When it comes to cooking, some people face serious challenges. The things get even more convoluted with bakery. When a newbie sees a recipe, they often start wondering: is baking soda and baking powder the same thing? If not, what is the difference between baking soda and baking powder?
If you are one of those puzzled people, trying to figure out the dilemma of baking soda vs baking powder, you are in a right place. Scroll down to answer the tricky question “Is baking powder the same as baking soda?” and find out how to use each.
What is baking soda
Baking soda is also known as sodium bicarbonate – a food supplement that comes under #E500ii. It is used in bakery for making dough more fluffy and soft. It is used in combination with acid. It leads to the reaction of neutralization and the emission of carbon dioxide – gas that makes dough fluffy.
Baking soda won’t work alone. You will get just flat pastry with disgusting soda smack. To prevent such outcomes, slack baking soda with lemon juice or vinegar. Sometimes the abovementioned acids are not indicated in a recipe. It means it already contains sour ingredients – yogurt, cream, fruit juices, chocolate, etc.
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What is baking powder
Baking powder is a mix of soda, acid, and starch/flour in certain parts. Some powders contain several acids. This component for tasty pastry has exactly the same purpose and effect as soda. Chemical reaction produces gas bubbles and makes dough fluffy.
Baking powder is usually comes in recipes that don’t contain acids. There is a common mistake concerning the storage of this product. Very often people keep it in paper packages even after opening. Humid air can trigger reaction inside a package. Before usage, check whether powder produces bubbles when soaked in water.
Baking soda and baking powder difference
You already have the answer to “Is baking soda and baking powder the same?”: it’s not. Now, let’s take a closer look to the difference between baking soda and baking powder. Although, it is not as striking as some expect, using one instead of another can spoil everything.
- Baking soda is one of the components of more complex agent – baking powder.
- Soda is perfect for recipes with acidic/sour ingredients, while it is not an obligatory condition for powder.
- It is better to avoid using powder with honey. This ingredient requires soda.
- Soda is four times more effective compared to powder. If you decide to replace, take 2.5 times more powder than soda, and vice versa.
- Soda doesn’t have expiry term. Powder loses its properties influenced by humid air.
- Soda and powder are interchangeable, but only if used correctly.
- Use as much soda as indicated in a recipe. Otherwise, you’ll get bitter pastry. You won’t have this problem if using powder.
- When using soda, you should start baking immediately due to the instant chemical reaction. For baking powder it is not crucial.
- There is no difference between baking soda and bicarbonate of soda, it’s just another name.
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Emergency situations
So baking soda and baking powder are two different things that can be replaced by each other. But let’s suppose you need to cook something urgently. You are out of necessary ingredients. There is no time for shopping and groceries. So what are you to do?
This is a complicated case, but sometimes there’s a way out. If a recipe includes eggs, it is possible to achieve the same fluffy dough effect. Divide yolks and whites, whisk yolks with sugar into thick foam, add all the ingredients, then add whisked whites.
Baking soda uses
Unlike baking powder uses, soda is more universal product. It can be used with cooking purposes, for cleaning plates and kitchen surfaces, even as a component of medical treatment. The last one, however, requires to be careful and reasonable to avoid unpleasant or tragic outcomes.
- Baking soda for teeth: it has whitening effect and can be an alternative for toothpaste. Remember to use soda only without toothbrush. However, dentists advise to use soda only after consultation.
- Baking soda for hair: it is appropriate for all types of hair and can be used as a component of mortar.
- Baking soda for stomach: it neutralizes detrimental compounds and protects mucosal tunic, normalizes pH balance, and helps to treat several diseases.
