Baking Soda Substitutes and How to Use Them?
Baking soda is a commonly used ingredient in the baking. There are many reasons why you’ll need baking soda substitutes.
Sometimes it may be just that you’re out of baking soda and you realize it in the middle of the cooking. Keeping some good baking soda alternatives in your kitchen cabinet would help.
Before we discuss the alternatives for baking soda, let’s see some facts on the baking soda.
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What Is Baking Soda?
Baking Soda, chemically known as Sodium Bicarbonate, is used for cooking (explicitly baking) but possesses many other uses too. It is alkaline in nature and therefore when it combines with acidic ingredients, carbon dioxide bubbles are formed.
Carbon dioxide, when heated helps the baked items like bread to expand. As Baking soda is an essential ingredient while baking, it is always good to keep some knowledge about the substitutes for baking soda.
There are various baking soda substitutes available for different uses. Not just for baking and cooking, you can use baking soda for cleaning both your body and home. You can also use it as a mouthwash and teeth whitener.
Few baking soda substitutes have an even better effect than baking soda itself. Baking Soda is also used in curing and preventing various types of diseases.
Common Uses of Baking Soda
Baking Soda, generally used as a leavening agent can also be used for other purposes in cooking.
With acidic ingredients like vinegar, yogurt, buttermilk, or cream of tartar, it releases carbon dioxide which expands the batters and helps in forming the required characteristics.
Baking Soda can also help you fix cooking mishaps. In addition, it works as an yeast in various items. You can use baking soda while boiling vegetables to maintain their original color. However, it can remove vitamin C from some vegetables so use it carefully.
You can use baking soda to make meat, poultry, and fish crispier. There are various substitutes for baking soda in cookies, pancakes and other baked items which perform the same task as baking soda.
Related Reading: 10 Health Benefits of Baking Soda Bath
Baking Soda Substitutes
Baking Soda is an essential ingredient in baking. There may be times when one runs out of it, or it may not be readily available.
Thus, there are some baking soda substitutes. Let us understand what can be used as a substitute for baking soda.
Some people also use alternatives to baking soda for health reasons as it has various side effects. Some prefer substitutes for taste.
It can be challenging to use baking soda substitutes where the recipe relies heavily on acidic flavoring agents. However, you can try the following substitutes for baking soda whenever you run out of the baking soda.
1. Baking Powder
Baking powder is known to be the best replacement for baking soda. It is a combination of both sodium bicarbonate and acid and therefore, it can do the work of a leavening agent.
Use three teaspoons of baking soda if your recipe requires using one teaspoon of baking soda. Baking soda can be used almost everywhere as a baking soda substitute. It is useful while preparing cakes, cookies, and other bakery items.
2. Potassium Bicarbonate
Potassium Bicarbonate is a healthy alternative to baking soda especially for people who need to avoid sodium intake.
Use one teaspoon of Potassium Bicarbonate for one teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate. Add one-third teaspoon of salt to equalize it with sodium bicarbonate. Do not add the salt if you’re on a salt-restricted diet.
Potassium bicarbonate is not easily available and is not suitable to be used with acidic ingredients. Therefore, avoid using acidic ingredients like buttermilk and citrus juice along with potassium bicarbonate. Regular whole milk or water can be used instead.
3. Baker’s Yeast
Baker’s yeast is a tastier replacement for baking soda. It is one of the best alternatives to baking soda and is highly recommended by the nutritionists.
There are two main types of Baker’s yeast – active dry yeast where the yeast is inactive, and compressed fresh yeast where the yeast is alive.
Different types of yeast contain different amount of moisture. Using baker’s yeast can help you avoid the bitter flavor. Use one teaspoon to two and one/fourth teaspoons of Baker’s yeast per pound of flour, or as per the recipe.
4. Club Soda
You can use club soda as an alternative to baking soda almost all the times. However, club soda can sometimes act as a leavening agent in various recipes.
Club soda contains sodium bicarbonate, but it is not enough for many recipes. You can use it to add volume and make pancakes moist and light. Make sure you use milk or water when you use club soda in baking.
Along with these, there are some indirect baking soda substitutes. These ingredients or process can be used to make flour rise.
5. Self-Rising Flour
You can use self-rising flour instead of plain flour. Self-rising flour can help to do the work of baking soda in its absence.
6. Beer
Beer can also be used as a substitute. It helps in making baked items rise by carbonation when added to the batter.
7. Whisking Eggs Vigorously
This is basically a process you can employ in the absence of baking soda and other substitutes. Whisking the eggs vigorously will increase the air bubbles in the batter and will help in making baked items fluffier.
You will need to be watchful when using the substitutes for baking soda. Pay attention to the quantity, nature and amount of baking soda alternative used while using them.
Related Reading: Top 10 Substitutes for Vegetable Oil
Tips on Using Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used for various purposes. When using baking soda alternatives, you need to pay attention to the multiple factors.
When you use baking soda alternatives for baking, you may notice a slight change in the flavor and taste of the final product.
For instance, molasses can make the baked goods sweet, and thus it’s not suitable for savory bread. But you can use it to make sweet desserts and sugary products.
The item prepared with baking soda substitute may have different health effects too. You should check the flavor of the baked products while using baking soda substitutes.
Following are the tips for using baking soda:
- Store baking soda in a cool and dry place to prevent clumping
- Place it in a refrigerator to remove any bad smell
- You can also use it to clean floor, walls, tiles and it helps in removing tough stains too
You can use baking soda substitutes in cookies, cakes, and other baking products. However, make sure you use these substitutes in proper volumes so as to maintain the flavor and texture of the final product.
Sources:
“Baking Soda Substitutes and How to use them?” New Health Guide, last accessed December 18, 2017; http://www.newhealthguide.org/Baking-Soda-Substitute.html
“Uses for Baking soda: Cooking tips” Publications International Ltd., March 22, 2006; https://www.howstuffworks.com/uses-for-baking-soda-cooking-tips-ga1.htm
Fenster, C.,”Homemade Substitutes For Baking Soda and Baking Powder” Authority Health Magazine – A Research Journal Of Better Health, https://www.authorityhealthmag.com/substitute-for-baking-soda/
Leigh, K. “Replacement for Baking Soda in Cookies,” LIVESTRONG.COM, last updated October 03, 2017, https://www.livestrong.com/article/500162-replacement-for-baking-soda-in-cookies/
Wong, A., “Best Substitutes for Baking Soda,” Doctors Health Press, June 22, 2015, https://www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/substitute-for-baking-soda/
