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Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder

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Container of baking powder next to a box of baking soda.

Baking soda vs. baking powder – what’s the difference? Both are leavening agents used in recipes to make baked goods rise without the need for yeast. Some recipes call for one and some for both. To understand why, it’s important to know how they are each activated and what they do differently.

Baking Soda

Baking soda (also known as sodium bicarbonate) needs acidic ingredients to activate, so it is used in baking recipes that contain buttermilk, brown sugar, molasses, lemon juice, sour cream, cocoa powder, etc. When it is combined with one of these acidic ingredients and liquid, it generates carbon dioxide bubbles (remember the baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment from science class?). These bubbles lift the batter, making baked goods rise. Baking soda also helps with browning and flavor. Because it is alkaline, it encourages the Maillard reaction, or chemical process responsible for creating that golden color and caramelized flavor that make everything taste better.

It’s important not to use too much baking soda in recipes, as it can result in a metallic, soapy flavor. It is much more powerful than baking powder – you only need about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda per cup of flour to leaven baked goods.

Examples of recipes that contain acidic ingredients and call for only baking soda:

Baking Powder

Baking powder, on the other hand, is a complete leavening agent, meaning it contains baking soda and acidic properties, so it is used in recipes that don’t contain acidic ingredients and needs only liquid to activate. When combined with liquid in a recipe, such as milk or water, baking powder releases gas bubbles, making baked goods rise. Today, most baking powder is double-acting, meaning it is activated twice: first when it is mixed with a liquid, and again when it is heated in the oven. Double-acting baking powder is best for home cooks because it is much more forgiving. Recipes using single-acting baking powder must be baked immediately after mixing, or the baking powder will lose its oomph. Double-acting baking powder gives the cook a bit more time and flexibility getting recipes into the oven.

Baking powder is not nearly as strong as baking soda, so you need a lot more of it when baking. For every 1 cup of flour in a recipe, 1 to 1½ teaspoons baking powder is needed for leavening.

Examples of recipes that don’t contain acidic ingredients and call for only baking powder:

Baking Soda and Baking Powder Used Together

Some recipes, call for both baking powder and baking soda. These recipes typically contain some type of acidic ingredient, but baking soda alone is not enough to lift the volume of batter in the recipe so baking powder is added to pick up the slack. Another reason to use both leavening agents is that they affect flavor and browning differently. In my buttermilk biscuit recipe, for example, buttermilk is used partly for its flavor. Baking soda alone would neutralize all of the buttermilk’s acid, and you’d lose that subtle, pleasant tang. By cutting some of the baking powder with baking soda, some of the tangy flavor is preserved.

Examples of recipes that call for both baking soda and baking powder:

Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder: More Useful Tips

  • Some stores carry both single and double-acting baking powder. If the container is not clearly labeled, you can assume it is double-acting. Recipes won’t specify single or double-acting baking powder; you can assume you’ll need double-acting unless a recipe specifies otherwise.
  • Baking soda and baking powder are not interchangeable.
  • When baking, be careful about substituting liquids. Milk and buttermilk, for example, are not interchangeable in recipes because they each react differently with the leavening agents called for.
  • Store baking soda and baking powder in a cool dark place like a cabinet. Because baking soda comes in packaging that isn’t resealable, after you open it, transfer it to a small airtight container to extend its shelf life.

How To Be Sure Your Baking Soda and Baking Powder Are Fresh

Baking soda and baking powder lose their effectiveness over time, so it’s a good idea to make sure they aren’t expired before baking. Check the date on the packaging to see if they’re still usable. You can also test them to see if they’re still effective. Here’s how:

Baking soda: Spoon some into a bowl (1/2 teaspoon is plenty), and add a splash of lemon juice or vinegar. If the mixture starts to fizz quickly and vigorously, it’s still good.

Baking powder: Spoon it into a bowl (again, 1/2 teaspoon is plenty) of hot water. If it begins to bubble it’s still effective.

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Comments

  • I’m well equipped now. Loved the infor on how to test if the ingredients haven’t expired

    • — Emely Ganga on November 25, 2023
    • Reply
  • Always enjoy looking over the recipes in emails from you and continue to make your Coconut Macaroons as a family favorite! Thank you.

    • — Marty on October 8, 2023
    • Reply
  • Thank you for this post! It’s always great as a home cook to learn the science behind a recipe to improve decision-making in the kitchen. Loved this post- thanks for posting it!

    • — Alexandra Thiessen on April 7, 2023
    • Reply
  • SUCH useful information! Thank you.

    • — Diana on February 3, 2023
    • Reply
  • Thank you for this great article!

    Another related question, I heard that baking powder has cream of tartar in it.
    It does not say it in the ingredients.

