There are many articles on the Internet about the numerous health benefits and different uses of baking soda. You have probably used this ingredient as a part of natural remedies or in the kitchen.
However, there are many people who don’t know the difference between baking soda and baking powder. Even though they seem similar, they are actually very different. Their chemical compositions are different so if you don’t know how to distinguish them, keep reading. We are going to discuss the differences and how to properly use each of them.
Baking soda
Baking soda is much stronger than baking powder. If it is used without being neutralized it gives a metallic taste to the food. So, when you use baking soda while cooking you should add lemon juice or another acidic ingredient such as tartar cream, yogurt, buttermilk, brown sugar or molasses.
Mixing baking soda with acidic ingredient causes a chemical reaction where carbon dioxide is released. So, if you want to use it for baking, add ¼ teaspoon of baking soda for every cup of flour.
Baking powder
Baking powder, on the other hand, is a combination of baking soda, tartar cream and cornstarch. If you use baking powder for preparing dough, the first leavening happens when the powder gets wet and the other when it is heated. For every cup of flour, you should add 1 teaspoon of baking powder.
There are also recipes that require using both baking soda and baking powder. The important thing you should do is to balance these ingredients if you use them together because the acids and carbon dioxide from the baking soda could affect the leavening volume.
Another important thing to have in mind is that you must always use these ingredients fresh because they both have expiration dates. You should buy new every 3 months and test them before you use them. You can do this by mixing 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar and ½ teaspoon of baking soda in a small bowl. Stir the mixture well and if it floods with bubbles the baking soda is fresh and good to use.
We hope we have helped you learn something new today and that now you will be able to tell the difference between these two common household ingredients and use them properly.