Plain water is the right answer to almost every drink question, and it’s the one people ignore, because it’s boring. Infused water recipes exist to fix that one problem. A few slices of fruit or a handful of herbs turn a glass of water into a drink with a smell, a color and a reason to pick it up.
These five infused water ideas take five minutes of work and rely on time in the fridge.
Quick answer: For fruit infused water, add about 1 cup of sliced fruit or a few herb sprigs to 2 quarts of cold water, refrigerate 2 to 4 hours, then serve over ice. Wash the produce first, keep the pitcher cold, and drink it within a day or two.
Ingredients (strawberry basil)
- 2 quarts cold water
- 1 cup sliced strawberries
- 6 to 8 basil leaves
- ½ lemon, thinly sliced
- Ice
How to make infused water
- Wash everything under running water. The FDA says not to use soap, and to scrub firm produce with a clean brush.
- Slice the strawberries and lemon.
- Put the fruit in a pitcher and tear the basil once.
- Add the water, stir gently, and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
- Serve over ice.
Five infused water combinations
| Combo | Fruit and herbs for 2 quarts | Infuse |
|---|---|---|
| Strawberry basil | 1 cup strawberries, 6 basil leaves, lemon slices | 2 to 4 hours |
| Lemon mint | 1 lemon sliced, 8 mint leaves | 2 hours, remove lemon after |
| Orange and ginger | 1 orange sliced, 4 thin slices ginger | 3 to 4 hours |
| Cucumber lime | ½ cucumber sliced, 1 lime sliced | 2 to 3 hours |
| Watermelon mint | 2 cups cubed watermelon, 6 mint leaves | 2 hours |
Why does lemon get removed? The white pith under the peel turns bitter over time. Orange does too, but more slowly, which is why the orange version tolerates a few extra hours.
Tips for infused water that tastes like something
- Bruise, don’t blend. Tear herbs and press soft fruit lightly with a spoon. That releases flavor without clouding the pitcher.
- Use a lot more than you think. A single slice of lemon in a glass of water is decoration. A whole lemon in a pitcher is flavor.
- Freeze fruit as ice. Frozen strawberries or grapes chill the water and release flavor as they thaw.
- Use a glass pitcher. Plastic holds on to smells from the last batch.
- Fresh, not forgotten. Strain out the fruit after a day. Soft, wilted fruit doesn’t taste good and doesn’t look good.
Variations
- Sparkling infused water: pour the infused water half and half with sparkling water just before drinking.
- Frozen fruit version: use frozen raspberries or mango chunks, which also work as the ice.
- Warm infused water: it works with citrus and ginger, but isn’t a cold drink.
How infused water replaces your can of soda
It’s honest to say that infused water doesn’t replace everything a soda does. It’s not sweet. It has no caffeine. It has no fizz unless you add it. What it does give you is cold, color, a flavor you can smell, and something to sip in a glass at your desk.
So start with what you’re actually missing. If it’s the sweetness, make strawberry or watermelon versions, which have more natural fruit taste. If it’s fizz, use the sparkling variation. If it’s a drink to hold, a tall glass with ice and mint is enough.
The CDC says one 12-ounce can of soda has more than 10 teaspoons (about 42 grams) of added sugar, and that sugary drinks are the leading source of added sugar in the US diet. A pitcher of infused water has no added sugar at all, so you can drink as much as you like of it and keep a stock of it in the fridge for the moments when you’d have opened a can.
Put it on your Swap Shelf
Pitcher drinks work because they’re already there when you reach for the fridge. In FizzFree, add your infused water to your Swap Shelf and tap whether the swap worked.
FizzFree is a habit tracker and not medical advice. If you have a health condition or take medication, talk to your doctor before changing what you drink.
Questions
How long should fruit infuse in water?
Two to four hours in the refrigerator is enough for most fruit and herbs. Citrus can turn bitter the longer it sits, because of the white pith, so take the slices out if you're keeping the pitcher longer.
How long does infused water last?
Keep it covered in the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below, which the FDA gives as the temperature for perishable produce, and plan to drink it within a day or two. Fruit that's gone soft or slimy means it's time to start fresh.
Does infused water taste like anything?
It tastes faint, more like a hint than a juice. That's the point. If you want more flavor, crush the fruit lightly before adding water, use more of it, or leave it overnight.
Do I need to wash the fruit?
Yes. The FDA says to wash all produce under running water before preparing it, to scrub firm produce such as melons and cucumbers with a clean brush, and not to use soap or produce wash.
Can I make it fizzy?
Infuse in still water first, then top each glass with sparkling water. Fruit left sitting in sparkling water goes flat in the pitcher, so add the bubbles when you pour.
FizzFree is a habit tracker and not medical advice. If you have a health condition or take medication, talk to your doctor before changing what you drink.