Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)

Baking soda, otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, is a fine white powder that is used as a leavening agent. As baking soda is strictly an alkaline compound, it is good to use in recipes which include other acidic ingredients. If a recipe does not contain enough acids, using baking powder is appropriate as it contains its own acid. Many recipes call for both baking soda and baking powder to provide maximum leavening action, but the ratios will depend on the relative acidity of the other ingredients.

When mixed with an acid, baking soda reacts and causes little bubbles of carbon dioxide gas to form throughout the food, expanding the mass. Baking soda works effectively in many recipes for cakes, cookies, pancakes, breads and more.