Baking Soda or Baking Powder?

My Mom taught me how to bake when I was growing up. It’s one way to enjoy top quality desserts without breaking the bank. Now that I’m getting older and my metabolism has slowed down, I’m also able to cut calories while keeping flavor. I’m even changing old recipes to make them healthier. It’s one of the reasons I included a Cheap Meals/Recipes category on this blog.

At one time or another, anyone who bakes wonders why some recipes call for baking soda and others for baking powder. I’ve even had some that called for both. Most of us haven’t a clue as to what the difference is.

My grandson came in covered in bug bites today so I went to the Arm and Hammer Baking Soda site to see if they could help. They didn’t say anything about bug bites but did explain the difference between baking soda and powder. According to Arm & Hammer:

“ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda is 100% pure sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda and various acidic ingredients. Both baking soda and baking powder are used in baking to help dough rise, (for leavening). ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda will react in combination with acidic ingredients in a recipe (like cream of tartar or lemon juice) to release the carbon dioxide that causes dough to rise. Baking powder, which already contains the acidic ingredients to make the carbon dioxide producing reaction, is used in recipes without other acidic ingredients.

As they are fundamentally different products, you may not substitute ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda for baking powder in a recipe. You can, however, make a baking powder substitute using ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda. To make the equivalent of 1 teaspoon baking powder, mix 5/8 teaspoons of cream of tartar with 1/4 teaspoon ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda.”

That solves a long standing kitchen mystery. As for my grandson, I made a thin paste of Baking Soda and water and put it on his bites. The swelling went down and they looked 100% better in about 20 minutes. This is one time I’m glad I followed my instincts.

If you want to know more uses for baking soda, please head over to the Arm & Hammer site. I highly recommend it. :0)

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Tags: Arm & Hammer, Baking, Baking and Confections, Baking powder, baking soda