| Home winemakers will often come across an | | | | However, this tablet form of sulfite is not without |
| ingredient or additive called "Campden Tablets." | | | | its drawbacks: |
| What are they exactly, and when should you use | | | | 1. In order to be useful, the tablet needs to be |
| them? | | | | finely crushed before it is can be added to the |
| Originally developed in Campden, England at a | | | | wine. Without crushing, the sodium metabisulfite |
| laboratory that does food safety research, | | | | will not dissolve very well and therefore will not |
| Campden Tablets are used for precise | | | | add much protection. It also should be dissolved in |
| measurement of the preservative sodium | | | | a small amount of warm water which is then |
| metabisulfite. They have been used for decades | | | | added to the wine or juice. |
| in home winemaking activities to prevent oxidation | | | | 2. Campden tablets contain sodium metabisulfite |
| of wine and inhibit bacterial growth. As well, they | | | | which can be a problem for those on a sodium |
| can be used to make a sanitizing solution for | | | | restricted diet. |
| winemaking equipment. | | | | In home winemaking, this tablet form of sulfite is |
| Each tablet contains precisely 0.44 grams of | | | | best used when making small batches of wine in |
| sodium metabisulfite. Due to this precision, a home | | | | one to three gallon sizes. Beyond that, the |
| winemaker can with close accuracy determine the | | | | powder form of potassium metabisulphite is |
| exact amount of sulfite being added to their | | | | preferred. Although precision can only be obtained |
| wines or juices that are meant to be turned into | | | | when using sensitive scales, measuring the |
| wine. Generally, one tablet per gallon of wine is | | | | powder in 1/4 teaspoon sizes is close enough for |
| used when sulfite is called for. One tablet per | | | | the results that are expected. As well, making |
| gallon will provide about 50 parts per million of | | | | sanitizing solutions with potassium metabisulfite is |
| sulfur dioxide. | | | | much easier than with Campden Tablets. |