13/02/2022
Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder
The surprising differences between Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder and how they work and affect your baking.
What are they?
Baking powder and baking soda are both chemical leaveners that work to create light textures in baked goods – but only when they’re fresh and accurately measured. Although baking powder actually contains baking soda, the two leaveners are very different. So, this post will clear any confusion. The most important note to remember? Baking powder and baking soda are NOT interchangeable because they require different conditions to function.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a natural alkaline ingredient activated by liquid and acid.
Naturally acidic ingredients that will activate baking soda:
-Buttermilk
-Sour cream
-Yogurt
-Lemon juice
-Honey
-Natural cocoa powder
-Brown sugar
-Molasses
There must be some acidic ingredient in the recipe for baking soda to function. Baking soda begins to leaven as soon as it touches liquid so if you wait too long before baking you may notice a decrease in leavening effect. If you use too much baking soda, you may taste an unpleasant metallic flavor in your food. Baking soda also helps add a beautiful browned color to baked goods by elevating pH levels.
Since baking soda must be fresh to work properly, it’s important to switch out your container before the expiration date. However, baking soda can lose its effectiveness even before that date.
Test for freshness
Placing a 1/4 teaspoon baking soda in a bowl and pour 1 teaspoon of distilled vinegar on top. If the baking soda immediately bubbles violently, it is fresh. If nothing happens, throw away the baking soda and buy a new package.
Baking Powder
Baking powder is a combination of baking soda, acid, and cornstarch. Most baking powder available today is double acting, meaning its first reaction occurs when combined with liquid to help aerate the batter or dough and a second more slow-acting reaction occurs when heated in the oven. Unlike baking soda, baking powder doesn’t require an acid to activate, only moisture, and baking powder batters can be made ahead of time due to that double acting property.
Test for freshness
Place 1 teaspoon of baking powder in a bowl with 1 cup of hot water from the tap. If it bubbles up, the baking powder is fresh. If nothing happens, throw the baking powder away and buy a new container.
Strength
It’s important to understand that baking soda is four times stronger than baking powder. This means 1 teaspoon of baking powder will raise a cup of flour, whereas only a 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda can produce the same effect. Knowing what each leavener requires to function and the strength of each does make it technically possible to substitute baking soda for baking powder, however the reverse is not true. Either way, I do not recommend attempting any substitutions because it is complicated and may ruin your baking project. Plus, both ingredients are so cheap and readily available!
Some recipes call for both baking soda and baking powder in order to have the highest effect of acid neutralizing and leavening powers.
I hope you found this interesting! Happy baking!
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