Baking soda and baking powder look the same , sense the same , and voice the same , but swear us : They are not the same .

Can you substitute baking soda for bake powder or vice versa ? Kind of . To do so , you ’ll need a square understanding of the chemical reactions produced by each as well as other ingredients to supplement the swap . In other watchword , it’spossible , but not for beginners . So do yourself a favor and just keep both in the closet .

BAKING SODA

bake pop , also known as hydrogen carbonate of washing soda , is a chemical compound made of flyspeck white crystallization . If you imagine back to chemistry year , baking washing soda is basic ( that is , the opposite of acidic ; not the other thing , hail on ) . When it comes into inter-group communication with Elvis like those in acetum , stinker juice , yogurt , or buttermilk , it like a shot start up foaming , make carbon dioxide bubbles . Those bubble help give cosmetic surgery , or leaven , to baked goods . Baking soda ’s grit also makes it an amazingly versatile cleanup product .

Good for : scientific discipline fair projection , fancy Easter eggs , eliminating fridge odour , extra - scrubby toothpaste , house cleanup , pancakes , and gem

Not great for : Recipes with no acidic component

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Watch out for : Using too much . A leaden bridge player with the baking soda could result in a violent volcanic eruption or a metal taste in your adust goods .

When to make it out : After three month , or when a half - teaspoonful shake into vinegarfails to bring forth house of cards .

BAKING POWDER

Baking powder is broil soda get hold of to the next level . It ’s a blend of bake pop and two acids : monocalcium orthophosphate and either Na acid pyrophosphate or sodium aluminium sulphate . The two pane lay dormant in the baking powder until two things chance : First , the gunpowder is added to a wet mixing , which sets off a reaction between monocalcium orthophosphate and baking soda . Then , when the batter or whatever is put in the oven , the heat triggers a 2nd reaction between the 2d dose and the baking sal soda . This two - stride leaven is why baking gunpowder is often labeled as double - acting .

Good for : Many , many types of baked commodity . It ’s often used in combination with baking soda .

Not great for : Much else

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see out for : Swapping it out for baking soda

When to switch it out : After three month , or when a half - teaspoon mixed into warm waterfails to start sparkle .

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