    Would you know if it does contain it? How would I know if it does or doesn’t?

    Thank you

    Nechama

    • — Nechama Backman on July 17, 2022
    • Reply
    • Glad you found it helpful! It won’t show up on the label, but cream of tartar is made with similar ingredients to what you see on the ingredient list for baking powder.

      • — Jenn on July 18, 2022
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      • The answer is if the ingredients don’t have some compound with the word “tartrate” in it, there is no cream of tarter. My baking powder here from
        the grocery store has other acids in it, not cream of tarter (it has sodium aluminum sulfate and monocalcium phosphate).

        • — David on September 25, 2023
        • Reply
  • Great work. thanks

    • — San on May 22, 2022
    • Reply
  • Great blog. Am 89 yo and, people say, I am a great cook. I follow my mother (a Dietician) and Grandmother, survivor of the Depression, when cooks made do with what they had on hand or could afford. She was a fabulous cook and great culinary teacher. Both women said to always use double-acting baking powder — but NOT TO USE EITHER WITH ALUMINUM ADDED
    Comment??

    • — Alice Farrell LaChapelle (Albany NY) on May 20, 2022
    • Reply
    • Glad you like the blog! I’ve never had an issue with an off/metallic taste from baking powder with aluminum (seems to be mostly an issue if you use too much of it), but some chefs do recommend aluminum-free. Problem is, many stores don’t carry it.

      • — Jenn on May 26, 2022
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  • Great explanation! Easy to read, understand and follow. Thank you.

    • — Linda on May 20, 2022
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  • Jenn! This is so helpful! And answers a question I’ve had for years: Why do classic chocolate chip cookie recipes call for baking soda when there is no acid!? I had no idea brown sugar activated baking soda. On that note, a question: You listed your chocolate chip cookie recipe as one that calls for both, but I only see baking soda in your recipe. Am I missing the baking powder?

    • — Kiley on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
    • Hi Kiley, So glad you found this helpful! You didn’t miss anything – the recipe was linked to the wrong chocolate chip cookie recipe. Thanks for catching that – it has been corrected. The baking soda also helps with browning, which gives the cookies a lot more flavor. 🙂

      • — Jenn on May 19, 2022
      • Reply
    • Thanks

      • — George Chimesha on May 21, 2022
      • Reply
  • Great info! Thank you, Jenn!

    • — Toni on May 19, 2022
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    • I’m vegan and have had good success using oat milk and stick plant based butter. I wonder if you could please explain how baking powder and baking soda react in dairy free baking. Any info will be greatly appreciated!!

      • — Lynne Habig on May 20, 2022
      • Reply
      • Hi Lynne, I don’t think non-diary alternatives will have any impact on how baking powder/baking soda work. 🙂

        • — Jenn on May 23, 2022
        • Reply
  • Thanks for this article! Question: I
    have a baked chicken wing recipe that calls for “ alum-free” baking powder. (It makes the wings crispy without frying.) Some baking powders note “alum free” on the can; others don’t have that note but the ingredients don’t list aluminum sulfate … should I then assume this product is alum free?
    Thanks very much for your response!!

    • — Janice Skenderian on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
    • Hi Janice, I’m not 100% sure about that, but I would think you’re correct. If you want to be sure though, I’d contact the manufacturer. Sorry I can’t give you a more definitive answer!

      • — Jenn on May 19, 2022
      • Reply
  • Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder simmered in my head quite often, thank you for clearing that up for me!

    • — Silvs Gallon on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
  • Great explanation, thanks, Jen!

    • — Natalie on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
    • Thank you very much for this useful and informative article. At our house you are a heroine! As I am sure that you are at yours.

      • — Geraldine Waud on May 19, 2022
      • Reply
      • ❤️

        • — Jenn on May 19, 2022
        • Reply
  • Thank you! This is a great explanation and I love the tip for how to check if my baking powder and baking soda is still fresh.

    • — Sherry on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
  • I really appreciate your information on baking powder and baking soda. It’s good to know how I can test the 2 products, to confirm that they I get the results I want.

    • — Joann Marofsky on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
  • Thank you for sharing this, I’ve always wondered! On a side note, I like to make corn cakes and was using my boyfriend’s baking powder for the recipe. It never tasted quite right and I had made it a few times when I happened to look at the expiration date. Can you believe it was 40 years expired!!! I began using new baking powder and it was completely different! I kept the 40 year old baking powder as a souvenir LOL

    • — Casey on May 19, 2022
    • Reply
    • 40 years!!?? That’s funny – it’s a relic! 🙂

      • — Jenn on May 19, 2022
      • Reply
  • This is interesting and so useful. Thanks Jenn!

    • — Mary on May 19, 2022
    • Reply

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