Baking soda, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda - what’s the difference?

First of all, baking soda and bicarbonate of soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate and bicarb soda) are the same thing.  

US recipes will refer to this ingredient as baking soda, but recipes in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, mainly refer to it as bicarbonate of soda (bicarb soda).  

What is bicarb soda/baking soda?

This is commonly used in baking recipes. It needs to be mixed with moisture and an acidic ingredient to make food rise. It is often used in recipes where there is already an acidic ingredient, such as lemon juice, chocolate, buttermilk or honey.  

What is baking powder?

Baking powder is a ready-made shortcut for baking. It is bicarb soda mixed with a dry acidic ingredient (usually cream of tartar). It is usually 2 parts cream of tartar to 1 part bicarb soda.  

All you need to add is the moisture (such as eggs, milk, cream) to lighten a mixture during baking.  

Can I use bicarb soda instead of baking powder?

Bicarb soda has 3 to 4 times the power of baking powder, so if you need baking powder and only have bicarb soda on hand, you will need to increase the acidity.  

For example, if the recipe needs a teaspoon of baking powder, substitute it with ½ tsp of bicarb soda and include an additional tsp of lemon juice or vinegar.  

3 uses for bicarb soda around your home

Baking powder is just for baking! On the other hand, bicarb soda has lots of handy uses (it’s even an ingredient in toothpaste!).  

• Get rid of fridge odours: Fill a cup with baking soda and place it in the back of your fridge to neutralize bad odours.
• Rescue a burnt pan: Sprinkle a generous amount of bicarb soda over the burnt areas and add enough water to cover. Bring the mix to a boil and them empty the pan – the burnt bits should come away.  
• Multipurpose cleaner: Using a funnel, put 1 tsp bicarb soda, 1/2 tsp dish soap, and 2 tbsp vinegar into your spray bottle. Give it a stir/shake. Let it sit for a minute, and then fill the bottle with warm water and shake.  

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