Lye water | SA Health (2024)

FAQs

Lye water | SA Health? ›

Lye water (sometimes called 'Lime Water') is a strong (caustic) liquid that is safe to use in very small amounts in cooking, but it can be dangerous if lye water is swallowed undiluted straight from the bottle. It can cause severe corrosive burns to the throat, oesophagus and stomach with permanent damage if swallowed.

Lye Water is OK for cooking BUT it can burn the mouth, throat and stomach if swallowed straight from the bottle.

A “small” amount, diluted with enough water, is not dangerous at all. The only concern, the difference between “small” and large, is the amount of sodium. Lye is more than half sodium on a dry basis, and too much sodium can be toxic.

Some reports indicate that cancer of the esophagus may develop many years after exposure to sodium hydroxide levels that are high enough to cause tissue damage. But this does not mean that sodium hydroxide itself is a cancer agent.

But ingredients like Lye water, also known as Lihia in Filipino, are part of what ties the entire dish together.

It can cause severe corrosive burns to the throat, oesophagus and stomach with permanent damage if swallowed. Children who have accidentally swallowed lye water have needed urgent medical attention in hospital. By law, lye water must meet strict safety requirements if it is sold for household use.

To raise the pH of the water so that it doesn't have an adverse effect on the pipes and other equipment it comes into contact with. A very small percentage of lye is added to take the water a bit out of the acid range.

Sodium hydroxide is corrosive and irritating to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes but does not appear to cause chronic health effects. Dietary exposure to the chemical is minimal and has been cleared by FDA.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes. If the chemical was swallowed, give the person water or milk right away, unless a provider tells you something different.

It will cause a toxic, chemical reaction. Lye is extremely caustic and can do severe damage. When water and lye are mixed together this is known as a lye solution. This mixing will also cause an exothermic reaction, this means that heat is given off as a byproduct of the chemical reaction occurring.

Is alkaline water and lye water the same? ›

Kansui, also called lye water or alkaline water (枧水 or 碱水 in Chinese) is an alkaline solution used in many cuisines. Kansui is a must-have ingredient for Japanese ramen noodles or Chinese (egg) noodles, giving them the typical yellow tone and elasticity, and most importantly a crispy and bouncy consistency.

In addition, bakers use food-grade lye, which is a higher grade lye with fewer impurities than technical grade sodium hydroxide. The standards for food-grade lye must meet guidelines set by the FDA, ensuring it's safe to use as directed with food.

In the realm of food preparation, lye is used to cure olives, process cocoa, make noodles (similar to ramen), produce hominy (similar to the nixtamalization of corn for masa using calcium hydroxide), make bagels, and bake pretzels, which belong to a class of German/Alsatian baked goods called Laugengebäck.

Having a high pH level, lye water creates chemical reactions that produces different flavours and textures. It is often used in Chinese cooking to make a variety of items from noodles and rice to speciality cakes. Usually you won't even know that lye water is being used as only a very small amount is needed.

Another clue the lye is expired is how it acts when added to water. When lye is added to distilled water, it gets really hot – up to 200 ° F. Expired lye won't get nearly as hot.

So if a recipe requires 1 teaspoon of lye water, simply mix 1/4 teaspoon of baked baking soda with 1 teaspoon of tap water.

Due to its low cost and easy availability, it has also been used to dispose of corpses by criminals. Italian serial killer Leonarda Cianciulli used this chemical to turn dead bodies into soap. In Mexico, a man who worked for drug cartels admitted to having disposed of more than 300 bodies with it.

Lye is primarily used to make pretzels, and it's the reason for their unmistakable shiny, mahogany color. To prepare, shaped pretzels are dipped in a lye bath, then baked in the oven. This method can also be used with rolls or buns. Once lye-dipped pretzels are baked, they're totally safe (and delicious!) to eat.

Limes are a good source of magnesium and potassium, which promote heart health. Potassium can naturally lower blood pressure and improve blood circulation, which reduces your risk of a heart attack and stroke. Research is ongoing on lime compounds called limonins that may be able to reduce cholesterol levels.