Bicarb of soda in food?

chinatown_2

I thought it was for cleaning. Is my recipe right?
And where would I find it in the supermarket? Cleaning or baking aisle?

Pink.

Hi chinatown,

Yes, bicarb of soda can be used in baking. You'll find it in the baking aisle...it's sometimes labelled as baking soda.

Pink

chinatown_2

Baking soda? Is that the same as baking powder? I have some of that in my cupboard already.

MrsBartolozzi

Yes it's ok, bicarb is in baking powder, and produces CO2 when cooked which makes cakes light and fluffy (all those bubbles). It can usually be found in the baking section in small tubs, but more shops are also selling larger packs in the cleaning aisles, but I am not sure these are food grade?
It depends on what you are using it for, I believe it's been said somewhere on the OS board that you can buy it at Chinese supermarkets in bulk cheaper.?

HTH MrsB.

Oh and baking powder is 2 parts cream of tartar/1 part bicarb

chinatown_2

Just looked at my tub. Its Super Cook baking powder and has sodium hydrogen carbonate in it. This it?

Gingernutmeg

Bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and baking powder are different things, I think - baking powder is baking soda mixed with tartaric acid (cream of tartar). You can interchange them but you might not get exactly the same results ... I think the tartaric acid in baking powder provides the acidity you need for a strong bubbly reaction. If the mixture isn't *that* acidic, you might not get quite the same rise if you just use bicarb ... I think lol.

chinatown_2

Excellent thank you!
No idea even what Im making. Just know its a banana and apple loaf, dont know if its cake or what lol. I'll have a look in sainsburys later. Thanks everone.

Pink.

Baking powder and bicarbonate of soda are definitely different things and I don't think that they can be interchanged. You can add cream of tartar to bicarb to make baking powder. These threads might help:

Bicarbonate of soda/baking powder?

Bicarbonate of Soda

Pink


Edit, just found this online: Difference between baking soda and baking powder

meanmarie

In my part of the world we call bicarbonate of soda bread soda and use it with buttermilk when making soda bread...baking powder can be used with fresh milk so there is a difference that some of you more scientific persons can explain

Marie

kippers

I made a banana cake/loaf last week and the ingredients said bicarb was required but i ddn't have any so i just left it out and my cake was still lovely.

Mellika

Baking SODA and Baking POWDER are different things, but they're both used for cooking. Some recipes ask for both.