Is there any difference between baking powder and baking soda?

Question

I have a bread recipe which requires "baking soda",can I use baking powder?

Answer 1

YES there is a difference.

NO, you can not use baking powder in place of baking soda.

Baking powder is a mixture of baking soda, starch, and at least one slightly acidic compound such as cream of tartar that works as a leavening agent in baking by releasing carbon dioxide when mixed with a liquid, such as milk or water.

Baking soda is pure Sodium Bicarbonate, a naturally occurring white crystalline substance with a number of household uses. When it comes to baking, sodium bicarbonate is the leavening agent that helps turn out light, airy breads and cakes of great heights.

Answer 2

As the previous answers have already pointed out, baking soda and baking powder, while related, are 2 different additives, and they are not generally interchangeable in a recipe. (with one exception, so read on!)

Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, while baking powder combines sodium bicarbonate with an acid (usually cream of tartar) and, often, a starch, which serves as a drying agent.

Because baking soda is a "base" substance (as in acid/base), and baking powder contains an acid, the two substances create a different chemical reaction when mixed with the other ingredients in a recipe.

If your recipe requires baking powder, you CAN NOT substitute baking soda.

If your recipe calls for baking soda, you can safely substitute baking powder, but you'll need more baking powder, and the taste of the food may not be exactly what you expect. (Baking powder is about 1/4 as strong as baking soda).

Hope this helps - there really are no particularly good substitutes for these 2 products. Fortunately, they're both extremely cheap, last for quite some time in the pantry, and are easy to find in any halfway decent grocery store.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Baking is chemistry. DO NOT SUBSTITUTE them for each other. It won't work.
Baking soda is bicarbonate of soda. It can be used alone or with baking powder to leaven breads and cakes. It is activated by mixing with an acid, and it makes LOTS of bubbles.
It's great for lots of things besides baking, like cleaning, using in bath salts, adding to loads of laundry to freshen and help clean, add it to litter boxes to keep odor down, all kinds of things.
Baking powder is more complicated, and can include baking soda, but it doesn't always.
Here is avery good explanation...
http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question57.htm
Hope this helps.

Answer 4

YES there is a difference.
and yes u can use baking powder.
if possible put a pinch of "baking soda" with the baking powder because the recipe requires it, just in case.

Answer 5

Baking Powder is a composite of Baking Soda, (oops) cream of tartar, and Alum.

Answer 6

There sure is.

My sister used to bake cookies a lot, but was also unclear on the difference. Once, when we were out of one, she used more of the other. I think that was the day she invented the pan cookie.

Answer 7

yes

Answer 8

I don't think so....I just think it is that people tend to call them 2 different things!

Answer 9

YES