What is baking soda?
Baking soda is bicarbonate of soda and is a prime ingredient in baking powder. It is akaline in nature, and when combined with an acid, it creates carbon dioxide bubbles, giving rise to doughs and batters.Baking soda and baking powder are not interchangeable in recipes.
Since it reacts with water, baking soda should be mixed thoroughly with dry ingredients before adding liquids. This will insure even leavening. Baking soda alone is normally used when sour milk, buttermilk or other acidic liquid is used in the recipe.
Although baking soda was once added to water when boiling green vegetables to preserve color, it is now known that this process destroys vitamin C content, so ignore that old wives' tale.
More About Leaveners:
• What is yeast?• What is baking soda?
• What is baking powder?
• What is sourdough?
• Leavener History
• Yeast Bread Recipes
• Breadmachine Recipes
• All Bread Recipes
Baking Soda Leavener for Baking Photo © 2009 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Cookbooks
| • | Artisan Baking |
| • | Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day |
| • | The Bread Baker's Apprentice |
| • | How Baking Works |
| • | More Cookbooks |
