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What's the difference between baking powder and baking soda? |
by Brian Griffin (whyzz writer) >> more about the author
Bubbling Bakers
You can check out the difference between baking powder and baking soda at home with a grown-up (because it could get messy!). You’ll need two cups of water. Baking powder, baking soda and some lemon juice.
Put both cups of water on a tray. In one mix a teaspoon of baking soda, and in the other, mix a teaspoon of baking powder. What happens to each?
In the cup with baking soda, add a couple spoonfuls of lemon juice. What happens to the liquid in that cup? How do you think what happens helps to make a baked good nice and fluffy?
These two common ingredients sound similar, and a lot of people get them confused. They have a similar purpose too! They are both used in recipes to create little tiny air bubbles in dough that will make it rise. When people talk about dough rising, they mean it gets light and fluffy when it is baked.
Baking soda is a chemical called sodium bicarbonate. When mixed with a gentle acid, like citrus juice, a chemical reaction slowly releases air bubbles. It also takes away some of the acidic taste.
Baking powder has baking soda in it, but it also has some other things. It already contains one or more acids. The acids don’t react with the sodium bicarbonate until they are mixed into a batter. When baking powder is added to a mixture, it begins releasing bubbles immediately.
Baking soda and baking powder are different, and you can’t switch them in recipes. You can use baking soda to make baking powder, and there are recipes you can find to do that.
Baking soda is a chemical called sodium bicarbonate. When mixed with a gentle acid, like citrus juice, a chemical reaction slowly releases air bubbles. It also takes away some of the acidic taste.
Baking powder has baking soda in it, but it also has some other things. It already contains one or more acids. The acids don’t react with the sodium bicarbonate until they are mixed into a batter. When baking powder is added to a mixture, it begins releasing bubbles immediately.
Baking soda and baking powder are different, and you can’t switch them in recipes. You can use baking soda to make baking powder, and there are recipes you can find to do that.
Bubbling Bakers
You can check out the difference between baking powder and baking soda at home with a grown-up (because it could get messy!). You’ll need two cups of water. Baking powder, baking soda and some lemon juice.
Put both cups of water on a tray. In one mix a teaspoon of baking soda, and in the other, mix a teaspoon of baking powder. What happens to each?
In the cup with baking soda, add a couple spoonfuls of lemon juice. What happens to the liquid in that cup? How do you think what happens helps to make a baked good nice and fluffy?
