Whether you are looking to make your own natural household cleaner, homemade canned foods, or luxurious bath bombs, chances are you will need citric acid. This item can be challenging to find, especially if you do not know where to look. As citric acid has several uses, there is a great chance you can find it in your local grocery store.
Citric acid is located in several different aisles in the grocery store. You can find it based on how you want to use it. If you need food-grade citric acid for cooking, you can find it in the baking aisle. If you need non-edible citric acid, you should find that in the pharmacy or first aid aisle.
Citric acid is a useful ingredient that naturally occurs in citrus fruits. It can also be manufactured. Often, people are put off by the term “acid.” However, it is edible and is used in a variety of different foods and household products. Read on to learn all you need to know about where you can find citric acid at the grocery store.
What Sections of the Grocery Store Have Citric Acid?
Many local grocery stores carry citric acid. It is helpful to know ahead of time where to find citric acid in the grocery store. That way, you do not waste a ton of time searching for a hard-to-find item. Again, consider what you are planning to use it for, as that will dictate where you need to look.
Food-Grade Citric Acid
There are many uses for citric acid. If you plan to use edible, food-grade citric acid, there are two places you can look for it.
The best place to search for citric acid will be in the canning section of your grocery store if it has one. If you see cases of mason jars, lids, and preservatives, chances are you have found the canning section.
The next best place to look would be in the baking section. Within this area of the store, you will want to check near the spices. It is essential to know that citric acid can be found on the shelf under its other name, “sour salt,” so keep your eyes out!
Non-Edible Citric Acid
If you are not planning to use citric acid for something edible, but rather for a cleaner or bath bomb, there is one last place to look in the grocery store.
You can look in the pharmacy or first aid aisle for citric acid. It will most likely be located near the Epsom salts.
Different Stores May Vary
Depending on where you plan to make your purchase, the location of citric acid may vary from store to store. For example, in Walmart, citric acid is located in the canning section, which is at the end of the kitchen tools aisle. In a craft store like Michaels, citric acid would be located in the soapmaking or bath bomb section, near arts and crafts kits.
You may want to give your local store a call before making the trip to ensure that citric acid is in stock.
Types of Stores that Sell Citric Acid
In addition to your local grocery store, other stores stock citric acid as well, including:
- Big box retail superstores (Walmart, Target)
- Craft stores (Hobby Lobby, Michaels)
- Health food stores (Whole Foods, Grassroots Market)
- Drug stores and Pharmacies (CVS, Rite Aid)
- Vitamin stores (Vitamin Shoppe, GNC)
You could also try looking at a restaurant supply store, baking supply store, or wine and beer-making supply store. These stores often have citric acid available in bulk, but it is always best to call ahead of time to ensure the amount you need is in stock.
It is also possible for citric acid to be purchased online, both in small amounts or in bulk. Websites like Amazon, Bulk Apothecary, and Nuts.com all carry citric acid. Remember, if you are using citric acid for something consumable, purchase food-grade citric acid.
How Much Does Citric Acid Cost?
When preparing for your purchase, you will want to know how much you will be spending on citric acid. Usually, the cost depends on how much citric acid you need. For example, a 14.8-ounce container of citric acid costs anywhere from around $5 to $8, depending on the retailer.
You can also buy citric acid in bulk, starting from 1 pound to over 2,000 pounds. The more citric acid you buy, the lower the cost is per pound.
For example:
- 5 pounds of citric acid costs an average of $15 ($3/lb)
- 50 pounds of citric acid costs an average of $75 ($1.50/lb)
Also, keep in mind that if you need more than 10 pounds at once, you will likely need to order it online. Most brick-and-mortar stores will not have more than 10 pounds in stock available for purchase at one time.
Why Would You Need to Buy Citric Acid?
Citric acid is a weak organic acid that naturally occurs in citrus fruits, mainly lemons, and limes. It is edible and has many practical everyday uses. It can be used as a preservative, flavoring, and emulsifier.
While it can be extracted from citrus fruits, this method can be expensive. In 1917, a food chemist named James Currie discovered a cheaper way to make citric acid through fermentation. When supplying a common black mold—Aspergillus niger—with sugar, the sugar metabolizes and forms citric acid.
Packaged foods, drinks, medications, and cleaning products are made using the manufactured form of citric acid—not the one that you find in nature.
Different Forms and Purposes of Citric Acid
Citric acid comes in two forms: monohydrate and anhydrous forms. Monohydrate contains water, whereas the anhydrous form does not have water and therefore has a more powdery texture. Check if your recipe to determine if one form is preferred over the other. If one is not specified, either form should work for what you need.
There are a variety of uses for citric acid, including:
- Food and drink additives
- Household cleaning products
- Medicines and supplements
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Bath bombs
Citric acid can be used to add flavor to foods and drinks, given its sweet and sour taste. You might find it in soft drinks, candies, alcohol, and even ice cream! It also serves as a preservative to keep jarred and canned foods fresher over long periods of time.
Citric acid can act as a cleaning agent and deodorizer in everyday household cleaners, soaps, and detergents. It can break down limescale and can be used as a water softener. Often, certain drugs and supplements will contain citric acid in order to kill bacteria and lower or remove the acid in your urine to prevent kidney stones.
Citric acid removes dead skin cells and reduces visible wrinkles and scars. It also helps balance pH levels and extends the shelf life of certain products. It can be found in many cosmetic and personal care products. One of the main ingredients in bath bombs is citric acid. Its reaction with water and baking soda causes the bath bombs to fizz!
Conclusion
Hopefully, you feel more prepared for your visit to the grocery store for citric acid. It can be hard to find things in a large grocery store, especially when they are small, niche items like citric acid. It is best to plan ahead.
You can make many household items using citric acid, so it has many locations at the grocery store. Whether you want to make fizzy bath bombs, flavor your drinks, or add a preservative to your homemade jarred tomato sauce, citric acid is the answer. Be sure to use food-grade citric acid when you are working with food or drink.
