Cookbook:Baking Soda
| Baking Soda | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Leavening agents |
Cookbook | Recipes | Ingredients | Equipment | Techniques | Cookbook Disambiguation Pages | Ingredients | Basic foodstuffs | Leavening agent
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda is a chemical leavener.
Characteristics
[edit | edit source]Baking soda is an alkaline ingredient with a very bitter flavor. It reacts with acid to produce carbon dioxide gas that expands existing air pockets,[1] which is what makes it useful as a leavening agent.
Selection storage
[edit | edit source]Baking soda is very stable and keeps for a very long time at or below room temperature and about 75% humidity.[1]
Use
[edit | edit source]Baking soda is used as a leavening agent in many cakes, cookies, pancakes, some breads, and other foods. An acidic ingredient is required to obtain the desired rising effect of baking soda. Commonly used in this role are lemon juice, buttermilk, vinegar, cocoa, molasses, and cream of tartar. It should be noted that batters and doughs containing baking soda are not considered "bench stable" since they start releasing gas as soon as they are moistened and react with acid at room temperature.[2]
Baking soda is also used to neutralize undesired acidity in foods,[3] make noodles like ramen springier, tenderize beans when cooking,[3][4] weaken and tenderize gluten and other proteins,[1] increase spread of cakes and cookies,[1] give shrimp a crispy texture and tenderize meat,[3][5] and increase browning through the Maillard reaction.[1]
Recipes
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ a b c d e "How Baking Soda Works". Serious Eats. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ↑ Labensky, Sarah; Martel, Priscilla; Damme, Eddy Van (2015-01-06). On Baking: A Textbook of Baking and Pastry Fundamentals, Updated Edition. Pearson Education. ISBN 978-0-13-388675-7.
- ↑ a b c "5 Surprising Ways Baking Soda Can Improve Your Cooking". Serious Eats. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ↑ "Why You Should Soak Beans in a Salt and Baking Soda Brine Before Cooking". Serious Eats. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
- ↑ "For Plump and Juicy Shrimp, Reach for the Baking Soda | Cook's Illustrated". www.americastestkitchen.com. Retrieved 2023-12-14.