Processed
Baking Soda
Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate—an alkaline chemical leavener that needs acid (buttermilk, yogurt, brown sugar, cocoa, lemon, vinegar) plus moisture and heat to release gas. It browns and tenderises; alone in a low-acid dough it tastes soapy and lifts poorly. Good soda is fine, dry, and fiercely fizzy with vinegar. Open boxes absorb fridge odours and weaken—reseal tightly. Stronger by volume than baking powder; never swap 1:1 without rewriting acids. There is no useful second navigable form for ordinary retail: the product is this powder. Recipes that need soda should slug to baking_soda itself.
Also known as: Bicarbonate of soda
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Characteristics
Preparations
Provenance
Sources
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 1.06 g
- Saturated Fat 0.49 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.2 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.21 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Sodium 18.6 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Total Carbohydrate 87.8 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 86.7 g
- Complex / starch 2.04 g
- Protein 2.12 g
- Water 5.2 g
- Energy 384 kcal
- Water 5.2 g
- Carbohydrates 87.8 g
- Sugars 86.7 g
- Monosaccharides 60.7 g
- Disaccharides 26 g
- Starch 2.04 g
- Amylose 0.51 g
- Amylopectin 1.53 g
- Digestible Starch 1.73 g
- Resistant Starch 0.2 g
- Protein 2.12 g
- Fat 1.06 g
- Saturated Fat 0.49 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 0.2 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.21 g
- Vitamins 25.4 mg
- Vitamin A 20 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.01 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 0.08 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.04 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.02 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 0.2 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 2.3 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin E 0.11 mg
- Vitamin K 0.6 µg
- Minerals 301 mg
- Major Minerals 295 mg
- Trace Minerals 6.7 mg
- Salt 0.05 g
- Sodium Chloride 0.05 g
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-a: 20 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.01 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.02 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 0.08 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.04 · vitamin-b6: 0.02 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 0.2 · vitamin-b9-folate: 2.3 · vitamin-e: 0.11 · vitamin-k: 0.6 ·
Minerals
Sodium: 18.61 · Potassium: 238 · Calcium: 38 · Iron: 1.3 · Zinc: 0.4 · Iodine: 5 ·
Refined processed sweeteners and additives are energy-dense carbohydrate with little else.
In the kitchen
Culinary partners and combinations that usually underperform with Baking Soda.
Usually avoid with
Often clash in flavour or tradition
History
Refined bicarbonate of soda entered kitchens as an alkali leavener with sour milk and molasses.
Baking soda became a universal pantry staple alongside commercial baking powders.
Household boxes made soda a dual cleaning and baking product in many homes.
Baking soda remained essential wherever recipes balance alkali with acidic ingredients.