Infused water recipes can be a great way to beat wanting unhealthy sodas and the upcoming summer heat! I’ve included recipes for my favorite infused waters that are easy to make as well as some tips and tricks to get you started.
Infused Water Recipes
What is infused water?
Infused water is what we call water that is flavored with fruit, vegetables and herbs. Allowing the water and flavors of the add-ins gives you an “infused” flavor in the water (chemical and calorie free).
What are the health benefits of infused water?
- Infused water tastes great so you are more likely to drink more and stay hydrated.
- No sugars, chemicals or additives
- Helps you to feel less hunger
How to Make Infused Water
Start with a good pitcher. I recommend avoiding plastic. I recommend using glass. You can do this with a glass water bottle made for dispensing water or mason jars (they come in a variety of sizes if you want to make larger amounts).
How long does it take to infuse water?
You’ll want to let your ingredients and water sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours to really get any flavor. I suggest not leaving fruit, vegetables or herbs in the water more that 10 – 12 hours.
Can I eat the fruit or vegetables after making infused water recipes?
I don’t, that goes into my compost pile.
What is the best fruit. vegetables and herbs for infused water recipes?
First – organic is ALWAYS best. These ingredients will be sitting in your water and you do not want chemical leeching into it.
Fruits for infused water: my favorites are lemons, limes, oranges, strawberries, melon and pineapple.
Vegetables for infused water: I mainly used cucumber.
Herbs for infused water recipes: cilantro, mint and basil are amazing!
Best Infused Water Recipes and Ideas
Here are some delicious ways to infuse your water for awesome flavor. Don’t be afraid to try your own combinations or change things! All of these recipes are based on using a 64 oz glass jar so adjust accordingly.
Lemon Lime Infused Water
Add 4 thick lemon slices and 4 thick lime slices to your jar then fill the remaining space with water (filtered is best). Allow it to sit in the refrigerator at least 2 – 4 hours. Remove your fruit after 12 hours if you have not already consumed all the water.
Pineapple Cilantro Infused Water
I know the combo sounds crazy but I started making this after having a popsicle at a local farmer’s market with these ingredients. Delicious!
Add 1/2 of a small to medium fresh pineapple (I recommend using a pineapple peeler / corer) and 1 – 2 tablespoons of washed & chopped cilantro, then complete by filling in with water. To make it easier to get the herbs out of your water you can put the herbs in cheese cloth. Test the water at 2 hours to see how your flavor is developing. Again, remove solids if you haven’t finished the water at 12 hours.
Cherry Lime Infusion
All the fun flavor of a cherry limeade with no crappy ingredients.
1 cup of pitted cherries, cut in half and 1/2 of a lime sliced (remember to wash the rind of your citrus). Put the cherries and lime in the pitcher and add water.
Strawberry and Watermelon Infused Water
Add 7 – 8 sliced strawberries and about 1/2 – 3/4 cup of diced watermelon to your pitcher and then your water. Lime can be a nice addition to this water as well. Very refreshing!
Cucumber Mint Water
This popular flavor combination is always a winner. You’ll need one medium to large cucumber (use an English cucumber to avoid peeling) and 1 – 2 tablespoons of washed and chopped mint (whole leaves are ok too). Add ingredients and water to your pitcher.
Blueberry Orange Infused Water
For this recipe I used 4 – 5 thick slices of orange and 10 – 12 whole blueberries. You could use lemons instead of the orange or a combination of both to change up the flavor. Fill-in with water.
Raspberry Lime and Basil Water
This is said to be a detoxifying infused water. You need 3/4 – 1 cup of fresh raspberries, 1 lime, sliced and 4 basil leaves (whole or chopped).
I hope these refreshing and delicious recipes for infusing water help you stay hydrated this summer.
Do you make infused water? What’s your favorite recipe? Share in the comments!
