terms "undenatured" and "nondenatured" mean zero additives and are used interchangeably to represent pure alcohol products.

200 Proof Alcohol: This means the alcohol is as close to pure ethanol as possible. By definition, 200 proof alcohol is 100% alcohol by volume. However, due to limitations in the distillation process, even the purest alcohol contains a minute amount of water. The TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) allows for a slight variance, so 200 proof alcohol typically contains at least 99.7% alcohol by volume (ABV).

190 Proof Alcohol: This refers to an alcohol solution that contains 95% ethyl alcohol and 5% water. "190 proof" means it is 95% ABV, meaning 95% of the solution is pure ethanol, while the remaining 5% is water and other trace components.

Ethanol is an alcohol, but not all alcohols are safe for consumption, like ethanol. Products labeled as "200 proof alcohol" may contain other blended alcohols rendering them denatured, while still containing 100% alcohol by volume, just not 100% food safe ethyl alcohol. Always read the label and listing, when in doubt, reach out to the supplier.

Ordering premium, pure, 200 proof food grade ethanol from CulinarySolvent.com is quick and easy. Use the menu at the top of our page to browse our selection of bottles ranging from 2oz to 5 gallons, select USDA certified organic if preferrable, and proceed to checkout using our website powered by Shopify. For more details on how to buy food grade ethanol visit our helpful blog post on the topic here.

Not exactly. While "200 proof" ethanol is often referred to as "100% ethanol," it technically isn't entirely pure due to limitations in the distillation process.

200 proof ethanol is the highest purity achievable in standard distillation and contains at least 99.7% ethanol by volume, with the remaining 0.3% being water or other trace impurities. True 100% ethanol (completely free of water) is extremely difficult to achieve and maintain because ethanol is hygroscopic—it readily absorbs moisture from the air, slowly...like really slowly...

So, while "200 proof" is often considered the practical equivalent of "100% ethanol," in reality, it's closer to 99.7% pure.

Explore the versatility of 200 proof food grade ethanol...