Is baking powder the same as baking soda? Can you clean with both?

Bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and baking soda are thought by most to just be three different names for the same thing. Experienced and amateur bakers alike often confuse the products due to their similar names and appearances. Express.co.uk explains the difference between baking powder and baking soda – and what they can be used for.

Is baking powder the same as baking soda?

In short, no. Baking powder and baking soda are two different things.

Baking powder is made from a mixture of baking soda, cream of tartar (a kind of dry acid), and a bit of cornstarch to stop the two from causing a chemical reaction.

Unlike baking soda, baking powder doesn’t need an acidic ingredient in the recipe for the ingredient to work.

Since it already has an acidic element in its composition, all you have to do is add a liquid and the baking powder starts working.

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There are also two types of baking powder, single acting and double acting.

Single acting baking powder reacts fully once it’s combined with a liquid, while the most commonly used kind is double acting.

Double acting baking powder works in two steps, once when you combine it with a liquid and then again when it’s heated up.

Since baking powder is made from a concoction of ingredients, it’s not quite as strong as its soda counterpart.

Baking soda’s main use is, as the name suggests, in baking cakes or soda bread.

Bicarbonate is a vital ingredient which causes foods to rise when they’re in the oven, without which we’d be looking at flat cakes forever.

In addition, it is a super effective chemical in an array of other situations.

Bicarbonate of soda makes an excellent, natural deodoriser and a gentle abrasive, making it a top cleaner.

Can you clean with baking soda and baking powder?

There’s no rules to say you can’t use baking powder for cleaning, but it doesn’t make much sense.

Baking powder is a weakened form of soda, which means you’d need to use much, much more to get the desired results.

With that logic, it’s more sensible to buy baking soda in its purified form for your cleaning and household needs.

And, you’re much more likely to get a better result by using baking soda than its diluted powder partner.

source: express.co.uk