Methods for reducing cavitation in impulse or drop on demand ink jetting devices are provided. Impulse ink jet compositions including antioxidant are also provided which are suitable for printing clear, well-defined alphanumeric text or low spread, narrow bar width bar codes on porous substrates such as Kraft paper or corrugated cardboard. The antioxidant additive lowers the dissolved oxygen level in the ink, thereby enhancing the jetting performance of the printhead.