Whether you’re a home cook trying to make your recipes better, a health-conscious person looking for some digestive remedies, or a person interested in efficient cleaning methods, knowing the subtle difference between citric acid and Eno can open up a world of useful options.
The comparison between citric acid vs Eno helps in determining which is best for you.
Let’s look at the main features and how they are used in cleaning, cooking, and medicine. and when to use which
What is citric acid?
Citric acid, a weak organic acid with the formula C₆H₈O₇, is a naturally occurring compound in citrus fruits like lemons and limes, giving them their sour taste.
Due to its acidity and property of chelating metals, citric acid is widely used in food formulations as a flavouring, preservative, and cleaning agent. It also finds an application in the cosmetic industry and pharmaceutical drugs.
Key characteristics
- Flavour: acid
- Colour: Not coloured
- Appearance: No coloured crystals or white crystalline powder.
- Composition: compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
- Occurrence: Naturally found in citrus fruits, including oranges, lemons, and limes.
What is Eno?
A well-known over-the-counter antacid brand, ENO is known for its effervescent tablets. Its main constituents are sodium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, and citric acid.
The carbon dioxide gas produced by the reaction of these substances when dissolved in water helps balance out excess stomach acid.
ENO is mainly used in treating acidity and associated symptoms, including gas, indigestion, and heartburn. It helps in digestion and neutralises excess stomach acid.
Key characteristics
- Taste: Generally, it has a tangy or citrussy or lemony taste.
- Colour: It’s usually orange or pale-yellow powder.
- Appearance: This is a fine powder and is in larger containers or in sachets individually.
- Composition: The basic composition includes anhydrous sodium carbonate, citric acid, and sodium bicarbonate.
- Occurrence: Reckitt Benckiser manufactures and markets the antacid drug Eno.
Applications: Citric acid vs Eno
Cooking uses of citric acid
- Baking: Baking soda and citric acid, when combined, produce carbon dioxide gas. This provides for the rise in baked items. It also gives a tangy feel to cakes and cookies.
- Tenderise meat: The citric acid can tenderise the meat by breaking the tough fibres of the meat.
- Adds sourness: Citric acid has a bright acidic taste, which, when given to the food, gives it more complexity and is refreshing.
- Balances sweetness: It can make sweets taste more balanced by balancing out too much sweetness.
- Food preservation: Due to its preserving ability, citric acid is commonly used in jams, syrups, or pickles for preservation
Cooking uses of Eno
- Baked goods: Cake, quick bread, and pancake batter can rise and get lighter and fluffier with a small amount of Eno.
- Instant fermentation: Batter for steamed foods like idli, dhokla, and others can be quickly fermented with Eno. Long fermentation times are not required anymore.
- Crispy fritters: To make the batter for pakoras and fritters very crispy, add Eno.
Medicinal uses of citric acid
- Prevents kidney stone formation: Citric acid decreases the formation of kidney stones, especially potassium citrate, which raises urine citrate levels and lowers the chances of forming calcium oxalate kidney stones.
- Improves digestion: Gastric acid production can be encouraged by citric acid, improving digestion and nutrient absorption.
- Removes toxins: They help in the removal of heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the body by binding to them. It is used in metal poisoning chelation therapy.
- Mouth rinse: It is used to remove plaque and stains in various toothpastes and mouth rinses.
- Skin care: Citric acid, an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), is used in skin care products to help exfoliate dead skin cells and promote healthier, smoother skin.
Medicinal uses of Eno
- Indigestion: Eno can calm indigestion caused by overeating, spicy foods, or other forms of dieting mistakes.
- Heartburn: It is very efficient at reducing the burning sensation in the chest as a result of acid reflux.
- Nausea: It can also help with nausea, especially if it’s caused by overeating or indigestion.
- Reduces gas and bloating: It calms stomach aches by lowering the amount of gas collected in the abdomen and bloating.
Cleaning uses of citric acid
Appliances cleaning: All kettles, coffee machines, and other appliances may be effectively cleaned using citric acid.
Mix this powdered citric acid in water, run the mixture through the machine, and then give it a good rinse.
Deodorising microwave: Citric acid helps remove food particles and dirt from the microwave.
Put the water and citric acid powder in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it for some time on high and then remove it with ease.
Cutting boards and utensils: wooden cutting boards and other kitchen surfaces can be cleaned very effectively with the use of citric acid to remove bacteria.
Prepare the citric acid solution and water. Spray this over the surfaces and then clean them properly.
Bathroom cleaning: Citric acid removes hard water stains on the tiles, showerheads, and faucets.
Scrub and rinse the affected areas after applying a citric acid solution and letting it stay there for a few minutes.
Cleaning uses of Eno
Utensil cleaning: Eno fizzing may work to remove some stubborn spots of pots, pans, or whatever pieces of cooking gear from the kitchen.
Dissolve the packet of Eno in hot water; dip and keep in the solution for ten to fifteen minutes. Rub on; the stains should disappear at once.
Bathroom cleaning: Eno dissolves the deposit of minerals forming in showers and taps, sink basins.
Rub the stained area with a sponge or brush after applying Enthe Enond water mixture and letting it rest for some minutes.
Drain refreshing: Eno works as a marvellous agent to clean and freshen the drain by bubbling action.
Pour a sachet of Eno down the drain, followed by a cup of vinegar or boiling water. Let the mixture fizz away for some time before clearing with more hot water.
Coffee makers and kettles cleaning: Use Eno to remove limescale buildup in coffee makers and kettles.
Add a sachet of Eno to the machine and run it using water for one cycle. Rinse well.
When to Use Citric Acid?
If you want to enhance the flavour of your recipes and preserve foods like jams, sour cream, and pickles, then citric acid is an ideal option for you.
You can also use it for medicinal purposes, like preventing kidney stones and excreting toxins from your body, and it can also be used inskin care.
Also, to remove stains from bathroom tiles, microwaves, and odours from appliances, use a mixture of citric acid and water.
When to Use Eno?
The main reasons to use ENO are to reduce gas and bloating and to cure digestive problems like heartburn, nausea, and indigestion.
And if you wish to have batter ferment quickly for fast bread or other baked items, Eno can then be used as a rapid-leaving agent.
Eno may also be used to refresh drains and clean bathroom stains and utensils.
Conclusion
Comparing citric acid vs Eno shows that these substances are much more than common household items. Each contributes special qualities to different uses, demonstrating that creativity frequently comes from realising the complexity of seemingly commonplace materials.
ENO excels at quick meal preparation and digestive comfort, whereas citric acid is best at natural preservation and cleaning.