Citric acid is available for purchase through many different types of stores. Where you decide to buy citric acid will depend on what you plan to use it for and how much you want to buy. Citric acid is a weak acid that people and manufacturers often use due to its preservative and chelating properties, and its bitter taste. Citric acid is important for canning, for making cheeses, for making beer at home, and for making candy, and it is an ingredient in some recipes. People also use citric acid for craft projects, for example to make bubble-producing bath salts. They may also be interested in buying citric acid for laboratory experiments. You can buy citric acid in anhydrous or monohydrate form.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Buy Food Grade Citric Acid
Step 1. Determine how much citric acid you need to buy
How much you need will determine where you should buy citric acid. Smaller quantities can usually be purchased at a grocery store, while larger quantities may need to be purchased at a wholesale store or online.
- Check the instructions for your activity or recipe to see how much citric acid they tell you to use for your project.
- Increase the amount of citric acid if you plan to make multiple batches of a recipe or if you want to have enough to repeat the activity. For example, if you plan to use citric acid to make cheese and you want to make your own cheese on a regular basis, you will need to purchase enough citric acid to use it multiple times.
Step 2. Look for citric acid at your local grocery store
Food grade citric acid is usually available as a powder. It's generally best to buy citric acid from a grocery store when you need a small amount, such as a 3 to 5 oz (85 to 140 g) bottle.
- Check for citric acid in the canning section. It is often found near pectin and other canning materials and ingredients.
- Look for citric acid under the name bitter salt in the kosher section or in the spice aisle.
Step 3. Visit health food stores for citric acid
Health food stores often have citric acid and may have a greater variety of sizes available than regular grocery stores. Call the store before you go to make sure they have the quantity you need in stock.
Step 4. Shop at a restaurant supply store
Restaurant supply stores, especially candy or baking supply stores, likely have citric acid. These types of insurance stores will also have quantities available in bulk. If you need enough, check out one of these stores first.
Plan to buy at least 1 pound (0.5 kg) of citric acid. Lesser amounts may not be available
Step 5. Find a store that sells supplies for making beer at home
Homemade beers often contain citric acid, for example, to adjust the acid level in fruit wines. A store that caters to home brewers may also have trained staff who can provide detailed information on how to use citric acid for your particular project.
Step 6. Buy online
Online retail stores sell small to large containers of citric acid, and many online stores sell it by the kilo (or pound). You can avoid having to shop and have citric acid delivered right to your door. If you use citric acid in something you eat, remember to order food grade citric acid.
Keep in mind that shipping costs could make it more expensive to buy citric acid online than at a restaurant supply store or local grocery store. However, online prices per gram (or ounce) are generally more competitive than supermarket prices
Method 2 of 2: Buy Citric Acid for General Use
Step 1. Choose the form of citric acid you want to buy
Citric acid is available as anhydrous and monohydrate. In the anhydrous form it implies that it will not have water and thus the citric acid will be more dusty than in the monohydrate form, which will have water.
- Anhydrous citric acid is commonly used in bath bombs; however, using it in the monohydrate form will also work.
- Unless the project specifies that you use one shape over the other, either should work.
Step 2. Visit craft stores for citric acid
Anhydrous citric acid may be available in the soap making section as it is a common ingredient in bubble bath bombs. Call the store before you go to make sure they have the quantity you need in stock.
Step 3. Purchase citric acid through a chemical supply company
A source of chemicals will give you the most options in terms of grade, texture, quantity, and shape. Read carefully the definitions of the grades that the supplier sells. Many suppliers also create their own grade labels to indicate the quality of the chemical. Citric acid is available in different grades, including:
- Food grade according to the Food Chemical Codex (FCC)
- Grade according to the American Chemical Society (ACS): The substance meets the standards established by the ACS in its publication for reactive chemicals.
- Grade according to the United States Pharmacopeia (USP): The substance meets the specifications in the section "Reagents, indicators and solutions" of the USP.
Warnings
- Use a citric acid that is food grade if you are baking, making candy, canning, cheese, or brewing beer at home. Citric acid that may be suitable for a bath bomb may not be safe for consumption.
- Wear protective gloves to avoid skin irritation when handling citric acid, especially if you have sensitive skin.