Baking Soda
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate. When baking soda is combined with moisture and an acidic ingredient (e.g., yogurt, chocolate, buttermilk, honey), the resulting chemical reaction produces bubbles of carbon dioxide that expand under oven temperatures, causing baked goods to expand or rise. The reaction begins immediately upon mixing the ingredients, so you need to bake recipes which call for baking soda immediately, or else they will fall flat!
Some recipes call for baking soda, while others call for baking powder. Which ingredient is used depends on the other ingredients in the recipe. The ultimate goal is to produce a tasty product with a pleasing texture. Baking soda is basic and will yield a bitter taste unless countered by the acidity of another ingredient, such as buttermilk. You'll find baking soda in cookie recipes.
Substituting in Recipes
You can use baking powder in place of baking soda (you'll need more baking powder and it may affect the taste), but you can't use baking soda when a recipe calls for baking powder. Baking soda by itself lacks the acidity to make a cake rise.
However, you can make your own baking powder if you have baking soda and cream of tartar. Simply mix two parts cream of tartar with one part baking soda.
Be sure to check the expire dates on your box of Baking Soda so that you aren’t left with a dish that you end up throwing out. That expired box can go in your fridge when it is no longer good to bake with.
While I have tried other brands of Baking Soda, I always come back to Arm and Hammer. For me it always gives me consistent results. However use the brand you like best.
I tried baking soda and vinegar on my hard water toliet ring yesterday. Saw a youtube video. It didn't get rid of it.
ReplyDeleteI've used it in some recipes. But, I mostly use self rising flour so don't have to.
I use bleach in my toilet. Pour in about 1/2 cup and close lid and let it set for a while. Cheap generic works for that.
DeleteI just recently learned that if you have a pan with milk scum (such as from cooking pudding) that if you soak it with baking soda and cool water the scum will release easily. Makes clean up easy.
ReplyDeleteI haven't tried that, will do so the next time I have milk scum. Thanks
DeleteI only use Arm and Hammer here also. I don't know what it is about the cheaper brands, but they just don't seem to be as good. I also make my own baking powder.
ReplyDeleteLori, I agree, there are just some things you just can't sub a cheaper brand for. I have tried some other brands also but Arm and Hammer seems to work the best for me. I have not tried making my own baking powder.
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