Ingredientbeginnerdraft
Baking powder
Also searched as: raising agent, leavening, cream of tartar baking powder, double-acting baking powder
In short: Baking powder is baking soda with built-in acid and a little starch. It reacts once when mixed and again in the heat of the oven.
Picture it
Like sherbet powder with a time fuse.
What Baking powder does
Tap a dot to see its connections.
What happens
The starch keeps and acid dry and apart. With liquid the first reaction starts; the second acid only reacts with heat. Old or damply stored baking powder loses its power.
What the ingredient does
makes gas when mixedChemical leavening
makes more gas in the heatChemical leavening
Rules of thumb
- Test: a teaspoon in hot water must fizz vigorously.
- Store dry and tightly sealed.
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