Bicarbonate of Soda

vivaladiva

I have just got most of the ingredients ready to make some ginger nuts for the kids only to find I've run out of bicarbonate of soda . (What kind of Old Styler am I? I'm only admitting to this very quietly.) Will it matter if I miss it out?

Pink.

I think it might.......bicarbonate of soda is a raising agent and helps to make the ginger nuts look and taste like ginger nuts. I know it's not very moneysaving but it's usually available in corner shops....could you nip out for some?

Pink

Ps if you have any baking soda in the cupboard, that is exactly the same thing.

vivaladiva

I've got baking powder - but the recipe already uses self raising flour. The ginger nuts are more like cookies really. Mighht have to try local shop.

Kiiiiidddds;)

Tondella

I'm not entirely sure why but baking powder and bicarb can't be substituted, bicarb dries things out more for one thing, so you might get fluffy soggy biscuits if you go for the baking powder.

hope it's not raining where you are

vivaladiva

'Tis and it's dark.:rolleyes:

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, all, Chemistry lesson coming right up!!

Baking powder is a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and tartaric acid.

They're all raising agents, but can't be substituted for each other.

Penny. x

Pink.

Hi Penny,

This thread might help with an explanation of why they can't be substituted for each other: Bicarbonate of soda/baking powder?

Pink