what is baking soda and cake flour?

Question

is baking powder the same as bicarbinate soda and is cake flour self raising or plain flour??....I have an American recipe and don't understand what these two things are in Australia

Answer 1

No, Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda (alkali) is about four times as strong as baking powder.

Cake flour is a more finely ground flour much like all purpose flour--though it generally has a lower gluten (Protein) content. Gluten is what makes dough stick together--like in bread. Lower gluten flour is flaky like in biscuits and cakes.

Answer 2

Cake flour is different from regular flour. Cake or Pastry
has a high starch content, made finely textured soft-wheat; the flour produces more tender cakes and pastries.

Baking powder is a mix of bicarbonate of soda with cream of Tartar (half and half).

Answer 3

NO they are not the same. This article helps you about the flour :

http://www.joyofbaking.com/flour.html