Hello!

I am familiar with bicarb soda & baking powder but I would like to know what exactly is baking soda?

Posted by anon, 14/10/13

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  • Pretty sure baking sofa is just another name for bicarbonate soda.


  • Its soda bi carb


  • Cool! Really interesting reading the comments to this!


  • I had a google and found this interesting page – http://chemistry.about.com/cs/foodchemistry/f/blbaking.htm

    “Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents, which means they are added to baked goods before cooking to produce carbon dioxide and cause them to ‘rise’. Baking powder contains baking soda, but the two substances are used under different conditions.

    Baking Soda

    Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate. When baking soda is combined with moisture and an acidic ingredient (e.g., yogurt, chocolate, buttermilk, honey), the resulting chemical reaction produces bubbles of carbon dioxide that expand under oven temperatures, causing baked goods to rise. The reaction begins immediately upon mixing the ingredients, so you need to bake recipes which call for baking soda immediately, or else they will fall flat!

    Baking Powder

    Baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate, but it includes the acidifying agent already (cream of tartar), and also a drying agent (usually starch). Baking powder is available as single-acting baking powder and as double-acting baking powder. Single-acting powders are activated by moisture, so you must bake recipes which include this product immediately after mixing. Double-acting powders react in two phases and can stand for a while before baking. With double-acting powder, some gas is released at room temperature when the powder is added to dough, but the majority of the gas is released after the temperature of the dough increases in the oven.”


  • Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate and when added to Cream of Tarter the combination is what is Baking Powder. Baking Powder is added to Plain Flour for baking. Self Raising Flour has this already added.


  • Not to sure but I hope other mums can help you. Good luck.


  • Thank goodness I’m not the only one who isn’t clear on this. Thanks for asking! :)


  • bi carb and baking soad…same thing … baking powder different


  • I think sodium bicarb and baking soda are same.both are sodium bicarbonate.but baking powder is different.


  • there are some good comments here


  • they are different you will find most recipies require both of these


  • I thought bicarb soda and baking soda were the same but baking powder is different


  • these are some good answers


  • There are really good answers below.


  • I don’t have both with me but maybe the ingredients will give you a clue


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